It’s easier and faster than ever today to start a business, especially a marketing one.
And with the rise of AI, SaaS platforms and endless content, it can seem impossible to know how to stand out.
If everyone is offering the same thing, at the same price, how do you stand out?
It’s remarkably simple and I wish I’d learned this sooner.
Years ago I was at a business program run by Daniel Priestely. He wrote Entrepreneur Revolution and 24 Assets and a bunch of other stuff, including Oversubscribed (brilliant book) and K.P.I. or Key Person Of Influence.
KPI was so influential on me that it’s pretty much the core concept behind how I run my business.
I am, for lack of a better term, a KPI now.
I’m oversubscribed for work, I choose how and who I work with and when.
I get to pick and choose my price.
And all of that comes down to ONE exercise that was almost considered an introduction or a starter exercise.
It’s incredibly simple.
We were given a workbook (I’ve still got mine now) and asked:
If you could give advice to a younger version of yourself, or, a young person, on how to have an extraordinary and fulfilling life with everything they desire, what 10 rules would you give them?
I took hours, DAYS, mulling this over. I wrote down 20 ideas straight off the top of my head and rewrote that list over and over.
Then, I rewrote them in order.
And finally, I chose a top 3.
- Have the courage to be disliked
- Commit to the goal
- Take action now and change it later
You might recognise these.
And since then, almost 6 years ago, I haven’t really changed them.
There’s been a few additions.
- Know what you want
- Make sure they know what you want
- Don’t fear judgement, vulnerability or ridicule (same as #1 and #2 from the first list really)
But here’s what’s fascinating.
I assumed that everyone would have the same list.
I assumed, that everyone would have the same VALUES.
And that’s what these are.
These are your values.
This is what makes you, your business, your offer and everything else about YOU, unique.
Start talking about THIS stuff and tell people this is what you believe and THAT is what will garner attention.
When people are in a sea of sameness and mediocrity, they’re looking for liferafts that stick out.
Your values are that liferaft.
I’d love to know what your top 3 values are.
