The Rolling Stones are iconic and endured long past most of their contemporaries. That type of longevity mixed with commercial success is worth noting and aspiring to but not manufacturing. Trying to manufacture the Rolling is not only impossible, it feels foolish to suggest trying. Despite this realization in the folly of trying to manufacture the next Rolling Stones, people seem obsessed with being the next Uber, AirBnB, Amazon or Lebron. Either individually or organizationally at certain point, we all must break away from the icons that we adore in order to stand in our own right.
For the moment, my daughter is listening to Twenty One Pilots. I’ve enjoyed their music because much like the Rolling Stones, they have their own style. It has been a long time since a musical group has not sounded like some derivative of a style or past performer. It’s possible that I missed who they are copying but for now I’ll stay impressed.
The mixture of uncertainty and pervasive broadcasting of “success” through social media leads to a desire to impersonate. Trying to emulate the airbrushed life of a quasi-celebrity is an exercise in futility and disappointment. Regardless of the person, what you see is not 100% of who they are. It is the public version or the highlighted reel. Holding yourself to that standard will end in failure.
So hold yourself to your own standard! Can you be influenced by others? Absolutely! Borrow, experiment and test but in the end your product is going to need a huge helping of YOU at its core. Keeping that in mind from the outset will allow you to be a much happier version of yourself. Comparison can be a killer because you know everything about only one person in the comparison, you. You know every thought, fear, desire and screw up. No matter who you’re comparing yourself to, you’ll never know all of that. So you’ll either be too hard on them or yourself and usually it’s the latter.
So go out there and be you today. Wear your flaws and shortcomings like they’re some of your best accessories because in all honesty, THEY ARE! Just imagine, there is probably someone out there who would love to be you and the message to them is the same. They can’t be. So go be yourself.
Have a great Monday!
Pete
Huryk Unlimited 