Choose to Take the Journey

“Don’t rock the boat.”

“You’ll stick out like a sore thumb!”

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do…”

I’m willing to bet you’ve heard one or more of the above platitudes, which have the common denominator of encouraging conformity. Despite widespread claims to a culture of individualism, most parents and our society for the most part still promote the opposite: keeping your head low, staying out of trouble, and not challenging the status quo. But there’s no need to harbor resentment towards anyone for pulling you back to the average, the ordinary, the normal.

Outliers are often the first to have their heads on the chopping block, and your parents would just like to keep you safe. Their intention above all else is to ensure your continued survival. And even if they did wish to embolden your heart, they may not possess the know-how to illuminate the way or the courage to send their little one into the dark unknown. It is up to you to heed their advice when appropriate and venture off the beaten track when you’ve found your guiding light.

Society’s intentions, on the other hand, are a bit more sinister. Their goal is to keep you exactly where you are, to know your place and be satisfied with it, simply because there is not room for everyone at the top. There is no government without citizens. No celebrity without fans. No chief without his tribe. In order to stand out, you must first stand up. If others around you are already standing, then you must speak louder, persist longer, and differentiate yourself further so that you do not become lost among the masses. Do not allow yourself to be subdued by others. Do not stifle your roar beneath the rumble of the crowd. You must be heard. You must be seen. You must be remembered.

The truth is every single person is unique in his own right. He is interesting, multilayered, and irreplaceable. Yet most act and even market themselves as generic sheeple. A legion of reactive yes-men in the boardroom. An army of single men in their navy blue shirts marching to their first dates at Starbucks. Whether it be for the love of your business or the business of love, you should always strive to be unforgettable. Just remember the words of the inimitable John Lennon, “It’s weird not to be weird.”