Different is temporary and easy to duplicate. Everyone knocks off your idea, so you change your branding and company's identity. You go through a long redesign and now your website, blog and twitter background are decked out in pink polka dots instead of green argyle. You have a new logo, new fonts, and maybe even a new workflow system - more streamlined to deliver better customer service. You're different than the competition.
Until the competition catches up. Suddenly, everyone's blog and twitter is now pink (or they all now have a "blog-site", even if it makes no sense for their particular company). They also have a new logo and fonts (uncannily similar to yours - imagine that) and they've ramped up their customer service as well. Everyone is now different - just like you. You may have been first mover in the marketplace with your fresh look and approach, but you are no longer different.
Instead of striving to be different, focus on being unique. Unique is you. It's in your DNA, it's who you are. No one can ever copy your uniqueness simply because no one can ever be you. They can try, but they will fail, because they cannot emulate your personality (at least not for the long haul), cannot bring your culmination of life experiences to the table, cannot see the world with your particular worldview or perspective. You are who you are, and that is what makes you unique.
As it relates to social media, the entire focus of blogs and other outlets is to bring transparency to the person who is writing. Don't focus on being different, just be yourself. Don't try to be something or someone you aren't, don't try to write or post like someone else because it seems like what they are doing is working, and don't try to be what you would like to be rather than who you currently are. Just be the person that you are right now, in this season.
Be unique. You already are.
This post was originally published August 2009.
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33 comments:
What an uplifting post to read on a Monday morning :) Thanks for being your "unique' self Liene!
I've had so many of my own blog posts and tweets copied in the past few months that it has made me want to try something different...but then if wouldn't be true to who I am. Thanks for the reminder -- this was a great post to start Monday morning!
Jennifer
Very well said! Thanks so much, Liene, for sharing.
I love this! This is exactly why we launched our new blog that is a combination of a personal/work blog because we knew that who we were was not just our pictures, it was our life and we wanted to be able to share that.
thank you for this post. it's so easy to get caught up in who is doing what. but what really matters, is what am i doing, and what sets me apart. happy monday!
I love this post! It takes the focus away from being competitive (different) and puts it on being myself (unique) - which is so much less stressful and more positive anyways:) Thanks Liene.
you hit the nail on the head....being unique is the key! It's what sets you apart from everyone else. great post Liene!
Wow! Thank you. This is so very, very true. I do think everyone knows "(who) which came first" however, it can be tiring and frustrating when your "competition" copies every move you make. Every word you use.
I just finished signing off on yet another engagement letter from our copyright/trademark lawyer. We are ready to proceed in protecting our business, our bread and butter yet again. Then I read your post. Thank you.
Stealing text or descriptive words from a competitor is not being 'the best'. Copying the exact colors for text and links is not being 'the best'. It is not being yourself or unique. Just as "the hidden garden" said, You hit the nail RIGHT on the head.
Keep your fabulous, uplifting articles coming.
YOU are unique and amazing!
Thank you again.
This is such valuable advice, especially in the wedding industry. While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, you should always strive to be uniquely different!
I love this post. And this part was so true: "because they cannot emulate your personality (at least not for the long haul), cannot bring your culmination of life experiences to the table, cannot see the world with your particular worldview or perspective. You are who you are, and that is what makes you unique."
No one can copy who you are or your experiences and that is so true Liene. And that makes us exactly unique. Thank you for posting this!
You hit the nail on the head Liene! You are do "you" well. As long as we as professionals tweak who we are, that is all that matters. I tell myself "DO Kerline and Do Kerline well!"
When your competitor copies you, you must be doing something right.
Great post! I needed this today- sometimes it helps to be reminded to just be myself! Thanks, Liene!
nice.
Love love love this post!!!!!! thanks Liene!
Thank you so much for this Liene - it's a refreshing and much-need reminder, not only as a blogger but also as a bride!
It's one thing to be inspired by, it's another to just copy. It's sad when so-called creative types just copy creativity off of someone else and claim it as their own, only with a louder voice. I guess it's sadder to be the copycat, since they don't know who they are!
Particulary enjoyed this post; (for me) it seemed to nicely compliment Sean's "success in faiulure" post and Seth's post "competing with the singleminded".
Your first sentence reminded me so much of what my mom used to tell us as kids, but it is so true! Thank you for your fantastic site!
Love this post! Speaks volumes.
Thank you for this inspiring and relevant post. I am authentically me. WOW! Having said that, I got to thinking how paralyzing it must be to try to be like someone else. Truth be told, there are days when "being me" is not easy...but I'm the best one for the job :-). As you said we are all unique. No one else on the face of the earth has the same handprint as I do. And although there is nothing new under the sun, the way in which I do something will be uniquely me because just like you said, we all have different backgrounds, experiences, relationships, perspectives, etc. Thanks again for sharing your uniqueness with all of us...be blessed
Well said, Liene. When you are true to yourself, it is easy to be authentic and passionate about what you write. Every blogger has the same toolkit. What makes each of us unique is the angles we select, it is the way we tell our stories.
So true....although sometimes the hardest thing to do is to know who you are so you can be yourself. It's so easy to follow the pack than to dig down deep and find your true self. But that is part of what being creative is all about. Thank you for giving a swift kick in the rear!
i needed that, thanks!
Great Post! In my opinion, the statement "Being Different" is just another way of saying "independently conforming"
Just the kind of thoughts I need...thanks for this reminder =)
Great help!!!
(and thanks to Kat Williams for linking to your site!)
Cheers!!!
Thanks for the reminder Liene!! Sometimes we need to be reminded that what makes us US is what makes us succeed.
LOVE this! :)
This was one of my favorite posts ever last August when it was first published and even more so today when I re-read it. Such a great reminder to stay true to yourself and believe in the unique qualities you can bring to the table. Awesome and empowering!
Your post was so refreshing. I think we sometimes look at others around us and wish we could be more like them because they are so this or so that and in reality they are looking back at us wishing they could be more like us. It is impossible to be all things to all people so when we all decide to be our unique, individual selves then we start having an internal tranquility/peace.
Thanks for the beautiful post!
Beautifully said. I adore your articles - you're an inspiration to us all!
Fantastic post! Every point you made is so true. Be unique!
thank you for this post, it is confirmation of what I already knew, but tend to forget. I love being in season, I always remember that no fruit is at its prime out of season. Walking down the street in the summer time with a winter coat is also awkward and uncomfortable for you. Yes, everything in season!!!!
stumbled upon this this evening and it was perfect timing! LOVE it! Thank you. It's what I truly believe and what I needed to see at the very same time! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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