I believe every business owner wants their business to stand out among the crowd. Whoever said, “I want my business to be ordinary; just like everyone else’s?” No one I have ever met.
We want our businesses to be distinctive. Unique. Extraordinary. Noticed. Preferred. We want to differentiate and draw attention. Right?
Well in order to make your business stand out, you have to become a fanatic.
An employee of one of my clients is a fanatic. She is a diehard Detroit Redwings Hockey Fan. Her office is decorated in Redwings paraphernalia. She shared with me that she also has an entire room in her house decorated and dedicated to the Redwings. It was even painting in the bright Redwing colors.
She’s a fanatic. Everyone knows who she will be rooting for this hockey season. She is passionate and unwavering in her commitment.
ISIS – you know the terrorist group – are fanatics. Extreme. They are causing a lot of havoc. They are getting noticed. Standing out. Now I don’t agree with their beliefs or approach. Please don’t misunderstand. But they are standing for something. They will even die for it. They are committed and not afraid of offending people. What about being politically correct…nah…I don’t think so.
Tony Hsieh (pronounced Shay), founder of Zappos Shoe, is a fanatic. He is a fanatic about creating an enjoyable, happy work environment and customer experience. His peers said he was silly and that his approach wasn’t practical. Tony didn’t listen or care. He is an outlier. A fanatic. He stood up for what he believes in and it’s working.
Walt Disney was a fanatic. So was Steve Jobs, Jack Welsh, Albert Einstein, Adolph Hilter and Martin Luther King.
Right or wrong…all these people believed and passionate pursued something. Yes, they rubbed some people, perhaps many people wrong. King even died for his beliefs. All fanatics in my opinion.
You will never find someone who is going to do something great – whether in business or life – playing it safe, not standing firm in their convictions or willing to upset a few people.
Since I care so much about you and your business my questions for you are:
- What are you fanatical about when it comes to your business?
- Do you believe or are passionate about doing something extraordinary that you are willing to take some heat from people?
- Are you willing to be embraced or ostracized for your ideals?
Only when you choose to make an unwavering commitment towards something you belief in will you begin to do something great, stand out and make a difference.
I believe businesses can and should genuinely serve lives. I believe far too many people are working and there is no life, no joy and no mission. I believe, in some case, people are like zombies just going through the motions day in and day out. In fact, they are worse than zombies because at least a zombie is on a fanatical mission to eat the living. (well they are)
I also know that business doesn’t have to be complicated. For some strange reason we make it that way. But it doesn’t have to be.
Because I believe in the things I am sharing with you, I am doing something about it. My desire is to help as many businesses, their owners and employees build great business that serve their lives more fully. I want to help businesses do something great. Make a difference. Change the world.
Sound to lofty for you? Don’t like what I have to say? Sorry…but I don’t care if you like it or not. Not that you and your opinion don’t matter to me. Quite the contrary. I just know that some people will not like my message and it’s okay because…
…I am a fanatic. What about you?