The other day, I got the shock of my life.
When I arrived home after a day of doing my thing, I spied my boys playing in the backyard pool. With a big smile on my face I hurried to join them and to my horror – saw their freshly shaven…
Where's Yours?
Mohawks.
Yep. My beautiful, biracial boys with their irresistible locks of curly hair were now sporting Mohawks that would make Mr. T blush.
I instantly descended into a sullen outrage. What the hell had happened? Where was their nice, normal, preppy haircuts? Who said they had a right to be…well…different?
As I watched them run across the yard with broad grins and shaven scalps I realized that my moment of truth had arrived. The Universe wanted to see if I was a hypocrite. The question was simple – Did I really believe in being Hardcore Spectacular – or not?
Was I going to steal my boys’ right to be spectacular? Or, was I going to start the relentless social indoctrination that turns little boys into “small” adults?
How about you?
Has a boss, parent, spouse or sibling convinced you that you had to toe the line? Are you wearing a uniform of mediocrity that is crippling your ability to shine?
This is important. Don’t get defensive, think it through.
Are you making excuses for why your blog, business or products are desperately unspectacular? If so, who told you to crawl into that self-defeating box?
If you can pinpoint the thief of your creative birthright – kick their butt off the island as soon as possible. If you don’t know who the dream-stealer is then it’s probably your own fear. If so, then spend the next 30 days isolating your fear, addressing it and then grinding it under your heel.
Listen, you can’t succeed in the new world of a socially connected, authentic, and hyper-competitive business by hiding in the crowd. You need to be passionately outrageous.
You need to sport a Mohawk.
This is easier said then done. I know. I wrestle with my natural tendency to shrink from the limelight. However, my dreams require boldness (yours too).
If you need a little help then here are 5 Spectacular Pointers:
#1: Write Your Boogey Man Post:
This is the post crouching in the back of your mind. It’s brilliant but scary. You are afraid to unleash it because it may be too controversial, idealistic or honest – but you can’t let it go. You gotta write it – it’s the price of admission for Hardcore Spectacular.
#2: Fall in Love with Your Audience
Stop being the Social Media “grown-up”. Throw the rules to the wind and cozy up close to your readers. Fall hopelessly in love with your Twitter followers, Facebook fans, and blog commenters. Decide to regularly give them surprise gifts of spectacular content “just because”. These are the people that make your journey worthwhile. Give them everything you’ve got.
#3: Drop the Avatar
Don’t get mad at me – but your readers want to see and get to know you; not some goofy cartoon or logo! Even though you think you are hideous, you’re not. Your readers deserve to connect with a face. I guarantee that you’ll see your comments, subscriptions and followers improve.
#4: Make A Stand
I am a card carrying liberal. But, I don’t mind my conservative brethren. Why? Because I know where they stand and they sure as heck know where I’m coming from (happily from left field).
Your readers are secretly hungering for your feisty side. Give it to them. They won’t abandon you. In fact, it may be the very thing that convinces them to buy, tweet or like you.
#5 Turn Passion Into a Habit
Find something to get fired-up about every day. Make an unruly post. Call out an enemy. Gush poetic over a reader. It’s easy to slip into a mushy coma where routine trumps the spectacular. Make it a point to touch base with your wild, heart-thumping side daily.
By the way -
Corporate Culture Isn’t an Excuse…
Are you doing the social media thing for a big biz? Are you questioning the wisdom of being Spectacular? Let me tell you the hard, honest-to-goodness truth.
Playing it safe is risky. Right now, somebody in your organization is throwing caution to the wind – and will get the glory, budget and the staff to make things happen. Soon, someone will be whispering about the Maverick who just got promoted – it might as well be you.
Back to My Kids’ Mohawks
By the way, after a breath and a sharp look from my wife, I knelt down, looked my boys in the eyes and said…
“Love those fancy cuts boys!”
Then went inside, fished out my clippers and shaved my head bald.
How about you – how are you daring to be spectacular today?
[Spectacular Mohawk Image Courtesy of Michael Kingsley]
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About Stanford
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Stanford, love the challenge to be bold, different and willing to roll the dice baby! Brian's tweet caught my attention (like most) because I actually shaved a mohawk the other day and posted a blog entry entitled "Mohawk." Nonetheless, thanks for the dare, love the boogey man post! – Chad
My recent post Jesus Goes Jogging
I like your writing style.
My recent post Creative Copy Challenge 55
Hey thanks. Trying to keep it real. I gotta lot a more – stay a bit.
When editing, I like to "edit like I'm giving text-mohawks"
Cut those words to their spectacular core.
My recent post Creative Copy Challenge 55
What an awesome perspective!
My favorites are definitely #4 & 5…
Always felt that people are more responsive when they can tell you are passionate about what you're discussing and not simply writing something controversial for the sake of controversy alone.
Thanks for posting
Glad you enjoyed it! It's strange but I think people have a sixth sense – a geiger counter – for passion.
I guess the big question is where is the line between "Spectacular" and "Weird." The line between "Eccentric" and "Creepy." The line between "Passionate" and "Nutso."
I couldn't agree more Stanford and I love your post. I am glad that you accepted your sons new hair cuts. It is a shame that we place such a high priority on conformity.
Keep up the awesome blogging!
My recent post 7 Effective Ways To Resurrect Old Content
Love the post, your perspective, and your bald head. Absolutely awesome.
I think I need a haircut,
This post comes at a great time. I have a meeting this afternoon with a client who has been making great progress toward applying for grad schools, but has hit a period of fear and defeatism. She's thinking of giving up I am totally sharing this post with her. And if you don't mind, I am going to totally write a post on fear for one of my blogs and link this up as recommended reading
Sean
Sean, go bald baby – you'll look and feel great! I would love to hear how your meeting goes this afternoon. I hate when people have been stripped of their individuality, I'm sure you can offer a path back for your client.
By the way, you are free to share/link this post any way you see fit. Just give me some love
Hey, Stanford,
This is my first visit to your blog and the timing of this blog couldn't be more exact for me and my biz. #1 & 2 really resonate with me. I need to just say what I want/need to say and I def need to fall in love with my audience. I thought I loved them already, I think, but if I really loved them, I wouldn't be holding back.
I said once I was going to Be Bold, do Life Wide Open. Wonder what the hell I'm waiting for.
I'll be keeping an eye out to see what else you have to say! And now, I'm going off to make this a spectacular day and see what I can do to show my audience I'm madly in love with them!
Have a great day and keep on keepin' it real!
Shannon
That's awesome Shannon – but something tells me that I'm not going to convince you to get a mohawk
Stop back at the end of the day and tell me how your Day of Spectacular Freedom went…
Stanford, this is my first time finding your site and I must say, I'm very happy I did. This was an amazing post. I think it's so hard for people to embrace being difference because it's been ingrained in us since we were young that if you are weird, you are wrong.
Especially in the field of communication management, it's good to be a little spectacular. That way you aren't just re-hashing the same old ideas over and over again. It also opens your mind to embracing new areas of business (like Twitter, Foursquare, etc.).
Thanks for your insights and I look forward to reading your Boogeyman post soon.
That's why the Social Space is such a profound paradigm shift. Individuality and fearless creativity is embraced online. Mediocre drones need not apply.
By the way, this was my boogeyman post!
"Mediocre drones need not apply." I love that. I'm fond of saying, If it's pretty, but useless, it's pretty useless; but I think I like yours better.
If this was your boogeyman post, I'm glad I read it first and I look forward to your posts in the future.
Love the post, especially #5. I think people are innately attracted to people who express their passion over a subject, even if you disagree. I think opening up and letting out your "bogeyman post" is a great way to really find out what you're passionate about.
My recent post How To Determine Whether Your Idea Is Good
Great post, really challenges you to move outside of your comfort zone and to walk the walk. It's a challenge to bring the "spectacular" with each new post, but you bring it. I still feel like I have my boogey man post locked up somewhere in me; I am getting to it!!!
My recent post Three reasons why you need a team
Reminds me of my life. 206 years ago my mom was cutting my first Mohawk, and had half of it done. My dad, the career navy man that he was, walks in after a day on base and looked at me. Then asked me “So where are you eating tonight?”.
My parents have always said I should follow my ideas and dreams, and that I could do anything I wanted to , if I set my mind to it. Which I promptly started to do.
I set out to prove to the world you don’t need a college degree to get a great job, or make lots of money. Being the entrepreneur I am, I dropped out of high school and started my first business, a lawn mowing company. Not a landscaping company but just a lawn mowing company. All I did was mow lawns.
That is until the summer came and I spent the rest of the summer at the beach surfing.
To this day I still don’t have a diploma, or a college education. I did go back and get my GED. Walked in off the street and took the test with no prep. Passed with flying colors and then went to post secondary college for tech stuff. Then start a few more businesses.
You can learn a lot from a kid.
I agree, Stanford. Sometimes (read “most of the time”!) you just have to get down on the ground with your sleeves rolled up and work it! Thank you for the post.
Peter
I applaUd every thing you’ve said here ACCEPT the part about the “goofy cartoon logo” as I use cartooning and caricature for my clients I create cartoon caricature logos and avatars for their ebooks, blog posts and facebook pages. I understand the need for people seeing your true face, and though an artist I use my face in some of my advertisements. But to imply that cartoons are goody really does effect how I might market my business possibly to some here and others who might read your post. I hope you include this letter
Excellent point Elgin. Obviously the quality of your caricatures and illustrations speak for themselves. I was referring to the standard, clip-art that are used as default avatars. Even worse is a a standard $47 company logo if you are essentially a brand of one. Working with an cartoonist or illustrator to get a professional caricature is a excellent strategy and something that I recommend to everyone, incuding Bootcamp members!
Well, alright- y then! Now that we cleared THAT distinction up! LOL! Please excuse the misspelling of the word, “ACCEPT” it should have been “EXCEPT” but moving right along….
If it weren’t for spectacular, unconventional, risk taking people, we’d be still sitting in the dark. Driving horses and buggies, and eating our food attached to a sharpened stick by a camp fire. Risk takers are labeled strange,creeps, geeks,freaks,trouble makers, whistle blowers, and rabble rousers. It takes courage tobe a risk taker because often times you will have nothing but your ideas, goals, and convictions to keep you warm in a world that likes, often times, to be cold.
What have I done to be spectacular? Surprisingly, it’s been to have the courage to be myself. To actually grow to like the face in the mirror, to like the sound of the voice that comes out of the mouth of that face, and to love the words that are spoken by that reflected face in the mirror. George Benson really was right when he sang learning to love yourself is the greatest love if all. Once you have a full tank of self love you will not longer be caring what “they”think. You’ll be too busy doing what you do, and nobody can “do you” like you!