I just finished reading a book filled with good information, but nothing significant stood out in the content.
Actually, much of what I read I’ve read in countless other books.
Truth be told, just about any Law of Attraction, inspirational and/or motivational writer could have put their name to it and it would be good.
And therein lies the problem. It’s good, but not great. What would have made it great is for the author to have added in his unique personality. He could have told stories that are uniquely his. Stories that support points he made throughout the book.
Otherwise the book is a big, “So what? Who really cares?”
The challenge today is there are so many people who do the same thing and if you don’t do something to stand out from the crowd you get lost in the shuffle.
Regardless of whether you’re an author, speaker, coach or consultant there’s a strong possibility you are blending in and are considered one among many.
Don’t let this happen.
There are pros and cons to standing out. As there are pros and cons to blending in. Personally, I would rather have my personality and quirkiness stand out as opposed to simply blending in.
The challenge with blending in is that you become a commodity rather than someone people are willing to jump through hoops to work with. And yet, when you blend in, you have less of a risk of being criticized and judged.
The challenge with standing out is that you will be judged and you will be criticized, but you also create raving fans. Raving fans are loyal, go the distance with you and highly respect what you do.
Whatever you do, put your own unique signature on it. Avoid doing what this easily forgettable author did; make his work so vanilla that few people (if any) will know what he stands for.
What is it that makes you different than everyone else doing what you do? Post comments in the box provided.
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Telling your story along with information goes a long long way to having people remember you. I am learning this more and more as time goes on!!
So true Kate. So true.
Kathleen, thanks for sharing this post. We all have our unique personalities and stories that help make us stand out in the crowd. I like sharing stories when I have a story that relates to what I’m writing about. Hopefully people will recognize our work as being unique. Thanks for all you do to encourage us to be ourselves and share our experience and expertise with the world.
Blessings,
Deborah H. Bateman
http://DeborahHBateman.com
The stories are what make someone memorable. Keep sharing Deborah.
Living outside “the box” and standing out is about being comfortable with being vulnerable. We want people to notice us and say good things, but fear that something bad or negative might be said makes us conform. The truth of the matter is that if they aren’t talking we are blending in and greatness dulls in the crowd. When I was seven I wore crazy mixed up outfits. I liked my cowboy boots, yellow tights, checkered skirt and floral top. My mom would try to get me to change and we often went round and round about what people might say. Being persistent and wearing what I liked taught me the value of being unique!
Cowboy boots are actually my favorite type of footwear at this point in my life. Not only for practical purposed… I also love the look. Thanks for your comments Heidi.
Very well said, Kathleen. Too many people are trying to be like too many other people. Where is the knowledge in all this? Fresh insight and different perspectives is what makes people learn and think outside the box.
I’m so bored with status quo that I will choose the controversy, ridicule, and judgment of standing out any day over being the same as everyone else.
I wish more people would be themselves and tell me something I haven’t heard 1 million times already.
Well said David. And yes, it’s time for people to be themselves and be willing to rock the boat a bit. The more we are true to who we are the more likely we are to attract more of the type of people we enjoy working with. That’s when business becomes so much fun.
As always, Kathleen, you make your point so succinctly and truthfully. I have been out of the box for so long, I didn’t even realize I was! Just being me, I guess.
When I began to write my book, Rock and Roll at 70 and Beyond, I heard an announcement on TV that Martha Stewart had just come out with a book on aging gracefully. Then I went to a luncheon where a woman spoke about aging and had also just published her own book, Counterclockwise (I highly recommend it). For a moment I was taken aback and unsure of whether to move forward and then I realized that I have my own story, my own ideas, and my own successes in reaching 70 (and beyond) in my own vibrant, healthy, joyful and definitely fun way. It will be unique and I will move forward to finish it and be my own self!
Thanks again for your insights!