The Client Letter
November 12, 2012
Sedona, Arizona
Clear 21 Degrees
I used to be a model.
I know you might find it hard to believe. With my “my face so suited to radio, and all…”
But nope, I used to model.
Oh, I don’t mean the kind of model that looks good, I mean the kind that spends his time “modeling” others, trying to be like other people.
I understand that conventional wisdom in business tells you that’s how you make it.
Well, I guess I have higher hopes for myself than “making it.” You see, I’m not just looking for success as other people define it, I actually want to be happy.
And no one has the answer about how I can do that… except me. How revolutionary.
So when it comes to the “modeling” thing where you look at successful people and do what they do… well…
At this point, I believe it’s hogwash as a life strategy.
This doesn’t mean you don’t learn from people. It just means that what you do learn gets put through your filter before it goes out into the world.
“Modeling” might lead to success. But I doubt it leads to happiness… for me.
So in about 80 years or less, everyone reading this is going to be gone.
That may or may not be a happy thought for you. For me, it’s extremely liberating.
Very little that I do matters, one way or the other.
So in the short time I have, doing things like someone else seems like a poor use of time. Especially since I know I’m here to put my mark on the world, to add just a little bit of value, in my own way, and actually enjoy the process.
Now this approach may be something that sounds good to you or you might think it sounds crazy (been called worse), but there’s an odd side effect that happens when you go down this route:
You stick out.
Now that could be valuable in the client business no?
You bet. But it can’t happen if you spend your time trying to be like other people. When you do that, your attractive uniqueness gets tossed in the backseat and you go out into the world wearing someone else’s skin.
Now that’s what sounds crazy if you ask me. But yes, I’ve done it. No more 🙂
Life is too short to play someone else.