The word authenticity gets thrown around a lot today. Its become the go-to catchword for every artist and entrepreneur. Everyone wants to be authentic, true to one’s self, genuine, transparent. These are all fantastic goals in the face of personal growth and reflection. But is that something we can really work on? More importantly, how do we actually prove we are authentic? Saying you are authentic means nothing if you can’t back it up.

When we think of someone who is authentic. We think of someone who follows through. The person who you can always count on to be themselves and act as themselves in every situation. They live up to promises and show up every day to work hard towards the goals they set for themselves.

What drives change is not authenticity then, but consistency — of person and of action. We know that someone is authentic because they are consistent in who they prove themselves to be. As the marketing guru, Seth Godin says: “We call a brand or a person authentic when they’re consistent, when they act the same way whether or not someone is looking. Someone is authentic when their actions are in alignment with what they promise.”

Authenticity, while a great catchword, is not an actionable goal. Its a definition of something more –a state of character over time. Instead of trying to be authentic, let’s try to be a little more consistent. Be the person you want to be every day, that’s authenticity.