What do you do best?
Seriously…
Are you great at sports? A killer comic? A fabulous writer? A great friend?
Maybe a gourmet chef, an incredible storyteller or a passionate artist?
All of the above; some of the above; none of the above….
Whatever….
The bottom line is that there are things you do better than most, that help define you, that differentiate you, that make you who you are and, in my own personal case, make me happy as well.
Then there are the other things. The other stuff. The “wish I could do that,” the “only if I could,” and “wouldn’t it be great if” stuff. Sometimes aspirational – sometimes a good stretch – sometimes a pipe dream.
And here is the thing – we are all Brands – “Brand Me” – and like all Brands we have equity – pluses and minuses – that is what makes us special and unique. And like all Brands we are best known for what makes us who we are.
Now – that doesn’t mean we can’t do more – look at Apple – no big instruction books come with the iPad or iPod – rather we discover their functions ourselves, knowing as we do the basic road map. But it is an Apple.
Relationships are the same – we discover, we experiment, we learn – and the most successful stay fresh and new – but, like the best Brands, at some point the extensions can be destructive.
Now – let’s be clear – I’m not advocating boring adherence to some predetermined, predestined life – NO WAY. In fact, learning new skills and sweating new ideas keeps us young and alive – and at my advanced age that is important!
What I am saying is that we should learn from the best – Google says that they are not a technology company – that they are all about data and media; Amazon is a retailer…plain and simple; eBay was most successful when it was an efficient flea market for collectors and bargain hunters, and stumbled when it tried to become Amazon. And on and on – PLEASE ADD EXAMPLES OF YOUR OWN.
As it with us, so it is with the companies we work with and for – our own or others. Selfishly, Wunderman has been successful for fifty years because we have stayed a true course – we are known for focusing on the customer – data and all that it entails – everything else is commentary and in another fifty years still will be. See where I’m going?
Listen:
“We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.” Mark Twain
And there you have it. I can go to a weekend Formula One Experience but will I really be known as a Formula One driving star? Outside of Xbox (and that is in doubt too – but I do have my strengths there), I doubt it.
We should build on all that we can; we must learn all that we can hold – but it seems to me that we should be known for who we are…
What do you think?
I think that all of us once in a life have some doubts like those… Until the day we just realize that all we need is already here… and happiness comes as we feed our expectations with our actions…
Right now, I have a thousand things going on in my mind that I wish somehow I could make it come true, but first, I have a good feeling in my heart that is, it doesn’t matter whatever I decide doing first, as long as I keep my beliefs and my heart in first place..
Loved you post David ! Thanks for the morning inspirations..
Gisele
David, I enjoy your sharing thoughts!
It’s really nice. It turns into a different moment in my working day!
I am a dreamer and I still belive in human potencial.
I belive we already have habilities to develop our skills.
We just need to try.
I adventure myself in different areas sometimes: learn how to sing, to dance, doing handworks… It is such a satisfactory experience!
But what makes me be remarkable is work as a psychologist.
I love and I was born to do this. That’s what I am good.
Thank you, so inspirational…….
It seems like such common sense, but we all need a reminder just to keep everything in pospective.
What do you think of Hitler? Is he known for who he is or what he built on and learned?
Life, career, success, and failure shape us. The naked child hides far behind even from the self after a point.
We become what we do, our ACTIONS define us.
I believe this applies to brands too. Today it can not be a mere brand promise, a slogan is just talking – worse than politician’s talk. For a brand to exist at the corner of my holographic universe she must ACT.
Funny thing about evil — always seems to be running after what it wants and doesnt have — and never gest for the long term.
Hi david, your thoughts are truly insightful and enjoyable. They inspire me each time i take a read. I think today, more than ever, its hard to focus on one’s strengths and be happy with that – as much as we want to. But then, there isnt any real harm in diversifying one’s skills and tryin new things if they are pushed in the right direction with the right strategy. What do you think?