Home > Big Ideas > Be Yourself: Anything Else is a Waste Of Time

I’ve always felt the phrase ‘rugged individualist’ applied perfectly to me. I’m not just an arbitrary rebel, however. The biggest windmill I’ve tilted at in my lifetime is the willingness of so many people to make rules (read: excuses) that set others up for failure and mediocrity. I decided early on to be the exception, to work harder, go farther and make my goals and dreams a reality by being myself. Not the attitude that most conformist institutions like schools and corporations are looking for, but it helped me figure out who I’m NOT, which is just as important in life.

When I began freelancing, I made a point of being dependable, on time (showing is up is 90%, right?) and consistent. Amazing how those three simple attributes brought me so much more business, and how many like minded people I discovered who needed my services. But there have also been times when I turned away a project, because it wasn’t “me”. It has sometimes been a questionable client or topic, or an ethical vibe that I couldn’t put my finger on somehow, but I KNEW it would be a mistake to accept. Being myself has given me the peace to trust my intuition and build my brand reputation.

Iron Chef Michael Symon has his own theory about this:

A more pragmatic reason to be myself is: it just saves time. I don’t dink people around about pricing, services or availability. I have my schedule, and I stick to it. If I can’t do it, I say so, quickly. It’s how I like to be treated, and people seem to appreciate that I value their time as well as my own.

If you’re looking at working for yourself, the decision to be yourself is just as important as financial backing or a mission statement. The Who asked the musical question over 30 years ago: Who Are You? The answer is the main factor in determining long term success.