Be True To Yourself Or Listen To Others?

People like me spend a lot of time telling musicians to "be true to themselves". Much the same advice is given to entrepreneurs and other would be leaders. After all, only authenticity grows a tribe and only artists
(or products or services or blogs) with tribes last.

We also tell them to "listen to the fans" (or "the customer is king").

Which one is it? Listen to yourself or listen to others?

The answer is, yes.

Yes, authenticity matters. Yes, sometimes you make mistakes. Yes, the ones that are going to let you know when you’re off course are your true fans (tribe, regular customers). Yes, what you do (create, sell, write) matters to you and if its worthy it also matter to others. That’s the big fist in the air, collective, tribal YES!