“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind” – Dr. Seuss

Up until recently, the concept of transparency was little more than a buzzword for me. I wasn’t completely comfortable revealing certain things about my life online, and kept my personal life mostly private in favor of the professional.

However, starting this blog, being more active on social networks (like twitter and facebook), working on a posterous lifecasting site and receiving encouraging insight from English entrepreneur, Ben Way (@BenpbWay), I’ve slowly started to become more comfortable with online transparency.

It’s gotten to the point where I’m actually known for my transparency, and have become an advocate for getting naked… um, I mean, sharing about yourself online.

What does is mean to be transparent?

The concept of transparency, at least to me, is about being honest and open. About setting very few, if any, barriers between you and your social contacts.

It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to tell everyone everything about you, or report about 100% of the things you do each day. But it means you can share pictures/videos of your everyday life, say where you are when you’re there, and share your experiences at many different times and places.

Transparency is being unafraid to show who you really are, not only in one phase of your life, but in all.

Why transparency?

As I’ve found, there’s a lot that can come out of a transparent approach. First, it gains you credibility… because people get to see who you are, and confirm that you are what you say. It’s easy for me to write that I love adventure travel – but people believe it when I post a picture of getting a dune buggy stuck in Brazil, or hitting the surf in the Dominican Republic.

Transparency also encourages interactions. By showing more of my life online, I’m making myself more accessible to people. While before someone could connect to me around entrepreneurship and business, now they can also talk to me about travel, kiteboarding, cooking, art, fine wine, charity, and much more.

Lastly, being transparent takes the pressure off. Under a policy of transparency, you are free to be everything that you are, and there’s no fear of somebody revealing a new part of you, that you haven’t already shown before.

Why Not Transparency?

Except in special circumstances, where, for instance, you’re the queen of some volatile nation-state (that I could understand), I can’t find a good answer for this question. Transparency can seem difficult at first… but it’s easier (and more fun) in the end.

It worked for Oprah, Simon Cowell, and in social media, for companies like Zappos. A lack of transparency is what’s making things so hard for Tiger Woods. Given the evidence, why wouldn’t you give it a try?

Conclusion

If you’re less than transparent online, and are keeping your cards close to your chest… I encourage you try on this approach, and see how it fits. Put your cards on the table – what’s the worst that can happen?

Conversation

So tell me… how transparent are you online?

Tx

A day in the life of TC – http://lifestream.tammycamp.com
Fancy Facebook? – Tammy on Facebook
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