Repeating behaviors, routines, assumptions, and processes is attractive because, well, it’s easy. But pressing the “repeat” each day is short-sighted. Eventually, our results taper off to a plateau (or decline), we overlook opportunities that can improve our life, and our creative muscles dystrophy.
It’s a natural goal to want to maximize resources. But sometimes pursuing “more” causes businesses and leaders to push ahead in the wrong places in the wrong ways. As much as we’d like to think people can continue to increase hours and maintain quality of output, it simply doesn’t work. As long as humans remain human there will be a point of diminishing returns.
We’ve all heard it before: Think outside of the box. But sometimes it’s good to see a visual cue in our environment that reminds us to do this more frequently. That’s why I created this piece (and Maxims 4 Mavericks).
We can’t outgrow and overcome the limitations we have imposed on ourselves without first recognizing those limitations (Tweet this quote). Too many time the greatest challenge we face is not our circumstances, but rather, how we’ve grown accustomed to seeing them.
You see, it’s not a question of whether a pig has wings but rather if a pig can be placed in something that has wings. A minor difference with big implications — but an excellent example re-framing rhetoric that re-frames what is possible.
By definition a ‘norm’ is common. Thus, being ‘normal’ means being common (Tweet this quote). It means thinking and doing in the same way as the majority. Yet, being ‘normal’ is still encouraged by society.
Innovation and progress requires testing the rules and assumptions that most people believe are inescapable and unchangeable. And in the process, new perspectives often present new approaches that change the way the rules effect our lives.
For instance, we all know gravity is a very real thing. But while many people thought this meant it would be impossible for humans to fly, there were some Mavericks who decided to challenge that ‘rule.’
In a monarch society the ruling faction is determined by bloodline. But beyond the royal palace, success is impartial. The crown of great accomplishments can be claimed by the hardworking, innovative, and resourceful individual — whatever their background or bloodline.
Ah, the bell curve. There are few better mathematical representations of mediocrity. The most obvious message? The majority performs at roughly the same level.
Thus, the norm is the majority. So if you truly want extraordinary results you need to free yourself from ‘the norm.’
To protect ourselves from possible embarrassment, ridicule, or judgement, we often live life with a psychological lampshade. We hide our most audacious, crazy (and often most important) ideas from the world. But ideas can’t materialize when held captive in our minds. In fact, ideas multiply in value when they are freed, shared, talked about, and tested.
Despite the oversimplified beliefs about the necessity of earning a degree from ‘art school,’ a true artist knows that art school does not groom one to become a world-class artist. They understand that such an education may help hone their skills, but not reveal them.
Do you believe your hunch has potential? Then don’t wait for ‘idea proof’ before investing time, money, and energy. In the end, the people who change the world are those who act upon the hunch that tells them they can change the world.
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