YIELDING TO THE POWER OF DISTINCTIVENESS
YIELDING TO THE POWER OF DISTINCTIVENESS
Third Edition
In this overly competitive world of ours, filled with a plethora of challenges and opportunities, lies the need to fill the vacuum of mediocrity (not settling for less). There is no other more rewarding procedure, than for an individual to certainly be at the top of the game. I am delighted to have transited to a crucial point in this newsletter where I can share the nuggets that are seldom pronounced or often not highlighted, but turn out to be some of the major factors that separate the chaff from the wheat. One of such is understanding the efficacy of DISTINCTIVE-NESS!
To start with, from studying the lives of distinguished personalities and through my experience over the years, I deciphered that distinctiveness is an unusual quality that is needed for almost anything and everything we do. No one achieves anything extraordinary without trying to be distinct. The act of doing things in a common way cannot produce an uncommon result. A unique result is gotten by doing things in an uncommon manner. A lot of people get same results for doing things the same way it has always been done, without introducing new ideas and brilliant concepts.
In furtherance, you might be wondering why so many people in the world have been trying very hard to reckon with Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the newly appointed Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). it is no longer a breaking news that so many people are star struck and as such, trying frantically to thread her excellent path. The answer is not far-fetched; she was distinct! Life naturally rewards people who show uncommon resilience, doggedness and initiative; to do things creatively in their own ways, while also setting optimal standards for themselves.
Let me take you down memory lane with my personal story:
Some weeks to my Convocation ceremony, I was already basking in the euphoria of being the Valedictorian. I tried to be optimistic and thought deeply about what I could do to change the narrative. Prior to this time, we have always had Best Graduating Students, but I thought of personal branding, doing something different and attaching something new to that title; I thought of making that title an enviable one – something everyone would want to have. This was because I saw how academic excellence was fast becoming unrewarded in our society. I made up my mind to be distinct and by so doing, I took a leap of faith.
Most of the things that I did were first of its kind. Through a paradigm shift, I changed a lot of things and I know that those coming after will have a shinning example to imitate. Whoever emerges after me will have golden shoes to step into, beyond the grades!
The first decision I made was to resolve to deliver my speech extemporaneously (without reading directly from a manuscript). I knew the risk attached to this. You can imagine the fear of presenting such a cogent speech on one of your biggest stages and important platforms. Definitely, you can't afford to embarrass yourself or make your entire family cringe out of the auditorium with their faces bowed in forceful solitude. However, I embraced the challenge even when some persons advised me against doing such; but preparation was my only antidote to subdue my fright to take the stage. Here are the two outcomes that are obtainable: it is either I bravely climb the podium to deliver my speech in an unusual way like never before, or to cowardly climb the podium – following the norms – to deliver my speech the same old way. Guess what? I chose the former. I was able to extemporaneously deliver a speech of about nine minutes; one which has never been done! That particular giant stride made the event glamorous and brought a lot of attention. Indeed, the speech went viral on social media platforms. Why? I employed the power of being DISTINCT!
This is a link to my uploaded version of the speech: Click here
Also, that wasn't the end. I leveraged largely on the media, coauthored and launched a book with a friend of mine, with contributions from other distinguished scholars –amid other personal initiatives of mine. I felt that fulfillment within me, afterwards, every other thing was in place naturally and strategically. You may want to ask how all these happened? It is simply the act of maximizing the power of DISTINCTIVENESS and not wanting to be ordinary!
Here is the crux: If we want to achieve anything phenomenal, we must be ready to put in the required level of work, with an unflinching resolve to being DISTINCT. Life naturally rewards those that desist from following the conventional path. Instead, life will reward those who find their path and enhance it.
CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: What is that decision you are about to make? What steps have you taken or do you plan to take by being DISTINCT?
NEXT EDITION: Topical issues for maximizing life and attaining one's full potentials will be discussed.
Thanks for reading this newsletter. Cheers to better days ahead full of express accomplishments.
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YIELDING TO THE POWER OF DISTINCTIVENESS
DISTINCT is the word.
Thanks for this inspiring piece.