The Art of Living Authentically: 9 Lessons from 92,000 Hours Season 1
During the summer of 2019, Annalisa Holcombe (founder of Connection Collaborative) was sitting in a hotel room preparing for her first interview for the 92,000 Hours podcast with her sister, Wendy Anderton. “I remember sitting in her hotel room and being really serious about this—and my awe that she was so ready to go,” Annalisa reflected. This began a year-long process of creating 92,000 Hours.
Annalisa, Breanna, and Lexie joined forces to develop, produce, and promote the podcast. We learned a lot in the process: how to integrate our life and work to lead more purposeful lives; how to redefine success and find meaning on your own terms; how to be vulnerable and lead from the heart.
Through it all, we heard the moving and inspiring stories of humans leading and living with authenticity. We recently got together to reflect and discuss what we learned. Below, read our nine key lessons from the first season of 92,000 Hours—and join us for season two launching in March.
9 Tips for a More Authentic Life
Transform your story into your platform. Wendy Anderton used some of the most painful experiences of her life, including leaving an abusive relationship, to build a powerful platform to change the lives of women entrepreneurs.
Unlocking your full potential depends on living authentically and according to your values. Dick Chapman learned this the hard way, spending two weeks without making any jokes (a difficult mission for a person with a core value of humor!) He found he was neither successful nor happy. Tapping into your potential requires understanding your core values and living accordingly.
Just start. You’ll learn along the way. Andrew Taylor taught us that if you have an idea for how to make the world better, just get started. You’ll learn along the way what you like, what works, and how you can make the greatest impact. He wouldn’t have discovered that wisdom meditating on a mountain top, he only discovered it by getting into the arena and learning along the way.
Use fear as a motivator. Susan Arsht reminded us to use fear to push past our comfort zones, which is where we learn and grow the most. Start getting comfortable with fear by taking small risks. Susan pushed past her own fear to pursue (and earn) her PhD later in her life.
“Through it all one lesson rang true: even in times of immense separation and anxiety, there is space - and need - for authentic conversation.”
Risk and vulnerability are muscles that you can exercise. Jim Carter taught us that what feels risky now feels less so with practice. Particularly in our current political climate, it can feel risky to be vulnerable in our national discourse. But as Jim explained, “Hate is virulent, but caring, empathy and compassion are just as contagious—just not as fast spreading.”
Discover what really drives you and prioritize accordingly. When Silvia Castro became a mother, she found her priorities radically changed—and she found a new sense of empathy for working mothers who had been struggling to “do it all”.
Trusting others is rooted in trusting yourself. Gary Daynes explained that your ability to trust other people is enhanced when your own sense of self is secure. It should be okay for someone to sit across the table from you and say “No, you’re wrong” without corroding the trust between you.
There are a dozen stories of failure behind every story of success. Mike Bills spoke candidly about the personal failures and setbacks occurring behind closed doors while his career was skyrocketing. We were in awe of his vulnerability talking about his relationship with his family, growing up ostracized, and his struggle to find his own self worth.
Love can be revolutionary. Collin Bunker explained if you love someone, your mission is to make their lives better—on their terms, not on yours. This is a revolutionary way to describe love—and a hallmark of a life authentically lived.
The process of creating 92,000 Hours has been immensely rewarding. Through it all, one lesson rang true: even in times of immense separation and anxiety, there is space—and need—for authentic conversation.
We hope you will join us for Season 2, where we will tackle big topics like resilience, compassion, and belonging and how they interplay in our personal and professional lives. Subscribe now for updates.