Getting promoted = Potential byproduct of being an original ~ J. T. O’Donnell
There is hardly anyone that does not like to acquire genuine items. The benefit consists of the usability of the items. That is the ability of a product to meet the intended purpose during its useful life. It is not funny to hear people discussing getting second-hand gadget because they are more original than many new but fake model that have infiltrated the market.
In the business world, there are situations in which there is an ingenuine or clone version of a product. It looks exactly like the genuine one and maybe mistaken to be original because of the high level of similarity with the known brand of product. Manufacturer of such items usually put a security check which they advertise for loyal customers not to fall victim to the fake one.
Just do something different and differentiating.
As a professional, you are to find your strong point, leverage it while you give something of value to your customer. It is the edge you have over others in your industry. It does not mean you cannot sell or offer similar goods or services just like somebody by your doorstep, but something must show you are not the same as others. Likewise, it must be difficult for your competitors to replicate your offerings.
Originality can be in the form of colour, texture, smell, appearance, taste, packaging, composition (for formulated products) of product or you treat your customers or clients, offer service, feedback mechanism, etc. Just do something different and differentiating.
…don’t sacrifice originality for cost-cutting. You can look into other areas to achieve this objective…
It is also necessary to maintain that standard you are known for and seek to improve it. The observed abnormality during the economic trying period is the variance of products and services. Some products now have differences in taste, sizes reduced and less effective. On the other hand, services are no longer regular. Recently, I observed a bank in my area known for quality and timely service now failed in these areas. I thought I was the only one to notice this development until I approached a shop to purchase a few things. I made my payment online and expecting to leave almost immediately since I do not doubt prompt feedback, but the transaction takes a longer time to complete than expected. I have to wait for several minutes for my payment to be confirmed. I was surprised to be told by the shop attendant that the bank is not efficient in that service delivery. The point being made: don’t sacrifice originality for cost-cutting. You can look into other areas to achieve this objective because once you lose your loyal customer, you may need to start rebuilding again after years of labour and investment.
Originality can also mean seeing things in a way different from general perception. You can penetrate a business by going in the opposite direction to others. It can be as novel as ‘climbing the tree from the top‘. I know you understand this.
C-I-C-R Strategy
A study conducted by Prof Adam Grant, an organisational psychologist revealed that consistently completing the following four steps will make you more original as a professional.
Creativity – Producing ideas that provide the solution to an identifiable problem.
Initiative – Doing something about your idea.
Conviction – Using your passion and belief in the need to solve the problem to drive you forward.
Risk mitigation – Being proactive in minimising the tendency to fail so you can take a calculated risk without fear of losing much.
In addition to the above, you will become original as you carefully plan your activities and dedicating to achieving them. People who get promoted are problem-solvers. They take the initiatives. They are proactive. They look for ways to add value and make a measurable difference. You should be original, not counterfeit.
Further help
Express yourself by cultivating your style, tastes, and personality.
Believe in what you do, and do not worry about what competitors/others do.
Trust your intuitions and instincts. Other professionals don’t have the ultimate authority over what step/action to take. It does not mean not listening to advice.
Conclusively, you become original as you do what you do distinctively and differently. It does not just come your way; creativity, initiative, conviction and risk mitigation are the hallmarks – experiment with what you expect; express the essence, and experience the expression.
ThePro 