BE EXCEPTIONAL

Topics Covered

Mindset of Exceptional People

Self-Reliance, Innovation and creating your own opportunities

Impact of Willpower when faced with obstacles

Excellence in Adversity and embodying resilience

Before going any further, know that this post will not be for everyone. This specific post is for those who, despite achieving certain goals, still believe their full potential is in the distance. This is for those who, deep down, are striving for another type of excellence.

I want to talk about being exceptional.

We often talk about being good vs. being great, but I want to bring you another perspective you may not have considered.

First, let’s define what it means to be exceptional. Exceptional is not an achievement; it’s a mindset or, more so, a lifestyle. It’s accepting that you are an outlier and being okay with that. Therefore, not many people will ever be exceptional, and you may only come across one in your lifetime. Being exceptional is a constant choice that you make every day because operating any other way would not align with your identity.

So you don’t mistake being exceptional for being good or great, let me give you some examples of the act of being exceptional.

Have you ever heard the story of Instagram being acquired?

Instagram was initially on its way to being sold to Twitter. In another timeline, Twitter purchases Instagram. It was going to be an easy deal for Twitter because the founder of Instagram was mentored by the founder of Twitter. They had a verbal agreement, and the following week, they were going to close on the deal. At the end of Friday, Twitter thought it had the deal in the bag. And then, in walks Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook.

Mark was very persistent in acquiring Instagram. However, Instagram repeatedly told Mark they didn’t want to be purchased by Facebook. Understand that during this time, Facebook was the leader in every social media category. They did not need Instagram. If it were any other CEO, after getting denied, they would’ve stopped there. Mark, knowing that the biggest threat to Facebook could be another social platform in the future, decided to make his own bets. Despite what others thought, he felt the need to purchase Instagram.

He called the founder of Instagram over to his house on Friday. He asked what the bids were, “Oh, $500 million.” Mark then responded and said, “How about I give you double that, but the only caveat is that we have to get the deal done now before Monday.”

During this time, no social media platform had ever been purchased for $1 billion (Instagram would go on to be the first). There was no precedent for a billion-dollar deal being done in less than 48 hours. By Monday morning, Facebook had purchased Instagram, and the rest is history.

Being exceptional is about doing what others won’t do and seeing what others can’t see, and when others think your back is up against the wall, you prove them wrong.

This wasn’t the first deal Mark would do like this; there would be many others, but not everyone can do what he did. It wasn’t about money; it was about will. There’s a big difference.

Let me explain.

Average people will read the above and believe it was money that made it happen. No, money helps, but that was not the reason the dominoes fell the way they did.

Have you ever heard the story about “Rocky,” the boxing movie? The story goes that Sylvester Stallone would go to casting calls and would never get picked. He was frustrated and thought to himself, “If no one will cast me, then I’ll write my own script and cast myself.” He then went home, painted his apartment windows black, removed the house phone, and limited all distractions. Three days later, he wrote the initial script for Rocky.

In this instance, he didn’t have money, but he had will.

Often, we think it’s our lack that’s stopping us, but it’s because we haven’t tapped into our will to open those doors that lack can’t get us into.

Now, what about the story of the director James Cameron? Before directing movies like Avatar, The Terminator, and so many other hits, he was a truck driver. He didn’t go to film school because he couldn’t afford it. However, in between his trips, he would go to the library and photocopy pages of books about film to learn more about it. He would read while on the road, in between stops. He saw a vision for himself much bigger than truck driving. (In 1983, Cameron wrote the sequel to The Terminator, the sequel to Aliens, and the sequel to Rambo in just three months.)

And what about the story of Oprah’s rise through media, or Ava DuVernay’s rise through film, or Barack Obama’s rise to, well, you know, President of the United States? I can go on and on.

Everyone is good at something. You may be good at your job, good at your career, good at a skill. A good number of people are great at something. With enough hours, we can go from being good to being great.

Very few people are exceptional. To be exceptional is to believe that if there’s no way, if it hasn’t been done before, when you don’t want to do it, you still show up and figure it out.

The Scale of Good to Great to Exceptional

Note: You don’t choose one to execute, start at the very beginning and work your way up the ladder. The issue is many people think they are already good, or great, and need to just start by doing exceptional activities. No, that is the quickest way to fail.

Here is a roadmap outlining how to progress from being good, to great, and ultimately to exceptional:

1. How to Be Good

A. Foundation and Basics

Learn and Master the Basics: Gain a solid understanding of the fundamental skills and knowledge in your field.
Consistency and Reliability: Show up consistently and perform your tasks reliably.
Build Strong Work Ethics: Develop a strong sense of responsibility, punctuality, and dedication.
Seek Feedback: Actively seek constructive feedback to identify areas of improvement.

B. Skill Development

Practice Regularly: Commit to regular practice to hone your skills.
Set Achievable Goals: Define clear, achievable short-term goals to maintain motivation.
Stay Updated: Keep up with the latest trends, techniques, and developments in your field.

C. Professionalism

Communicate Effectively: Develop good communication skills, both written and verbal.
Collaborate: Work well with others and contribute positively to team efforts.
Maintain Integrity: Uphold ethical standards and honesty in all your dealings.

2. How to Be Great

A. Advanced Skill Mastery

Specialize: Focus on mastering a specific area within your field to become an expert.
Seek Mentorship: Find mentors who can provide guidance, support, and advanced knowledge.
Take on Challenging Projects: Push your limits by taking on more complex and challenging tasks.

B. Continuous Improvement

Reflect and Improve: Regularly reflect on your performance and seek ways to improve.
Embrace Lifelong Learning: Commit to ongoing education and skill development through courses, workshops, and self-study.
Adaptability: Be open to change and adapt quickly to new situations or challenges.

C. Influence and Impact

Lead by Example: Demonstrate leadership qualities by setting a positive example for others.
Share Knowledge: Mentor others and share your expertise to help them grow.
Innovate: Look for opportunities to innovate and improve processes, products, or services.

3. How to Be Exceptional

A. Mindset and Vision

Cultivate an Exceptional Mindset: Believe in your unique potential and embrace your identity as an outlier.
Set Extraordinary Goals: Aim for goals that challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what is possible.
Stay Persistent: Maintain unwavering determination and resilience, even in the face of setbacks.

B. Bold Actions and Decisions

Take Calculated Risks: Be willing to take bold, calculated risks that others might shy away from.
Innovate Relentlessly: Continuously seek new and better ways to achieve your goals.
Act with Urgency: Move quickly and decisively to seize opportunities and overcome obstacles.

C. Impact and Legacy

Make a Lasting Impact: Aim to make a significant, lasting impact in your field and beyond.
Inspire Others: Inspire and empower others to pursue their own exceptional paths.
Leave a Legacy: Work towards creating a legacy that will be remembered and valued by future generations.

Summary

Good: Focus on mastering basics, consistency, reliability, and continuous improvement.
Great: Advance your skills, specialize, take on challenges, and make a positive impact through leadership and innovation.
Exceptional: Develop an exceptional mindset, take bold actions, innovate relentlessly, and aim to leave a lasting legacy.

By following this roadmap, you can progressively elevate yourself from being good, to great, and ultimately to exceptional in your chosen field.

That’s all I have for you today, until next time!