Live, Connect, and Communicate Authentically: How the “BEING” Strategy Can Transform Your Life and Leadership

Live, Connect, and Communicate Authentically: How the “BEING” Strategy Can Transform Your Life and Leadership
By Joe Crisara, America’s Service Sales Coach

In the world of premium service and leadership, we spend so much time focusing on what we’re doing—our systems, sales numbers, team structures—that we often lose sight of how we’re being. That distinction became crystal clear during my conversation with Dr. Jonathan Marian on a recent episode of the Service MVP Podcast.

Dr. Marian is a transformational life coach, consultant, and founder of Steps Along the Way. His journey—from cultural anthropology professor to international speaker and coach—offers a powerful reminder that authenticity isn’t a buzzword; it’s a strategy for lasting success.

Watch the full podcast episode here: Authentic Living: Transforming Your Life with Dr. Jonathan Marion

or 

Listen to the full podcast episode here: Authentic Living: Transforming Your Life with Dr. Jonathan Marion

 
From Academic Prestige to Personal Purpose

Dr. Marian’s story begins in academia, where for 20 years he taught cultural anthropology. But a turning point came in 2019 while on a research trip in Brazil. Sitting in a modest apartment across from a friend’s home, he experienced a life-altering realization:

“I felt more at home in that small room than I did back in my large house in the U.S.”
Why? Because in Brazil, people knew and valued him, not his credentials, not his job title. That contrast between performance-based identity and authentic connection led him to walk away from academia and begin a new chapter focused on helping others live more aligned, fulfilling lives.

As service professionals and business leaders, we’re often caught in the same performance trap, measuring our worth by revenue, titles, and accolades. But success without authenticity is empty. That’s the lesson Jonathan brings to the table: true leadership begins with being, not just doing.

 
The “BEING” Framework: A Roadmap for Authentic Transformation
One of the most powerful tools Dr. Marian shares with his clients and now with our audience, is his proprietary “BEING” strategy. It’s a five-step method that brings clarity, alignment, and purpose to both personal growth and professional development.

Let’s break it down:

B – Begin Where You Are
Awareness is the first step. If we can’t be honest about our current reality—our strengths, our limits, and our situation—no amount of planning or training will get us where we want to go.

E – Explore Where You Want to Go
Ask yourself what authentic success looks like. Not the kind imposed by others, but the kind that fulfills you. Is that promotion or business growth truly in alignment with what matters most?

I – Identify Your Options
There’s no single path forward. Reflect on how you've made the best decisions in the past. Was it gut instinct? A mentor’s advice? A pros-and-cons list? Apply that same approach to chart your next steps.

N – Now Start
Planning is important, but action is essential. You don’t need a perfect map—just a direction and momentum. Even detours can be progress when guided by purpose.

G – Get Your Best
Not a finish line, but a checkpoint. What have you learned? What progress have you made? And how can you continue evolving with intention?
This framework isn’t just theory, it’s a system you can implement today, in your leadership, service, relationships, and even your sales process. As we teach in our own sales coaching certification and customer service workshops, clarity and alignment are what separate good from great.

 
Real Transformation in Real Life

Dr. Marian shared a story that blew me away. One of his clients, founder of a stagnant nonprofit, underwent a complete shift using the “BEING” model. Without ever focusing on finance or fitness, the organization rebranded, restructured, and reconnected with its mission.

Within a year:

Their funding grew 10X.
Their board was revitalized.
The founder even lost 15 pounds not because of a fitness plan, but because they felt better living with alignment and authenticity.
That’s what we call ripple effect transformation.

Just like a well-trained CSR or technician who shows up with empathy and purpose, when leaders operate from alignment, everyone around them feels the impact.

 
Authentic Communication = Pure Motive Service

There’s a deep connection between what Dr. Marian teaches and the philosophy we live by here at Service MVP: Pure Motive Service. It's not just about the words we say to customers or teammates, it’s about the intention behind them.

Authentic communication means:

Saying what you truly mean, not what you think people want to hear.
Leading from a place of clarity, not ego.
Taking the time to understand your own motives before offering advice or leadership.
It’s no coincidence that the most successful service professionals are the ones who are present, grounded, and fully aligned. They don’t just close deals, they build trust.

 
From "Human Doing" to "Human Being"

Dr. Marian said something that stuck with me:

“We are human beings, not human doings.”
Let that sink in.

In a world that praises hustle and doing more, we rarely ask ourselves: How do I want to show up today? Not just what do I want to accomplish but how do I want to be?

When we press pause and reflect on that, everything changes.

And as I teach in our business growth seminars and Total Immersion trainings, this inner alignment is what creates outer excellence. If you want to lead better, sell better, serve better, it starts with showing up better.

 
How to Start Your Journey

If you’re ready to take the next step in aligning your personal and professional life, I highly recommend connecting with Dr. Marian.

You can schedule a complimentary 30-minute session at:
www.stepstochat.com

And to explore more on this topic, visit his full site:
www.stepsalongtheway.global

You won’t get a hard sales pitch. You’ll get a thoughtful conversation about what matters to you and how to move toward it.

 
Final Takeaway

Whether you’re a sales manager, technician, executive, or business owner, the principles of being are essential to thriving in work and in life.

If you’ve ever felt out of alignment, like you’re doing everything right but something still feels off then this is your call to action. Start with yourself. Begin. Explore. Identify. Start now. And go get your best.

Want a training environment that helps you do just that?
Join the Service MVP Club for weekly live coaching, on-demand service sales training, and tools to help you become the kind of leader who doesn’t just do the job, but lives the mission.

Start your free trial today: Service MVP Club

To your transformation,

Joe Crisara

America’s Service Sales Coach

Founder, Service MVP