This growing conversation surrounding humanity on the Internet is the cornerstone of my business. I loved this soundbite especially (I’m paraphrasing) — that we shouldn’t share too much of ourselves (“people don’t care if you’re gassy”) but should share enough that they understand what’s important to us both in our professional and personal lives.

Thanks for sharing more of @justinlevy:disqus’s story too. What a gift! There are so many days (and weeks) that I feel like the social web is a race to the bottom. Then comes this ray of light, this hope for humanity. THIS is the power of the social web — to connect, to inspire, to encourage, to transform, to rally together to help other people in very meaningful ways, even in a B2B or B2C context.

A lot of lessons here. Thanks for sharing them.

Great comment Ann and a meaningful blog post in its own right. AN honor to have you comment.

I also think about how interactions on Twitter have shifted there over the years as social has matured — both for me personally and more broadly. In my case, I’ve shifted from “personal” to “personable” — a subtle shift, but an important one. At least for me.

I also followed @justinlevy:disqus’s updates that terrible evening when we were all waiting for news… right along with both of you! (Hi Justin!) But as much as Justin’s story is personal its also universally relevant.

I think there’s a lesson in there for the balance between personal/authentic… and Justin has walked that line so well. In my mind, “authentic” has broader, bigger relevance; “personal” often does not.

Well said.

I am filled with joy to see you comment on the blog Justin!

Last week, I gave a “Bold Talk” at the Inbound Conference describing how eventually my own personal suffering turned into “super powers” that helped me become a better writer, a better friend and a more effective leader. I predict the same thing will happen for you Justin and I look forward to discussing it with you soon. Hang I’m there!

Just after posting my comment I read this one. Yes – you do need to be honest all the time.

One of the more interesting aspects to all of this has been when I have caught up with friends on video and they remark something such as “you seem to be doing great. I wanted to get on video with you to see how you were doing vs what you were publishing”

I throughly agree with the difference between transparency vs authenticity and also with the view of “being authentic”.

The first update that I published was a quick status update sharing how my weekend had come to an end – something that many others do on a daily basis. As I published that update and a few others I became inundated with notes from people showing concern.

That’s where the journaling began and then jumped from FB to Built Unstoppable. It has now expanded to be this longer journal update instead of the shorter quick status updates that they were. And I am also working on turning the website into a passion project, helping others that are going through their own struggles.

I always thought it was important to share the unfiltered details because it is in the details that there is the struggle. The fact that until a few nights ago I couldn’t go to the bathroom by myself is the hard part…not “unable to help my self with basic daily needs” that would leave people wondering or inferring what I meant.

And I NEVER considered once whether I was being authentic or not. I have always been authentic, much like both of you are. What you see online is what you get in person.

I did make certain decisions such as not mixing medical updates with marketing, fitness or productivity articles and other minor choices like that…those can all wait until a later time.

Agreed. Honesty for me is what this is about. And that is my reaction to ‘authentic’ – we don’t need to share everything all the time. Honest, yes.

Fan girl really? I think you are our first : )

I think what people really want is honesty. I don’t think you need to be authentic all the time. I don;t think you need to be vulberable all the time. I do think you need to be honest all the time.