Dare To Be Different

Posted on April 21, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

The first step to break away from being average is to make the decision to be different. To make a definitive choice to rise above the culture of mediocrity which surrounds you – and step onto a new path.

So in what ways can a person decide to be “different”?

• Decide to stop making excuses. Just stop. No one wants to hear why you can’t do something, so make a conscious decision to stop talking about it.

• Take responsibility. (This is the opposite of making excuses.) Take responsibility for your own success, and what it will take to be successful – and when something goes wrong (as it sometime will), take responsibility for that too.

• Start questioning rules and expectations… and pay close attention to the answers you hear. These kinds of questions include: Why is this rule/expectation in place? What are the consequences of following this rule/expectation? What does this rule actually accomplish?

• Find work that you love to do – and then decide to do it very well. Choose to find more ways to spend your life doing what you love to do – and at the best of your ability.

• Decide to live the life YOU were created to live. This is what it’s all about — to live the life YOU were meant to live. Don’t let the expectations of others distract you from your purpose and calling.

• Choose to think BIGGER! Take what is already working well in your life and add to it. For example - Choose to grow your business 200%; Apply for the position of CFO when you are still the departmental accountant; Visit five countries in the next five years (or if you want to explore one country, stay three weeks instead of one).

** Make the choice to break away from mediocrity - Make the choice to be different!