The Beauty of Being Unconventional
Recently I was with a friend who shared a business idea that she had been thinking about.
The focus of this business is something she spent decades working in and around with other companies. She had oodles of real-life experience with it. She saw one of her next steps to be to find a partner who had education, training, and accreditation on the topic since she didn’t.
Normally I don’t just yell things out when talking with someone, but I’m pretty sure “no!” spontaneously jumped out of me. I have absolutely nothing against trained, educated people. Matter of fact, knowing that information can be helpful. My point to her was that she would be bringing a different viewpoint and experience that others have not seen. These ideas could get lost if put into the conventional thought currently taught on the subject.
This comes up quite often when coaching individuals. I hear “Well, I know I’m supposed to do it this way, but…”, and then what usually follows after that is a statement of unhappiness. I see this in situations in which people have years of successful experience and yet question their methods. This can surface in their position at their company, how they manage their time or resources, or when determining choices for next steps in business.
Here are some questions that I ask when this comes up.
What examples do you have in which using your methods or instinctive plan worked for you?
In what ways are you successful though it may seem impractical or different from how it is conventionally done?
If in five years from now you won an award for being an expert in this field, what would you have done? What would it look like if you could do it your own way? How is this different then how it is currently being done?
What “calls” you to be created? What has continued to surface for you over time that you have dreamed of doing?
I utilize these questions often in my own work. Recently having cofounded a new company, the uniqueness in which the mission is being carried out is resonating with people and making a difference in a new way (see thetableaction.com).
How are you bringing your gifts to the world in a unique way? Systems and processes are created so we can relate and operate with a unified understanding. However, stepping outside of this can offer new perspectives and growth helpful to both others and yourself.