What if instead of trying to differentiate our businesses by "being different" than our competitors; what if we simply looked to be ourselves? I've been considering the idea of "uniqueness" and how it's often discussed within the context of competition. Often times we tell people, especially children, to "be themselves" and protect "who they are" at all costs, which they should! However, I wonder if we've lost at times that same logic when it comes to business.
I counsel that some of the best business ideas are structural extensions of a person's inner motivations and make up: there are just certain things in life that make us really angry or really sad and we want to do something about it! Businesses birthed like this are inherently unique and can move from trying to be distinct to simply getting better at expressing what/who they already are and expanding their reach. I'll leave you with this quote from Howard Thurman. It keeps me focused on the essential thing when I am conducting business: authenticity.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Marius Massie
www.custom-initiative.com
Marius Massie is an serial entrepreneur and graphic designer by trade and loves helping businesses to "level up", upgrading their brand images to be more in-sync with who they are. Visit www.custom-initiative.com for a powerful list of business tools and resources to help you reach your goals.
