Okay, so let me tell you about the early days of my career. At work, I was “Matthew.” Yep, the suit-wearing, serious, business-talk guy who nodded in meetings, pretending to understand every buzzword thrown my way. Outside of work, though? I was just “Matt”—laid-back, always ready with a joke, and able to laugh even when things got stressful. Honestly, it was like I was living two completely different lives.

Let me tell you, trying to keep up with both personalities was exhausting. I’m still not sure if that’s what made me leave the corporate world or if it was just the culture that encouraged it. Either way, pretending to be “Matthew” every day at work was super tiring. I was constantly worried that my coworkers would figure out I wasn’t as “professional” as I was trying to seem. And because of that, I wasn’t connecting with anyone at work.

By the end of each day, I couldn’t wait to go home, kick off my shoes, and just be me again. That’s when things made sense—I could be the real Matt.

But it wasn’t until I joined a startup called Apruve that things really clicked. I remember walking into the interview wearing my best suit, thinking I had nailed it. Then I walked into the office and… everyone was wearing T-shirts. Yep, t-shirts. Some even had funny slogans. That’s when I had my “What am I doing?” moment.

It hit me right then and there: I didn’t need to keep living this double life. So, I stopped. I ditched “Matthew” and just started being myself at work. And guess what? Everything got better. I was happier, and more focused, and I actually made real connections with my coworkers. In fact, a lot of them are still my friends, and some I still work with in some way. Turns out, being yourself works a lot better than pretending.

Let me give you an example of how being real makes a difference. I got a cold call from an SDR recently, and instead of launching into a sales pitch, the guy spent the first ten minutes talking to me about hockey. Specifically, my heartbreak over the Minnesota Wild (don’t get me started). By the time he asked if I’d be open to a formal meeting, I was already sold. Why? Because we made a real connection.

That’s the whole point. Whether you’re reaching out to customers, prospects, or partners, it’s all about people talking to people. Sure, we’re all trying to grow our businesses, but at the end of the day, being real is what builds trust and connections. Be yourself, and people will respond to that.

That said, you can’t always go full “Matt” in every situation. It’s all about knowing when to dial it back a bit. Like, you wouldn’t crack jokes at a funeral, right? It’s the same with work—sometimes you’ve got to tone it down. For example, this blog? You’re getting the real, relaxed Matt. But if I were writing a formal report? I’d dial it back a bit (just a bit).

At Skail, we’ve built this idea into our product. Your digital clone doesn’t just repeat your words—it adjusts based on the situation. Whether you’re talking to a new client or an old colleague, your clone knows how to sound like you, but in the right way for that moment.

So, here’s the takeaway: just be yourself. Whether it’s in business or life, being authentic is what builds real connections. But hey, don’t forget—there are different sides of you, and knowing when to show each one is key.

And if balancing that feels tricky? Don’t worry—Skail’s got you covered. We’ll help you scale your work without losing what makes you, you.