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| Vol.3.131 | |
The Difference a Wedgie Makesby Vince PoscenteAuthor of The Ant and the Elephant, Invinceable Principles and The Age of Speed It's tough to stomach taking a risk, particularly today. Yet different gets you noticed. Different makes you unique. Different is the future we're headed for. Everyone knows this. Few are willing to stick their neck (or in this case - skivvies) out. Something happened I believe has never occurred on a corporate stage - ever. The crowd comprised of a thousand young, hard-driving, street-smart salespeople who live and breath fun. At a point in the presentation eight people were invited on stage to be Olympians. Everyone was cheering wildly as the opening ceremonies music played. Energy was fever pitch. Then, the unexpected happened. One of the Olympians, a guy shaped like Fred Flintstone, took his shirt off and waved it. A collective cheer compounded the boisterous energy. As Fred passed by, I knew I had to send a message that said:
I grabbed a band of Hanes elastic and two handed a wedgie that picked this dude up off his toes. He swung his head around. With a big grin proceeded to wave his arms in victory.
Recently I spoke to a couple hundred HR professionals. Disney would have approved. The likelihood of a wedgie on stage was negative 1,000%. Knowing how and when to be different is critical, but no less essential. While standing on a chair, describing what it's like on top of a car, in a pink rubber ski suit was edgy enough for this group. The degree to which you seek to stand out correlates with how outstanding you can become.On your job: Monitor opportunities, measure risk (often in real time) and act decisively. In the Age of Speed you'll find yourself further ahead, respected by those who understand the power of intention and more secure in the outcomes you seek. Playing it safe is in fact, not that safe. Was it right to wedgie Fred? You might not think so. Fred thought it was funny and got off the hook. The audience thought it was hysterical. The executives were cool with it. The point is, different is safer - in the right setting. The world we live in today is not for the faint of heart. Go different or go home. Oh, and keep your shirt on. Until next week, it's full speed ahead,
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© 2010 Vince Poscente. All Rights Reserved. |
The tendency in any profession is to play it safe. Pick the middle ground. Don't offend anyone. Make sure you can't be criticized. Yet, that's not where innovation accelerates into new territory. There's a saying, "If you're not on the edge, you're taking up space."