Patched to correct a lazy eye underneath a pair of glasses held together in the corner with tape. Bad perm. Worse hairstyle. Freckled face. Overly energetic. Overly talkative. Awkward. Barked at by boys when I walked down the junior high hallway – insinuating I was a dog.

This explains me when I was young.  Or at least what I thought I was.

“You are uniquely something that will never happen again.” ~Leo Buscaglia

In my early 20s I came across a cassette tape called “Celebrate Life!” read by author Leo Buscaglia.  I remember placing the cassette into my Sony Walkman player not knowing what to expect. I listened … then I listened again … and again … and again.  It was then that I heard and tightly held on to the quote above.

This quote gave me permission to be the perfectly imperfect, unique, and quirky me that I was.  The perfectly imperfect, unique, and quirky me that I am today.

SO, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACE?

Our chances of standing out, getting work done, and earning trust is easier to do when you have influence. Simply put, inspiring people have more influence.

Research in 2016 (Bain and Company) found that “one distinguishing strength DOUBLES your chances of being inspiring.” Leo taught me that being quirky IS my distinguishing strength.  It is what I use to inspire people in the work I do. It even has a name – Generate G Factor.

So, do you know what your one distinguishing strength is?

YOUR TURN

Ask four coworkers what makes you different (unique) compared to others they work with.

Ask three family members what makes you different (unique) compared to other family members.

Ask two leaders what makes you different (unique) compared to others they know.

Ask yourself WHY you are uniquely something that will never happen again.

P.S. Imagine what would happen if you knew and stood in the power of more than one of your distinguishing strengths?!?  Gaaaaahhhhh! Mind explosion!


For more on Generate G Factor:

Learning from Giraffes

Can I Lead if I’m Not a Leader

Inspire and Be Infectious