Interview with Bestselling author of The Alter Ego Effect, Todd Herman!
by Owen Garratt | The Art of Being an Artist
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O ne of the most common worries I hear from artists is “I just don’t think I can DO that!”
The funny thing is, there’s about a million “that”s.
Can’t sell, can’t get enough time, can’t focus, can’t imagine themselves having any kind of success…
Well I have terrific news for you!
Bestselling Author Todd Herman has The Way…!
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Thanks for this podcast, Owen. I think you’re both misinterpreting “Authenticity” though. The fact that people change and adapt–whether over the long haul or several times in the course of a day–does NOT mean they are NOT authentic. On the contrary; I think it’s entirely authentic to adapt as circumstances dictate – so long as you’re being honest and your motives are good. It’s people who misrepresent themselves or whatever they’re promoting who are actually inauthentic.
If Mr. Herman is promoting this particular line of thinking he’ll likely confuse his readers and listeners – people who can ill afford to be misled. Not to cast aspersions, but Authenticity is a pretty basic concept for a guy like Mr. Herman, so it leads me to wonder whether he feels some need to disparage the notion, perhaps in the interest of his own theories and/or book sales…
Um, your comment leads me to believe you haven’t actually watched the whole interview.
You’re absolutely right – and both Todd and I say it – that people who adapt and change to various situations can and are being authentic.
Rather, we’re addressing the “pop culture” idea that “authenticity means consistency” which, as you say, isn’t the case.
Authenticity has more to do with values than with, for example, how one carries oneself in terms of body language in a given situation.
What Todd means is that WE get to decide how we present ourselves, and by channeling aspects of others who already have the characteristics we wish to integrate, that is, create an Alter Ego for ourselves, we can expedite that process.
Most of us already do it in one way or another.
Authenticity has become an overused catch-all phrase, in the lines of “being real”.
So you’re actually agreeing with the premise we talked about.
Oh, and when you say “not to cast aspersions”, you’re doing just that. Just saying.
“What Todd means is that WE get to decide how we present ourselves…”
And there’s nothing INauthentic about doing that IF you’re sincere and simply trying to maximize your own potential. If you’re misrepresenting yourself or some scheme THAT’s not authentic. Mr. Herman suggesting that doing as he suggests is other than Authentic is a mistake that confuses the issue for his readers. HIs readers are relying on him for guidance, so he might want to reconsider his stance.
“Authenticity has become an overused catch-all phrase, in [along] the lines of “being real”.”
That QUALIFIER should have been emphasized. I don’t recall it being mentioned at all. And yes, I watched the entire podcast.
“Oh, and when you say “not to cast aspersions”, you’re doing just that. Just saying.”
Yeah, in retrospect I have to say you’re right, but I wanted to cushion the claim a bit because I wasn’t entirely sure of the speaker’s motivations/intentions. And no, I’m not agreeing with the premise. I haven’t read the book, and likely won’t, so I can’t say how the REAL meaning of Authenticity interferes with the author’s theories and/or consultancy opportunities – but based on the podcast discussion I’d bet that it does…
In any case, thanks for the podcast and for your continuing efforts in general. As far as I can tell, you’re the ONLY online marketing resource for artists that’s serious and common-sense based. I find your advice to be directly on point in most instances, and in most cases you express what my own experience and common sense have led me to. Beyond that, you’ve introduced a number of very helpful concepts that had not occurred to me.
Not wanting to but heads with you here. I have a lot of regard for you, your expertise and your willingness to help. Keep up the good work(s)!
I’m at odds as to how this one minute piece of the entire talk has got you hung up on The Name Game 🙂 NOWHERE does Todd suggest that one should be “misrepresenting yourself or some scheme”. It’s the exact opposite! Everything you say is EXACTLY what Todd – and I – are saying too!
Clearly there’s been a point of confusion that neither Todd or I caught in passing, but it seems like you’re looking for a reason to disagree with the entire premise.
And that’s really too bad because in an industry of snake oil, false prophets, fakirs, and carnival barkers, Todd’s work and this book in particular is the best I’ve come across in 15+ years.
I’ve used the concepts myself, and I’ve used them to coach my son and his teams to nationals in biathlon AND marksmanship. Not by being phony, not by “faking it”, but by drawing out their potential and taking on the mindset of champions – in the highest and best sense of the word.
And thank you for the kind words; I’m glad that you’re finding what I’m doing to be helpful. And I want to assure you, Todd’s stuff is genuine, otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought him here! 🙂
Here’s Todd speaking further on the subject…
https://www.facebook.com/toddhermanconnect/videos/2450704015151650/
Dear Mr. Garratt,
I’m curious: Do you have a time-lapse video of you creating one of your drawings?
Hey Daniel!
No, I’ve never figured out how to get a consistent quality video over the 200-300 hours I spend on it. Maybe I should look into it a bit further! 🙂