BEING ORIGINAL

April 28, 2019

Being Original. (being you)

The word original has many definitions and connotations.

Some would say that to be original is to do something that has never been done before, created something that’s never been created before, thought something that’s never been thought before.

Others might think of original as being first: the first presentation, performance or unveiling.

In terms of leadership, I like to think of originality as an inside-out job that is perhaps best defined by the words of Judy Garland:

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”

To be original means to challenge oneself to think in ways that will likely build upon the ideas of others, but not copy them. We might argue that originality always is a built-upon, tagged-upon, improved-upon process.

After all, everything that exists today has been built upon something that has existed in one way or another before.

Matter exists.

Energy exists.

Without the work of those that have gone before us, we would be operating as if in a new-found world.

The French writer Andre Gide said:

“Everything that needs to be said has already been said, but, since nobody was listening, everything must be said again.”

I would change that slightly to say that, even if everything has been said, it hasn’t been said in YOUR voice, with YOUR interpretation, with YOUR point of view.

That’s why originality originates from within you.

Some say it’s good to steal ideas.

I say let’s borrow them and build upon them to make them even better.

Never hesitate to craft your own version and sing your own song. You are as worthy and entitled as anyone else to put your own perspective on things that have gone before.

I know many people (myself included, sometimes) who say:

“What’s the point? It’s all been said before.”

And that might be true. But not in your voice.

Know that your voice deserves to be heard. Know that originality is all about your own unique voice and perspective. And in leadership, it’s that very uniqueness that makes others see you as that first-rate version, and not just a second-rate copy.