"What we're all striving for is authenticity, a spirit-to-spirit connection."
To me, this is one of those statements that can cover almost all aspects of a business, and answer the majority of questions and problems it may experience.
Authenticity! Those that are authentic and truly stand for something don't have the type of problems of companies do who don't know who they are and why they exist.
When you think about Oprah and the second part of her statement, authenticity is what lays the foundation for that type of connection. Think of it if you and your company could have the type of authenticity that generates trust, and from that trust comes a connection that allows a relationship between a customer and a company that doesn't need gimmicks and hype to get business.
Even after literally decades (and more) of people talking about serving niches, most companies still try to please all people, which guarantees they'll be mediocre. To please the largest number of people means we have to gravitate toward the lowest common denominator. The result is always a lower level type of product or service.
I don't think what authenticity represents can be overstated. In the end ... it's authentic! That's the power embedded in the term if it's truly being lived. People always respond to an authentic person or company. They know when you're real.
With Oprah, she can put her name on something and people know it's something she believes in; at least most the time. (I say most the time because nobody is perfect.)
Even with some of the projects Oprah has failed at, it's never because of something inauthentic in herself. If she believes in something, even making a profit isn't always the bottom line of why she's doing it. Of course she has to make sure the overall business turns a profit, but I'm talking about projects within the overall whole here.
When you look at the way Oprah interacts with people, you can see that there is a connection between her and her fans or customers. Even if they may not agree with what she is doing, they believe in her. That's an extraordinary connection and trust.
Even when something as wrong as abuse within her beloved school was revealed, the connection between her and the people that watch her made it a non-issue as far as Oprah and her integrity and authenticity went.
I would go so far as to say authenticity, probably more than anything else, is the underlying reason for the success that the Oprah brand is. We could do a lot for our businesses and divisions by following her example.
Other Oprah Resources:
Oprah Winfrey - About.com Readers' Most Admired Entrepreneur
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