You’ve got a burning passion to help people, change the world, and make your mark. You believe in the uniqueness of who you are and what you want to do, and you know that people will love your services, if they would just try them.
And that’s the crux of it, right there. Why aren’t people lining up around the block for your service?
Maybe it’s because you aren’t giving them a compelling enough reason to.
If you’re unique, then why are you marketing yourself just like everyone else? Do you really think that just calling yourself a coach/trainer/designer/whatever-it-is-you-do is going to help you stand out from the rest of the vanilla, white-bread, snore-inducing coaches/trainers/designers/etc.?
It’s not a question of uniqueness. You are unique. Just ask a forensic scientist.
What makes or breaks the success of your marketing campaign (and thus, your business) is how clearly you can communicate what it is you do in a way that reflects your uniqueness. As Marty Neumeier, the author of Brand Gap says in his latest book, Zag: “When everybody zigs, zag.”
Now the question becomes, “Where to start?” Try these:
Nosce Te Ipsum
Of course, in order to communicate your uniqueness, you’ve got to get in touch with it first. And that takes introspection, self-awareness, and some serious soul-searching.
Nosce te ipsum (or Temet Nosce, for you Matrix fans) means, “know thyself.” And before you can be anything to anyone, you’ve got to be true to yourself, and working in the service of your own passions, strengths, conviction, values, and purpose.
And now, to take this a level deeper: The full version of the “nosce te ipsum” motto translates to:
Know thyself – and thou shall know all the mysteries of the gods and of the universe.
It’s one thing to get in touch with your own passion and purpose… and it’s a whole ‘nother thing to get in touch with a sense of the heavenly passion and deep, spiritual meaning that flows through your soul. You can’t think your way there, or infer your purpose based on personality traits or life events — you’ve got to connect your heart to the Oneness in all things, bask in the outpouring of Divine connection and flow, and feel what inspires your heart to act, and how to be, in perfect synchrony with the source of your innermost being.
How’s that for a to-do list item?
The Air To The Bird
Unless you’re gifted with a greater self-awareness than everyone else on the planet, you’re going to need support to see yourself the way that people outside your own head see you. As my favorite Hindu proverb states:
There are three mysteries in the world: the air to the bird, the water to the fish, and man to himself.
In other words, don’t try to do this alone; get help from close friends, mastermind partners, and those close to you whose only investment in this is for your highest growth (this isn’t the time to consult naysayers and fearmongerers, if you know what I mean).
Now, take your message out there, and broadcast it to the world. Because every business has a message. Is yours going to be heard?
Image by Wayne’s World 7
Adam,
Great insights!! I think kids are good models for what you are talking about (at least 4-5 year olds). If you look at four-year-olds, they are truly present and shinging in their world. They are naturally curious, passionate and acting with purpose. They do not overthink themselves. Sure, they don’t have the perspective to know what their true purpose and uniqueness is, but really, do any of us?
Knowing thyself is something we should always be striving for.
Hi Adam, i like your post. Know Thyself…..and get in touch with oneness….a simple message yet profound. Thanks
Ash
Adam, I’m obsessed with treasure mapping right now as I’m sure my soul, my heart is gently nudging me in a slightly different direction, and I’m confident that somewhere inside I can find it. I’ve done 4 treasure maps since the beginning of the year – and they always come out differently than the original intention. Says a lot about intention huh…. Treasure mapping is a cool way to start opening up to your deepest soul and often gives clues as to our easiest first steps. Wonderful again. I have a hard time NOT commenting on your blog posts…
I didn’t get help from a guru, but I sure did use books a lot. I received a good clue about my purpose when I was 17, and figured out a better way to express it in my mid-twenties. It was like coming home. I’ve been grateful ever since.
Adam, well said.
“Nosce te ipsum” was allegedly inscribed at the front of the temple of Delphi, the most important oracle temple in ancient Greek.
So, when people came to learn their future it could also be interpreted as: know thyself and help thyself, don’t ask the gods for help”
.
In modern times this could mean: Be yourself and help yourself (if you can’t do it alone, use the experience of others).
Eddie
Adam, I enjoyed reading this too (and I can’t resist commenting on your posts either). Know yourself.
This is perhaps the ultimate quest, isn’t it?
One different thought though. I know what you mean about avoiding the naysayers. And I know what you mean about seeking around for people, books, sources of ideas and enlightenment. (This can be another lifelong quest…)
But don’t the moments when we feel that shift, that knowledge, that recognition – don’t they always come from ourselves, when we are on our own – with nothing and no-one but the mighty universe for company?
Joanna
I agree with Joanna, my shift came because I spent a lot of time alone. And the big shift came from an inner voice that started a dialog with me when I was 17. I still remember where I was standing at the time and how the dialog went. I’m smiling now as I recall it. As you can guess, it was semi-humorous. Spirituality is an important part of my life, but it’s more light-hearted than somber.
It seems to me that another source of enlightenment is experiencing unconditional love. The Dalai Lama said the greatest teachers aren’t the professors or gurus, they’re the people that first teach children about unconditional love. And I just read a story by a woman who says she refers to her dog “…as my furry Buddha. Before he came into our lives, there was a hole within me that I couldn’t quite fill up. I looked into different spiritualities, donated my time to different organizations, and tried different hobbies. All were learning experiences and often enjoyable, but they never quite filled me.
Days after Donnelly arrived, I realized the searching and the ache were subsiding. I now have direction and focus, and I have an understanding of what unconditional love really is. Thanks to Donnelly, I have discovered a passion for helping animals, and I have found fulfillment working to make their lives better.”
Kim, I agree — kids do make good role models for uninhibited action. And yes, I think it is possible to grok your uniqueness, and live with purpose (but of course I am, I wrote this post, didn’t I?
).
Biggs, thanks for coming. Feel free to share more next time…
Michelle, the treasure mapping process sounds interesting (I followed your link and read your post)… my only question is, how do you know which part of you is leading you to select certain images?
Eddie, from what I saw in researching this post, the meaning “know thyself” was inscribed at the temple of Delphi, but it wouldn’t have been nosce te ipsum, since that’s latin (they’d have used the Greek version).
I like the slant you’ve taken on the translation… although I take a more monistic one, e.g. that if we truly know ourselves, then we’ll experience no separation between ourselves and the divine mysteries.
Big subject, I know… can’t help myself, though!
Joanna (and Jean), yes, I agree… most of my “epiphanal” moments have been in times of solitude — and yet, I find it to be a process that unfolds, rather than a solitary moment in time. A little support, a little reflection, a little more support, a little more reflection…
The trick to treasure mapping when you first start the process is to go really fast so you don’t have time to think about it. If you watch my video you’ll see how I just rip and glue, rip and glue. Go in with an open heart and mind. I’ve done about four of them this year and keep thinking that my work will show up on the final map, but it is always personal growth, rest, yoga, good food. It’s the other stuff my soul cares about right now. In workshops it is amazing the insights people get about their hearts desires….
What a great list of tips! In particular, I liked how you reminded us that we are indeed unique. You are the one and only one Adam Kayce, just as I’m the one and only one Stephen Hopson!
Thanks for the great post. Really enjoyed it. I also like “Monk at Work.” How in the world did you come up with that? It’s brilliant and very easy to remember!
Stephen
Stephen, thanks — Monk at Work came about because I got clear on my vision… wanting to show people how to tap into their purpose and potential, and bring that into their work.
My means to that end is to live and work spiritually, so to speak, and Monk at Work grew out of that.
Adam:
Very cool! It really works.
Stephen
So, here’s a wonderful opportunity to put in a “YAHOO!” for Adam’s Creating a Business People Love! (http://monkatwork.com/workshops/bpl) I’m just about to finish this course and it’s been a blessing. I’ve tried way too hard to fit in and look as normal as possible for much of my life (moving around a lot as a teenager can wreak havoc). But turning 50 really changed things for me – I’m relishing my quirkiness – and now to be bringing that into my work…how fun is that? Because I’m still somewhat cautious, it’s a slower process than I’d like, but this course was a great boost!
not everyone is as graced as cheerful monk jean.
and i speak for myself.
i hv been trying to get a grip on ‘who i am since my late teens. am still at it with my picture incomplete/hazy, and i am 40 .
i have gathered so many pieces about me – a leg here, a foot there, an eye and nose, and blah-blah.
its a huge collection. the only thing is, i don’t know how they are connected/united meaningfully as one working piece.
that is where, i think, your suggestion of garnering support of friends makes sense. they see me completely as they are outside me.
i can hv snapshots of me. they hv a full video…
yet…. there MUST be a way for me to acquire eyes to see me whole – in form and function.
i hv not found one thing that works for me to do that.
any pointers?
biren,
What have you tried? For me having friends tell me who I am wouldn’t work–the most important part of me is internal. One way I keep in touch with that part of me is by writing…I get lonely if I don’t write.
I would love to hear more about you. We’re all different, and for me truly listening and trying to understand how other people see things tells me about myself as well as them.
Hi,
This article is good for realizing self-identity. It helps to realize individual values. Helps to prove our uniqueness and to mark our presence.
Self-motivation helps to tackle any kind of threat and prove the world about the importance of our services.
An article to be appreciated!
Shawn, thanks for the enthusiastic “woo hoo”! I’m thrilled to hear how much you got out of the course — thanks for sharing!
Biren, great question. In my experience, we’re too big to see whole. And yet, we can get the perspective to see ourselves more clearly than normal.
The more comfortable you are with your intuition, the easier this will be… but essentially, my recommendation is to spend time connecting, using the Remembrance (the Monkifesto on intuition, or Silencing Overwhelm are good places to start), and ask to be shown about yourself through the eyes of the Divine.
It may sound simple, but I’ve seen very profound results doing this.
LF, thanks for your kind words; hope to see you around more!
dear jean,
thanx for the invite… i am a spiritual ‘flasher’
i love to bare myself – at hte hint of an interest. simply because as i write or speak about myself, i get new perspectives on ‘me’… and the bonus? – an experience of deeply connecting with someone with a heart.
since i didnot know where to send you this, i am taking up this space. sorry adam.
jean, i have tried soooo many things. and yes, writing is still one of them that i do.
i have tried a host of things. nothing have worked – as far as me getting a peek at myself goes. and all have worked, probably, to take me further – one step at a time.
like parker palmer says… ‘way to self-realisation (not enlightenment, just knowing of self) is a road filled with banging against closed doors and knowing what is NOT an opening, so that we can change direction and bang once more… till we find it.
like adma suggested about intuition… i have tried that too and didnot work for me.
there are so many things i have tried and left them in frustration.
one way to look at it (and this is how i used to see it. do it even now, sometimes) is to think, i can’t persevere till it is done – i give up easily.
the other is, which i have started realising could be as true, i have yet not found the screwdriver that fits my ‘unique’ screw.
and between these 2 extremes, i stagger on.
sometimes it seems like a pilgrimage… in search of the beloved… a journey in scorching deserts, made bearable by the intense yearning of union.
one thing though… when i am in nature, wild nature (as opposed to gardens etc.), i don’t even WANT to know myself. its as if, i have arrived… i have received… i am fulfilled.
this also happens when there is an intense and deep connection or bond with people.
this ‘speaking out’ is already telling me something i never realised before…
PS: adam, i am feeling a little guilty with this post being here.
please delete it if jean gets to read it in some other way.
love
b.
What a great read for me. Thanks to all who submitted.
My experience as a teacher of The Ishaya’s Ascension for about 3 years now, is that we have two choices: we can look to God, or look away from God (to the EGO). By that I mean we can place our awareness on the stillness within, which could be called God, or Nirvana, or the Universe, it doesn’t really matter – its a sacred place within that is still, quiet, peaceful and expanding in every moment of our awareness on it. Or, we can put our awareness on whatever is not God – our EGO – the world out there whatever is appearing to us when we look. It could be a wonderful landscape in winter, or it could be the dregs of humanity. It all depends on how we look at it – it is subjective. Whatever we see in the outside world is our own perception of it. Some of us might think a winter landscape is just a reminder of the cold, dreary, slushy, chilled to the bone time of year, while others see sparkling branches, glittering snow covered front lawns. In fact, my personal experience has been both of those, depending on how I feel in the moment.
The most amazing part of this adventure in life is that we get to choose how we are going to experience it in every moment.
Thanks for this opportunity to share from my heart.
With unconditional love for you all,
Saryanavat
Adam,
Thanks for your patience.
biren,
I’m a great listener. And as you say, sometimes having someone to talk or write to helps a lot. Come on over to Cheerful Monk if you want to continue this conversation. As I’ve said, we’re all different, and I’m always interested in what works and doesn’t work for different people.
jean…
i had gone there to post my previous ramblings.
didnot know where to do it, so came back here and posted it.
couldnot find your contact email too.
biren,
My e-mail address is jbrowman@aol.com. Sorry you had problems with my site.