Be Different. But Not Too Different.
These six words are a microcosm of our society.
We inhabit a world that values individuality — to an extent. Some originality is considered noteworthy. Too much is considered rebellious.
This paradox arises from our dueling desires to explore and maintain. We want to test the waters and get outside of our comfort zone. But we won’t dare lose sight of the boat that brought us — or else the current might sweep us away for good.
Why keep one foot on solid ground, instead of diving right in? Because we strive for balance. We simply cannot function properly without it.
This leads to a world of incremental changes. We try and take the monotonous, familiar world we know and gradually put a fresh spin on it. It’s like an adapted recipe, with life as we know it as the base ingredient.
Making your mark can prove challenging in this paradigm. No one is there to tell you where the goalposts are. So, the quest to find the right amount of different can be quite elusive. Play it too safe, and you’ll come off as bland and quiet. Change too much up and you’ll come off as loud and obnoxious.
What can you do to find the sweet spot?
- Scour the landscape. Take a close look at how things look now. What’s considered normal? Why are things the way they are within an industry or a social group? Don’t hesitate to self-educate. The more you know about the world around you, the more effective you can be at changing it.
- Consider a derivative. No intensive calculus needed here — just a math mindset. What’s one thing you could change about the world you know in order to make it one degree more efficient and one degree more outstanding? Throwing the status quo out the window and starting over is not an option. Think in terms of small, yet noticeable tweaks.
- Chart a plan of action. Think about how you will implement the changes you derive. Think of what you will do to communicate these changes in a way that doesn’t upset the apple cart Are you prepared for all outcomes when you let the cat out of the bag?
- Execute.
Now, you might think this looks a lot like a business plan. You’d be right — and wrong.
You see, business is a microcosm of our societal constructs. Of our need for balance and continual improvement. Of our need to be different, but not too different.
In other words, business mirrors life. Take these steps to find the right amount of different, and you’ll likely see success in both areas.
You’ll improve the world in a culturally acceptable manner. And in the process, you’ll be viewed as remarkable.
These are goals we strive for, whether we admit it or not. The right amount of different makes them possible.
So, what are you waiting for? The process starts now.