I recently listened to a keynote speech from Gary Brecka, a human biologist, author and entrepreneur who gave a powerful talk that connected many dots for me.

In his speech, Brecka talked about this law in physics called Constructive Interference—when two wavelengths of equal length meet, the size of the frequency doubles. Neither Albert Einstein nor Isaac Newton could explain what this phenomenon is, but what it means is you can get energy from conversation.  

Measuring Energy

Researchers are able to measure the frequency of energy leaving the human body during interactions and can even tell when someone is experiencing anger, passion or despair.

Do you know what the most powerful frequency that these researchers measured leaving the human body? It was authenticity.

True authenticity happens when your words are truthful and you believe what you are saying. Every expert in our industry knows the importance of authenticity. Brecka’s speech helped me to understand why we work so hard as an industry to be successful.

If we lacked authenticity in our jobs, we would never earn our clients’ trust. If we lacked authenticity in our fields and with our clients, we would not be able to achieve the level of success we are all aiming for.

True Authenticity

Recently, I had the honor of experiencing true authenticity through the heart of Kevin Gwaltney.

I met Gwaltney, president of Diamond Roofing in Kansas City, Kansas, at the 2012 International Roofing Expo in San Antonio. He had just been put in control of the company after the sudden and tragic death of his father—without a succession plan in place.

The pain he was going through was personally and professionally overwhelming, but his story was powerful. Gwaltney’s authenticity is what made his story powerful. He had pushed aside that grief to share his story so others would not face the same perils.

The surge of energy I felt after leaving that meeting inspired me in so many ways, and continues to inspire me today. He also made me realize that our relationships in this industry are unlike anything I have ever experienced before.

Tragically, Gwaltney passed away from cancer in January 2023, at just 45 years old. As heartbreaking as it was to lose him, it was incredible to see how many people from different corners of the AEC world jumped in to help Gwaltney in his time of need.

Tips for Authenticity

Overall, Brecka’s speech and Gwaltney’s legacy have inspired my latest Publisher’s Note and left me with some tips I hope you take with you into the future.

1. Always be willing to share information within our industry, even with your competitors.

2. Leave a legacy of building relationships and connections.

3. Let down your guard, share your knowledge and ask questions.

4. Allow your clients and peers to feel like family.

5. Create authentic relationships that change your life and business.

So, how are you leading with authenticity in your everyday job? How can you strive for more? We should be asking ourselves these questions as we move through 2024. To all of you, cheers to a new year and many fresh starts.