It's Easier To Stand Out Than You Think. Here's How . . .
I had just come back from a career fair where I was recruiting for a project.I had a stack of fresh resumes in hand. Looking at all of them it was quickly clear that they all looked the same.But when I talked to my colleague, he said "Look! That one! I want that one!"There was one resume in the tall stack that was bright red around the edges and stood out from the pile.As soon as I heard my colleague say this, I laughed.I pulled out the bright red resume to reveal that it wasn't a resume at all . . .It was a parking pass for the university!All of these students were doing their best to fit in. They used the same paper, the same font, the same format. They wore the same suits, said the same things, and asked the same questions.They were trying so hard to fit in because they'd been told that fitting in meant they'd be picked.
The moral of the story:
It's important and easy to stand out.Actually, it's so easy, a parking pass beat out all of my job candidates.The bar is low. Whether you're working on your marketing, your book cover, or the subject line for the email you're writing to your boss . . . it's your job to make sure your message is seen/heard/read/etc.
2 Minute Action:
Make a quick list of the top 5 things EVERYONE else does in your field.If you were to make a parody of your project or work or of the experts in your field, what might it look like?Congratulations.You now have a list of things NOT do to.You've also got a list of places in which you can be more unique.Your turn. Let's go.
Are You An Entitled Snowflake?
Let's be clear about snowflakes:
You can't have the job you want, just because you want it.You won't get a trophy just for being at the race.It's interesting to see on the news how the idea of being a "snowflake," a unique, special person, is synonymous with entitlement.You are not entitled to anything . . . well, except for one thing.That's love and empathy from other human beings.Your existence doesn't grant you the right to anything you want.That would be, of course, ridiculous.What's also ridiculous is the idea that you're born with NO rights.And on America's independence day, we have a chance to evaluate our inalienable rights and who is entitled to them.Personally, I'd like to live in a world where we think about others before we form a belief about who we think they are.I'd like to live in a world where everyone has an equal shot at the life of their dreams.
2 Minute Action
This is your chance to take 2 minutes and ask yourself:
- What are you free from?
- What are you not?
- What are you going to do about it?
Your Privacy Is Very Important To Us
How many emails have you gotten like this in the past few weeks?They all sound the same, right?How about these familiar lines:
- Your call is important, please hold.
- We value your business.
- Thanks for shopping.
These lines probably made consumers feel good the first time. No one else was saying it, so hearing "thanks" felt good.It was a step above the norm. It made businesses stand out by making their consumers feel special.And I bet you know where this is going . . .If everyone is doing it, it loses its uniqueness, it's special shine.The point was to stand out, not to follow what everyone else is doing.Of course, this isn't what we learn in school. It's not how we've been trained to operate.We've been trained to sit still and stay in line.Don't run.Don't shout.Follow the formula and you'll excel.Of course, it's hard to realize at first, but it's obvious now that this is well-intentioned bad advice.How could doing what everyone else is doing help you excel!?So if you're goal is to tell someone their privacy (or attention, or time, or business, or affection, or whatever) is important to you, perhaps you should tell them in a way that actually means something--in a way that stands out.If you don't, I promise, you will fit right in.And it gets worse; you'll lose the confidence of whomever you're addressing.
2 Minute Action
What's something you're doing right now that is intentionally done like everyone else?Or maybe it's something that you've just always done that way.
- An email footer?
- The way you answer the phone?
- The same gift basket you always send?
How could you make it more personal? More special? More you?I bet it only takes 2 extra minutes and ends up making all the difference.