"Being Purple"

Everyone has their own set of fingerprints, and so do you. Put your own handprint on everything you do and make your business practices and style unique! If you take the time to really think about your strengths and how they tie in with the responsibilities of your job, you can take those characteristics and build on them to personalize your business.

 

One of the things I love about travelling outside the area to conferences, annual meetings, certification courses and continuing education is the info and ideas I get from people outside my area.  These ideas may come from instructors or attendees, or they may come from recommended reading material. It is great to learn and get ideas from others, but don't try to be an exact copy of them. You are unique---find out what it is that makes you stand out and develop it with your own ideas and special touch!

This point is made perfectly clear in Seth Godin’s book, “Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable.”  It is a short read, and one I highly recommend.  The main idea is that there are probably hundreds of thousands of people in your industry, but in order for you to stand out, you have to find a way to be different, but in a useful way.  I put this idea to work for me in my business almost two years ago, and it changed my business at least 360 degrees!  I evaluated, assessed, planned, created and implemented changes that have made me absolutely love what I do for a living!  My attitude changed almost immediately, and my work was something I was excited about, every single day.  (And of course, I still am!)  The wheels are ALWAYS turning in my mind, and I can’t wait to implement and try new ideas.  Keeping things creative and fresh is so much more fun than getting stuck in a day-to-day rut, where everything stays the same.

So what are you going to do to stand out in your industry?  Start by thinking “purple”, and you will be off to a good start!