Becoming Uncommon: A Journey to Your Full Potential
Written on
Chapter 1: Understanding the Uncommon
Most individuals tend to conform to common standards. Being common is often perceived as easier, more acceptable, and comfortable. When you blend in, you become relatable, allowing others to empathize with your experiences. They share complaints and seek refuge in mutual dissatisfaction.
However, the journey to becoming uncommon requires a significant effort. It involves setting higher expectations for yourself, pushing your limits, and striving for more. To be uncommon, you must navigate around those who may hinder your progress. This is often the most challenging aspect. Those closest to you may advise you to conform, suggesting that life is simpler if you just “go with the flow.”
The longer you silence that inner drive to achieve more, the harder it becomes to accept the life you've settled for. This is why many people find themselves unexpectedly unfulfilled, often experiencing what’s known as a midlife crisis.
“Success is uncommon, not to be found by the common man. I’m looking for uncommon people.” — Cal Stroll
How to Cultivate Uncommonness
The antidote to this widespread issue is ongoing self-development. By pushing your boundaries and expanding your capabilities, you can transform from an ordinary individual into someone truly exceptional.
Embracing the Journey
The journey towards becoming uncommon consists of the daily actions that set you apart from others. This is what success looks like in practice—it's not glamorous, but rather a repetitive process. You are either improving or declining; the choice is yours.
“The burn, committing to standards over feelings, is an ongoing process that must combine with other tools that work best for you. Not allowing your feelings to dictate how you show up. But choosing to live to your standard to win each day. You must find a daily process that works for you. That process leads to what I call Your Prizefighter Day.” — Ben Newman
Section 1.1: The Role of Lifestyle in Success
Your lifestyle significantly impacts your potential for success. Embracing a high-performance lifestyle is essential.
Love What You Do
Jon Gordon, a well-known author in the self-development arena, emphasizes that you cannot give your all if you don't genuinely care about your work. This notion struck me deeply because many of us compartmentalize work and pleasure, believing in the notion of work/life balance. Instead, I propose that you should strive to find joy in everything you do, creating a unified experience.
This means consistently presenting your best self and producing quality results, regardless of the context. Don’t just look forward to weekends; cultivate a love for your tasks every day.
“Positive energy is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. The stronger it gets, the more powerful you become. Repetition is the key, and the more you focus on positive energy, the more it becomes a natural state.” — Jon Gordon
This video features motivational insights from David Goggins, encouraging viewers to embrace their uniqueness and push beyond their limits.
Section 1.2: Crafting Your Mindset
Choosing your mindset is crucial. If you do not intentionally design your mindset, you will likely revert to a default emotional state, which often aligns with common thinking patterns.
By deliberately crafting your mindset, you prepare yourself to handle challenges better. For instance, if you face setbacks, you might think, “Good, I now have a chance to strengthen my resilience.”
Chapter 2: Leading Yourself First
Many people admire the concept of leadership, mistakenly equating it with merely directing others. True leadership starts with self-discipline and embodying the principles you wish to see in others.
It’s vital to remember that you cannot expect others to follow if you do not lead by example. This discrepancy is increasingly common across various professions.
“Leadership, uncommon or otherwise, is not easy. It requires honesty, accepting reality, telling the truth to others as well as yourself, and setting your ego aside.” — Ben Newman
In this motivational short, David Goggins shares insights on being uncommon and the importance of pursuing excellence in every aspect of life.
Reminding Yourself of Your Why
Desire plays a crucial role in achieving success. As children, we were naturally inclined to pursue our interests, but as we grow older, many of us settle into predictable career paths or succumb to hedonistic tendencies.
To counter this, it's essential to remain committed to your passions. Each challenge presents a lesson, and through self-development, you will gain the insight, determination, and intuition necessary to realize your ambitions.
Jerry Rice exemplifies this dedication to excellence, having focused entirely on his NFL career during his first decade, forgoing vacations to achieve his goals.
This story draws inspiration from "Uncommon Leadership" by Ben Newman, showcasing the journey of self-improvement and the pursuit of high performance.
Stay connected on social media for updates and insights. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Threads (@outworkchief), or visit my coaching website at trainoutwork.com for more resources.