Are you unique? Of course you are, but do you act like it?
Being unique is one of those ideals people strive for but I’m not sure many people actually pay attention to. Whether in life, in relationships, in business, and yes, even in government contracts, the value of being unique is known. However, why is it that so many people do not seem unique?
I got a great piece of advice from a motivational speaker last year. One of my fellow attendees asked the speaker how to prepare our workforce, and our kids, for the next generation of business. The answer was simple and profound:
“Be great at something. It doesn’t really matter what.”
This drives right to the point of being unique. My first thought was that he meant on the “big stage” of life and business (think Steve Jobs, Derek Jeter, Richard Branson, etc.) However, that wasn’t his point. Even if you are a calligraphist, a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a scrap booker, or an online marketer, focus on being GREAT at what you do. This comes from finding the intersection of your greatest strength AND your greatest passion. THIS intersection is often times hidden in what makes you unique.
Like you, I am unique. I have a unique set of skills, strengths and passions that make me jump out of bed each day and get to it! I love what I do. For brevity, let’s focus on just the ‘business’ side of my life.
How?
– I have a background in government contracts. OK. That’s not too unique. It’s not average, but it’s not unique….and,
– I have a deep understanding of the B2G market from living in the regulations for 16 years. Ok, that’s a little unique but again, there are lots of people who have been doing this longer than me….and,
– I routinely speak, train, and present on government contracting topics for NCMA, other professional organizations, and through the Training from Contracting Officers with Skyway Acquisition Solutions.
Ok, now we’re getting somewhere. We’re down to thousands, not tens of thousands of people now.
– During those 16 years on the government side of the B2G market as a Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. OK. Now do you see what I mean? We’re down to less than 1,000 people I bet…but what…there’s more.
– For the last four years, I have owned and led a moderately successful small business…(under 500?)
– I have four years of experience working with small and large businesses from coast to coast and helping them navigate this federal market and actually win contracts. Now we’re getting into the weeds (maybe 100 people have this experience), but this is fun so let’s keep going…
– I invested 6 months of planning and learning and in Dec 2014, I launched the first (and only as far as I know) Contracting Officer Podcast.
But wait, there’s one more:
– I am maniacally passionate about making the federal contracting process run better, cost less, and be more enjoyable for both sides.
Ok, some would say this list makes me a little (or a lot) crazy, but that’s because my kind of unique is not for them. However, for those of you who read this whole article and get what I’m saying…you get why I’m unique.
How about you? What makes you so unique that you can honestly say that very, very, very, very few people can see, do, or create the same things you do?
Oh, here’s the next part – and this is the hard part. You have to PROVE this uniqueness to everyone else.
So, you be the judge – how well am I doing. Feel free to let me know. :-)
For more content like this, check out our blog or the Contracting Officer Podcast that I co-host with Paul Schauer (he’s really unique too).