Utkarsh NarangFounder, IgnitedNeurons · Your best doers become your worst managers as you scale. I turn them into leaders so your best people don’t leave.

Authenticity Beats Fake Professionalism Every Time

25 Dec 2025 · 1 min

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A speaker who mentors colleagues at demanding companies argues that faking professionalism backfires. Stay yourself, find genuine connections with coworkers, and build a support network while you figure out your next move. Your authenticity is what makes you valuable to the people around you.

Chapters

Well, I've been at those companies. Hmm. I've been at those companies that didn't have Gary Vaynerchuk as the CEO, and it's hard. However, I never changed who I was. I was always that unofficial mentor, that person that still loved being with people, that still loved learning and jamming with people. So what I say to that person who is not going to leave that job on Monday, don't change your stripes. If you are a zebra, Stay a zebra. Even though the rest of the culture is filled with alligators, do not change because you are needed there. And we know when we're needed, when we make friends, when we bring people into our area and they, hey, can I, you know, can I sit down with you? Can you explain this to me? So that is what I say. Do not change. Find your people. They will find you. And that's what you're going to do until you're ready to do something different. Because not everyone can leave their job on Monday.