Unfortunately, most people abide by the archaic concept that there is one singular path to achieving success and recognition in life, or that mega success is a result of pure luck.
This idea should be torched immediately, as it only serves to box you in and stifle the expression of your originality.
In addition to my work helping entrepreneurs and world leaders develop impactful charismatic confidence, I help Hollywood's top celebrities and performing artists (actors, musicians, comedians) to launch their careers and reach Oscar potential in film and TV. I also coach presenters for all the major award ceremonies, including the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys.
I help these clients use their personalities to leave an unforgettable mark on everything they do, by discovering and distilling the exclusive, and beautifully singular, combination of behaviors and attitudes that make them an original.
Your one-of-a-kind personality is your secret weapon for huge, lasting success.
Shel Silverstein's poem from "Every Thing On It" is the best example of this:
"Underneath my outside face
There's a face that none can see.
A little less smiley,
A little less sure,
But a whole lot more like me."
Everytime I read this poem I take a long and deep breath, as I'm reminded that I'm interesting and powerful enough in the world as myself, without having to add or alter anything. It also gives me permission to not give a shit what other people think.
My longtime client, actor and musician Zooey Deschanel, has immortalized the role of "Jess Day" on the hit TV show "New Girl" as the nerdy, charmingly clueless, unusual roommate with big blue eyes and sexy hair.
Zooey is an oddball in real life--and she chooses to hide none of it in her acting.
She doesn't choose between being wacky or seductive. Instead she unabashedly blends them both into Jess, appealing to a broad audience, leaving an indelible mark, and achieving impossible staying power in an otherwise unpredictable and brutally competitive business.
Other individualist, outrageous, and daringly different performing artists like Lady Gaga, Jared Leto, Laura Dern, John Malkovich, and Javier Bardem all figured that out: They took everything different and odd about themselves, and turned it into an irreplicable, "WOW that's different!" selling point. A total game changer.
You can be certain that many of these celebrities would have never achieved success if they had spent their time trying to shove their uniqueness into a box of some preconceived "type" we've all seen hundreds of times before.
Success for an artist isn't going to happen if they try to imitate others. And the same is true for all endeavours in business.
Achieving meaningful lasting success in any career is directly related to your ability to manifest and fearlessly radiate your irreplicable personality, without giving a crap what anyone thinks of you.
Reject the herd mentality of cramming your individual style and personality into the narrow confines of what you think other people want. Instead, assume YOU are who they want, and bring yourself to everything that you do.
When you give yourself permission to let your disarming, weird, or ugly qualities shine through every chance you get, you imprint your work and presence with something that no one has ever seen before.
Become the visionary you aspire to be by fearlessly living every moment as yourself.
This article was originally published on Inc.