Issue 014: What can a Five Year Old Teach Us?
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“It's easy to stand in the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone.”
– Mahatma Ghandi
As I deleted photos from my camera roll, I came across one that had me shaking my head. I sat at the red traffic light staring at the marketing yard signs placed at a heavily-traveled intersection off Interstate 79.
“They all look alike. Not one sign stands out.” I remember thinking this out loud and quickly snapped the picture to use for future sales training.
“What makes you stand out?” is a common question asked of business owners, professionals, and teams. More than likely, you have heard “How can you rise above the noise?” In 2007, the average person saw about 5,000 ads daily. Fast forward to 2020 and that number jumps to 6,000 to 10,000 ads every day. Wow! There’s a reason rising over the marketing noise is a hot business topic.
When I worked for a national builder, one of my peers called me the “clean-up crew.” As you can imagine, I wasn’t thrilled when he yelled it across the design center. When my co-workers ticked off a potential buyer or client, the person became mine to handle. I was known for making difficult people or unhappy buyers happy.
In writing Bounce-Up™, I came across two stories that stood out to me long after I read them. One was about a five-year-old girl named Ainsley and her dance class. Her North Carolina dance instructor told the tiny dancers to wear their favorite princess costumes to the next class. Rather than dress like a princess, the way most kids would, Ainsley dressed as a hot dog. One of her dance instructors tweeted a photo with the caption “In a world full of princesses, dare to be a hot dog.” Ainsley’s unexpected and bold fashion statement went viral, inspired #hotdogprincess, and made national news.
When you think about it, this little girl learned a lesson it takes many people years to grasp. After looking at the advertising signs in this Bounce-Up™ Chronicles edition, does one truly stand out?
Whether in business or applying for a job, what are you known for doing or creating?
What do you want people to remember about you or your business?
In a world full of businesses, how will you dare to stand out?
Until next time, have a Bounce-Up™ day!
Mj
P.S. Do you know someone who could use a positive message with business and resilience tips and momentum-building questions? Forward Bounce-Up™ Chronicles to share with others. 😊 Thank you!
P.S.S. I’ll share the other story that stood out in a future Chronicles edition.
