The Lie of Visibility

"The Courage to Dance Unseen": "Those seen dancing were thought insane by those who could not hear the music." - Friedrich Nietzsche

What if the idea that visibility through self-promotion might not be as valuable as we often think?

(It's important to note that this is the second part of a three-part series. I’ll be discussing why I believe stepping away from self-promotion can be beneficial.)

Drawing inspiration from the writings of Søren Kierkegaard, particularly his thoughts on how the crowd can dilute personal truth and responsibility, I challenge you to reflect on the impact of performing for the masses versus living authentically.

Are we merely existing for likes and approval or are we embracing our genuine individuality?

In this second of a three-part series, I explore the juxtaposition of truth and visibility and consider the courage it takes to be unseen in a world driven by digital crowds.

If you're questioning the balance between real connections and virtual applause, this episode promises to be both enlightening and impactful.

Here are 3 key takeaways from the episode:

• Authentic Self vs. Crowd Pleasing: The more we conform to the crowd, the further we drift from our true selves. Embrace your authentic truth over crowd-pleasing performances.
• The Power of Presence: Stepping away from the chase for likes allows us to focus on meaningful conversations and personal connections that matter the most.
• Courage to Stand Alone: It's important to have the courage to live truthfully, even if it means standing apart from the crowd. Authentic existence is about being true to ourselves.

Key Moments

00:00 "The Lie of Visibility"

03:26 Living Authentically vs. Performing Online

09:34 Authenticity Over Clickbait

12:52 Authenticity vs. Social Validation

14:24 "Courage to Be Unseen"

Perry Maughmer believes the world deserves better leadership; that in every human interaction there is the opportunity to either build others up or tear them down; and that leadership is the choice we make in those moments.

These beliefs led Perry to create the Potential Leader Lab. He wanted to offer those who share his beliefs the space and safety to explore transformative ideas, experiment with new behaviors, and evolve into the leaders they were meant to be and that the world needs.

This is a framework he has used again and again with his Vistage peer advisory groups and companies like Turn-Key Tunneling, Convergint, Haughn &  Associates, I Am Boundless, Ketchum & Walton, LSP Technologies, and Ahlum & Arbor.

Perry lives and works on the shores of Buckeye Lake in Ohio, in the mountains of northwest Georgia, and on the beach in Anna Maria, Florida with his amazingly creative wife Lisa. They have 2 rescue dogs and are intermittently visited by their 3 wonderful children throughout the year. Perry & Lisa are living life in crescendo and focused on exploring, experimenting, and evolving their vision of a life they have no desire to retire from.

Copyright 2025 Perry Maughmer