The Definition of Crazy

Surely you've all heard the definition of crazy, right? Doing the same thing over and over again and hoping to get a different result? Every time you put a raw egg in the microwave, it explodes,but you hope this time it won't? That's crazy!

I'd like to expand that definition a little farther. Crazy could be defined as doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different result or doing the same thing everyone else does and hoping to stand out. 

Have you read the rules on how to get a job that everyone else has? Have you read the same books on how to write your resume (including the same set of "action words" you're supposed to put in that resume)? Have you paid money for a cover letter writer (or software package) that writes the same cover letter as everyone else? Do you print your resume on resume paper like everyone else? Do you wear the same suite, tie and dress to the interview as everyone else? 

Then guess what: you will not stand out.

Standing out means taking a stand, owning something (like in your last job, how you took ownership of that sales channel or that manufacturing process or networking standard) and treating it like you would treat your own child. You know who does that? No many other people. 

Standing out means being yourself, in the way that being yourself helps sales or support or greases the wheels between departments, making sure that people didn't feel like a number, but like someone you cared about.

Standing out means taking whatever work you do and turning it into art, from the way to bundle network cables to the way to cold call a lead to the way you design your resume, because they all represent you as a person.

Stand out. Stop being crazy. Stop following the lemmings and hope that this leads you to a job. Be you. Find the artist in you and show the world how great you can be.

Start now.