T.M. Kayode

One piece of advice you would often hear from motivational speakers is to find a way to stand out from other persons offering the same product or service. For the longest time, this advice annoyed me a lot. 

Now, it only annoys me a little bit.

Why? Because they often give vague advice most times without clear action points. How do you distinguish yourself? How easy is it to really stand out?

Right from the start, I want to say that I don’t have all the answers, but I do have some thoughts. My mind has been stewing over this for a while, and I think I’m beginning to understand what they may mean.

Step 1: Who Am I?

The first step to distinguishing yourself is answering the question, “Who am I?” Another classic motivational question. Before you dismiss this, hear me out.

 In my opinion, we are the sum of our lived experiences. You are everything you have been through, and you have to accept that first.

It’s easy to want to forget unpleasant experiences, and I understand that. But interestingly, tapping into all that has shaped you can make your voice unique.

Let me give you some examples:

I stumbled upon a MasterClass ad featuring a very successful writer, whose name I can’t recall. He mentioned that early in his career, his writing wasn’t great because he hadn’t come to terms with his dual identity of being both Indian and British. He tried to write solely from a British perspective, which hindered his creativity. Once he embraced his duality, his writing flourished.

Another example is Bayo Omoboriowo, the official photographer for Buhari’s administration. Regardless of opinions about the administration, the presidents’ photographs were excellent. In an interview, Bayo said that years before his appointment, he would always look at photos of US presidents and wanted to capture a similar narrative and emotion for Nigeria’s government. This unique perspective made him stand out. Before now, had you ever thought of a Nigerian President’s photographer? From his photographs you get the essence of his point of view and the message and emotion he is trying to convey.

Step 2: Use All Your Knowledge

When offering solutions, bring everything you’ve learned to the table. Here’s another example:

A professor in my department recently won a significant award for his work. He conducted research in Senegal to combat a widespread disease by identifying new vegetation growths that harbored the disease parasite. His simple solution involved harvesting these plants, repurposing them, and boosting the local economy. The brilliance lay in its simplicity and impact.

Many people think that proposal ideas have to be complex, I don’t think so. In fact when you cut into the meat of most revolutionary ideas they often are commonsensical. Impactful ideas are often simple and replicable. They can touch millions of lives easily. 

Step 3: Identify Your Strengths

Figure out what you’re really good at and find a simple way to share it with the world. Focus on one thing. Ask yourself: What do I love? What frustrates me when it’s not done right? What unique value can I offer?

Think of Tunde Onakoya, the Nigerian Chess Master. He introduced chess to children in low-income areas, and now he’s a global superstar. His deep knowledge of chess meant that he could teach chess, even to children without a formal education. By combining his passion for chess with his desire to help kids from backgrounds like his own succeed, he brought two worlds together and is making a significant impact.

Step 4: Put in the Work

When I say “they just did this” or “they just did that,” it might sound easy, but it’s not. It takes a lot of hard work to make things look simple. However, when you manage to do that, you’ve struck gold.

A crucial aspect to remember is this:

 As a child of God, you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. The Holy Spirit within you will teach you what you need to know and provide comfort when necessary. The journey to self-discovery shouldn’t be undertaken through sheer willpower alone. With the Holy Spirit, your mind is supercharged, helping you maintain faith and believe, especially during times when it feels like nothing is happening.

So, what am I trying to say? Whether you want to start a company, a blog, or a foundation, remember these key points:

• Embrace your unique experiences.
• Use all the knowledge you have.
• Focus on your strengths.
• Be prepared to work hard.
• Do not leave out the guidance of the Holy Spirit

And always remember, simple ideas, well executed, can make the most impact.