Discovery in the Wild
I crested a tough climb. The air was thin, and the change in altitude hit me hard. After trudging through a mile or so of switchbacks, I was winded. My pack was uncomfortable, and my water bladder, which I had been pulling from, was now bleeding dry. I rounded a few boulders, and suddenly the trail opened up to a wide-open field of mountain meadow flowers in full bloom. The site was a dizzying kaleidoscope of purples, blues, reds, greens, and yellows. The sound of bees working on their wild mountain honey was mesmerizing. Exhausted yet amazed, I sat down, my pack sliding off my shoulders with a heavy thump. There, balanced on a small rock, I gazed in awe at my very own Van Gogh, finally understanding the beauty Vincent always saw in the world around him.
A Lesson from Nature
Once my moment of elation subsided, my eyes focused on a particular flower that starkly contrasted with the rest. It was less vibrant but stood out because its shape and color were unique. It had larger petals, uncommon for the delicate flowers of high altitudes. It stood alone, emerging from a clump of grass nestled in some remaining snow. A giant bumblebee, sharing my adoration, nestled into the center of the flower, gathering what looked like an explosion of pollen. This flower was hard to miss, with no similar counterpart nearby. Tired and in need of rest, I found myself captivated by this flower, watching it interact with various buzzing insects and dancing delicately in the gentle breeze from the canyon below.
Embrace Uniqueness
Be different. That was the prevailing thought as I watched this curious flower dance from side to side in the gentle mountain air. Above all things, be like this flower. Stand out, be unique. In a sea of beauty and splendor, capture attention by setting yourself apart from all the others. Establish your own beauty in however that comes to be. Uniqueness, when surrounded by such a crowd, is the way to set yourself apart.
The Natural Drive for Diversity
There’s a lot of noise about diversity and inclusion in the business world these days. It’s hard to decipher what is really meant by the various organizations focused on this objective. In some cases, it’s altruistic, and in others, it’s just another way to sell a product or service. However, the concept is not new at all. In fact, the drive for diversity is an inherent instinct that is part of natural selection in everything around us, including the field of flowers I found myself sitting in during my hiking trip. All species, including us humans, are naturally drawn toward a diversity of traits, and that’s because we understand that this will ultimately improve our survival rate. At a very basic level, this diversity will improve our adaptability, increase disease resistance, reduce genetic defects, and enhance our overall potential. So by the very nature of our tendency for natural selection, being unique makes you stand out for primal reasons. People are drawn, whether they want to admit it or not, to those that are different.
The Challenge of Being Unique
Now, being unique and different is not always a field of flowers. In fact, there will be many dark and stormy days, where you get the brunt of a lot of criticism. Being unique makes you more attractive, but it also tends to make you a target when things go wrong. When you are challenging what is normal, you have a tendency to stand out when someone is looking for a source to blame for the challenges. Often, the unexplained anomalies will be attributed to the person that is separated or singled out from the larger population. Despite this, the benefits far outweigh the temporary setbacks that come from this form of persecution. I would much rather have differentiation in the marketplace and the opportunity for innovation and creativity that comes inherent with being unique.
Carve Your Own Path
Just as the flower I admired stood out among thousands, you too can stand out in your own unique way. Learning from others is valuable, but don’t be afraid to forge your own path. Your formula for success will likely differ from anyone else’s, and that’s a good thing.
