We all have a friend or know someone who is a bit unique.
They’re the kind of person that other people describe as slightly eccentric and who don’t seem to care what others think.
But it’s not that they’re different from other people.
It’s that they just refuse to do what most of us do, which is alter our behaviour to suit other people’s expectations.
They’re uniquely themselves, and that’s a big factor in their success.
Think about some of the most innovative founders and CEOs, from Steve Jobs to Richard Branson to Elon Musk.
Like them or loathe them, they all think or act a little differently.
They’re flamboyant and they don’t play it down.
Here are a few reasons why being yourself is crucial to long-term success:
1. You attract other people to you
When you’re yourself, and not putting on a show, it’s like a magnet for people around you.
Others are very good at sensing when someone is genuine or not, and a high-powered CEO who is comfortable in their own skin is going to attract others to them.
Too many people focus on saying the right thing when they should be focusing on being themselves.
Try it. You’ll notice the effect it has on others immediately.
2. You make better business decisions
It’s hard enough to make decisions in business without having to worry about what it looks like to those around you.
If you’re authentic and true to yourself, then you’re able to make the best decisions, regardless of how others perceive you.
Not worrying about what others think allows you to drill down to the heart of an issue and devise a plan for success.
3. You're free to experiment
Becoming successful takes more than just hard work — although that is a big part of it.
It also involves taking calculated risks, and knowing when to jump.
If you’re true to yourself, you have the freedom to experiment.
Why? Because you’re less likely to worry about failure.
You can try new things, learn from your mistakes and find the model that works.
Success is really just a series of lessons from past failures, after all.
4. You'll form stronger work relationships
Networks are a crucial component of success, but it’s important that you don’t turn into a clone of other people.
We’ve all been to events where everyone seems to say the same thing and even look the same.
People are often keen to fit in, and that makes sense as we’re social creatures, after all.
But it’s no wonder so many of us struggle to remember names and faces!
One way to guarantee that you’ll be remembered in a business setting is to be yourself.
This does not mean being loud or overbearing, either — no one likes a person who speaks their mind rudely or gets drunk at functions.
But if you can find that happy balance between speaking your mind and being polite and diplomatic, you’ll be respected by your peers.
Most importantly, being yourself is something we should all strive towards because, to put it bluntly, it makes the world a more interesting place to live in.
I don’t know about you, but I admire those who can stick to their guns and live by their principles.
In a world of people saying and doing what is expected of them, the CEO mavericks are a breath of fresh air.
