Ditch the Act: Reveal the Surprising Power of the Real You for Greater Success by Leonard Kim, Ryan Foland

Do you ever find yourself putting on an act to gain approval? It’s a common impulse, but it hinders us from creating meaningful relationships, achieving true success, and even quashes our own growth. In his book “Ditch the Act: Reveal the Surprising Power of the Real You for Greater Success”, Leonard Kim draws from decades of his own experience, tips from friends, and valuable life lessons from foremost thought-leaders to build a step-by-step guide on how to discover and become your best you.

Kim begins the book by addressing how common it is for us to subtly manipulate people’s thoughts and feelings toward us to win the approval of others. From pretending to be someone you’re not to lying, Kim asserts those strategies won’t become the sources of lasting success in your life. The cover-up is only creating an unhealthy environment that blocks your opportunity to touch greatness.

Kim encourages his readers to ditch their alter-ego and disclose their real stories and experiences. With that disclosure you’re allowed to embrace the negative feelings of longing and heartache to move toward a greater purpose. “Revealing your true self is vitally important in living an amazing life” he writes, “with authenticity you’re able to recognize and take full advantage of life’s opportunities at every turn.” Only by embracing our stories, accepting our experiences, and letting go will we be able to step out on our own and perform on levels we hadn’t thought possible.

Among the many actionable regulations Kim’s book offers, a few stand out. Kim outlines two rules for self-discovery: facing ourselves honestly and removing the thinking that holds us back from revealing the real us. That implies letting go of insecurities, facing fears, and allowing what had been hidden come rushing out into the light. He stresses that it’s okay to confront and accept reality, no matter how far away it takes us from our goals.

Kim also uncovers the reasons why we’re so hesitant to discover and become the real us. He points out the fear of being judged, the fear of not being accepted, and the fear of being embarrassed prevents us from being open and comfortable with who we are. Often times, the fear of failure makes us adopt unsafe coping strategies, like playing, procrastination, and perfectionism to prevent ourselves from being vulnerable and taking a risk.

The last component of this book is designed to help readers turn their newfound knowledge into reality. Kim suggests constructing a suitable environment, surrounding yourself with the right people, setting goals within each stage of the transformation and crafting a system to achieve them. Kim asserts the power of continuous development and the idea that the self-improvement journey continues far after we’ve shed the mask of our past persona.

The main purpose of the book is to help readers realize the importance of being true to themselves in order to achieve success. Kim believes the key to unlocking the power of the real you is to be vulnerable, honest, and transparent. If done correctly, this approach leads to personal growth, meaningful connections and a richer life. As a result, readers can expect success and fulfillment from authentic relationships and meaningful achievements when they use the keystones offered by Kim in his book “Ditch the Act: Reveal The Surprising Power of The Real You for Greater Success"