In a recent social media post, Fawn Weaver, the CEO behind Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, shared a powerful message on the importance of authenticity and staying true to oneself, despite external pressures.
In her video, Weaver highlighted how showing up as a “representative” of who we think we should be can prevent us from receiving the blessings meant for our true selves.
“Most people show up in life not as their true selves but as representatives of who they think they should be,” Weaver shared. “God blesses and gives favor only to the real you. So, when you show up as a ‘rep,’ the blessings meant for you miss the mark.”
Weaver’s post included a nod to her friend and fellow entrepreneur, Tabitha Brown, who has also spoken openly about her own journey from presenting a “representative” version of herself to fully embracing her authentic identity.
“For those who can’t accept the authentic you, think of them as rocket boosters,” Weaver added. “A rocket can only climb so high with the boosters attached. When it’s time to ascend beyond a certain level, those boosters must drop off for you to keep rising.”
Weaver encouraged viewers to ignore the pressures to conform, sharing how authenticity has fueled her success in both business and life.
Reflecting on her experiences over the past week, Weaver mentioned milestones that reflect the multifaceted nature of her work.
“If I let people mold me, shape me, tell me how I should be and how I should act, I couldn’t have been riding my horse at the distillery at lunchtime on Monday, sea walking on IG on Tuesday, setting the internet on fire, and then on Wednesday in Cambridge at Harvard, teaching a case study at the business school that was written about me and about Uncle Nearest,” she explained.
The message resonates as Weaver continues to balance her entrepreneurial spirit with a drive for innovation and a commitment to breaking stereotypes.
Recently, she’s been making waves with Uncle Nearest’s latest whiskey offering, even celebrating the launch of the whiskey smash at Delta’s lounge—a testament to her success in an industry where few women, let alone Black women, have held such influential roles.
Weaver concluded with a reminder that staying authentic is vital in reaching one’s full potential:
“God made you multifaceted. Do not let anybody box you into only being one part of who he created you to be.”
