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More Pioneers, Less Historians
November 20, 2012
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The reason this Cuban vs. Facebook piece is getting so much attention ... and people are sharing it like crazy ... has to do with the fact that Mark, as usual, is not afraid to step away from following the follower and not "playing it safe."
He has looked at what is happening with Facebook and made a well-informed, intelligent decision based on what's right for him and his companies ... and he doesn't care that others may call him crazy, criticize or doubt him.
Mark understands his awesome mission, the critical importance of staying a step ahead, and he is unreasonable in settling for anything except being a leader and doing what is right.
How about you?
Most would never dare make a move like this one ... especially in a high profile, public way.
But if you examine it deeper, you will see the very opportunity for you that has nothing to do with Facebook ... but involves making an impact on everything in business, and in life.
Yes! It's easy to share, watch and stand behind the pioneer when they jump away from the pack, because we can gain insight in the moves they make that starts to create a new path for others to gain new confidence, or a fresh perspective, while staying safe ... but ultimately, to simply begin following all over again.
True leadership is very hard and is filled with many failures, so most are too afraid to even try.
But your freedom to be famous today lies in leading the way, just like Mark does, without waiting for someone to show you where to go first. Follow your instincts and take a chance in moving forward based on your intelligence, and what you feel is right.
You can keep waiting, reading, watching, researching, meeting till the cows come home ... but that will only uncover the tracks of those you will be standing behind ... and websites, social media, blogs and consultants are full of those type of solutions. And aren't those people and companies great at telling someone else's story!?
It's why most simply launch tactics that focus on passing someone in the middle of the pack, but still have you remaining far from the lead, and consider it a victory.
I want to win, and I want you to win in a way that others never look at it the same way again.
But the approach isn't safe ... it challenges the norm ... it requires you taking a chance to change the culture you feel comfortable in and diving deeper to learn (and do) something amazing that may not be what everyone else says is right ... and it does not give you a solution to manipulate something, or someone, to gain a short term advantage.
But again, it's so hard!
My own confession is that I have personally failed so many times in my quest because of never really having the total confidence to fully stand out and stay firm in my position. Instead of defending it, as someone like Mark does, I became convinced by others that it was wrong, different, or lacked something ... and to survive, I would need to conform to what everyone else does ... so I did.
But even in trying to follow the followers, I was inauthentic about it, and it becomes confusing, because even though I could understand and articulate it to myself and others ... I knew it wasn't right ... and people can feel that, even without someone saying anything.
So as the old saying goes, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
The truth is I'm not interested in building a solution or providing a safe solution to simply fit in. My #1 goal is to uncover the unique mission, generate great ideas and build an intelligent strategy to be first-rate and excellent; break away from the pack, and own it.
I believe it's the only way to be in every moment today to get the results you desire ... fully.
My hope is this piece will motivate and encourage you to discover your passion and take action on your own to walk toward something that only you can create a new path for all of us.
Use my story as a cautionary tale, and use Mark's as inspiration to move forward and defend what is right for you.
Then watch as others follow and share the steps you take in a way that goes viral ... because it won't be about using the history of how every tool and trick can be used to find a way to show up in a timeline, inbox, or news feed ... it will empower others to share because they see confidence and possibility in standing behind a pioneer to take them on a new adventure.
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