Uniqueness is our power
Hi Phil, I’d like you to meet Theo. He’s a bit weird too. I was somewhat unprepared for the frankness of the introduction, but totally embraced the implication that I think differently. Steve Jobs would be proud.
Uniquely powerful
Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn. - Gore Vidal
Consider, for a moment, people you believe to be successful. Your list will likely be different from mine, but might include Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sarah Gilbert or James Dyson. If we consider such individuals, they are each very different. We may believe they are egotistical. However, they have the confidence, vision and determination to stand for something and follow their own path. From such minds, we have visions of autonomous cars, AI, robots, spaceships, vaccines and bagless vacuums. These ideas could only come from people who did not follow in the footsteps of others. We celebrate their individuality, not their conformity. Their uniqueness is a great source of power and influence.
Steal, don’t copy
The more you aspire to be like an original thinker, creator or artist, the less chance you have of ever becoming an original thinker, creator or artist. Originality is not something you can replicate. It begins where replication ends. - Steven Bartlett
Images of our idols can often be seen on social media and elsewhere. It may be tempting to attempt to imitate them. However, that’s the route to frustration and never being admired by others. We should learn from them, but not try to be them. Steal Like an Artist suggests taking and remixing ideas from others to create something new.
We are each born unique. Our DNA has never existed before or will ever again. Our experiences growing up and life are personal to us alone. We’ll never find ourselves or own happiness until we accept that we can’t have anyone else’s life but our own. What makes us unique, that even makes us weird and we may be slightly afraid of because it’s so different from other people, is our source of power. So we have to be willing to be original, to be weird and go out on a limb and express our true feelings and ideas.
Embrace feedback
We all need people who will give us feedback. That's how we improve. - Bill Gates
For ideas to have value, they need to be tested in the world outside of our heads. We need to seek honest feedback from people we respect and trust. Be open to scrutiny and, if valid challenges are made, adjust our ideas. We have an amazing array of free tools available to us to share our work, including those I detail in Branding Ourselves.
Ironically, once we’ve honed the best version of ourselves then others are likely to make the mistake of trying to emulate us.
Other resources
Originals book by Adam Grant
The Key to Transforming Yourself talk by Robert Greene
How to Find Counterintuitive Solutions post by Phil Martin
If someone says you’re different then take it as a compliment and smile (not in a weird way). Remember that is your source of power. Vive la différence.
Have fun embracing your uniqueness.
Phil…
