The place is Lagos, Nigeria, and the event, Olubankole Wellington, ( Banky W) and Adesua Etomi’s traditional wedding – BAAD 2017, on Sunday, November 19, 2017. When Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, one of the groomsmen, a TV personality showed up at the wedding occasion, he simply stole the show. And like a goldfish in the goldfish bowl there was no hiding place for him. Spotted in his uniquely stylish agbada aseobi, he stood out from the other groomsmen who were all mesmerized by his outfit. Everything about his agbada was very captivating. He looked so breathtaking in his superbly crafted agbada which trended for so many days after the wedding. He made big headlines because he stood out with his outfit. To stand out is akin to being successful. In other words, to be successful you must dare to stand out.
Now let’s relate it to success. Just like Ebuka, if you want to succeed and make headlines you must endeavor to stand out in everything you do. You must be able to distinguish yourself from the crowd. In my book, Conquest in Adversity; the Mystery of Another Spirit, I gave an illustration about Polaris or the North Star. And I did say that someone can easily distinguish it from other stars by its brightness and position. Note, there are billions of stars in our galaxy but the North Star stands out by its position and brightness. As a naked-eyed star, it can easily be spotted and differentiated from other (alpha ursae minoris) stars because by its attribute it is meant to stand out. So I will advise, if you want to stand out from the crowds don’t just be a star be a North Star.
Another vital attribute of the North Star is that it is a guiding star. It is a dependable indicator of the direction toward the geographic North Pole. And so it is a reference point in navigation or astrology. Once you stand out in success you will become a reference point to people who are eager to succeed like you. That is one big lesson to learn from standing out. You will only become a superstar, a role model, or a mentor only if you stand out in that which you do. In governance, business, academics, and investment you surely stand out.
Moreover, you will only be a shining example to them when, and if you stand out. They will look up to you for direction and guidance once you stand out. I am sure you know that after Ebuka’s agbada stint, he became a reference point. So many people began to make something similar to that because he stood out with his agbada. Basically, if you want to be a force to reckon on in any field you must dare to stand out.
Obviously, one important high mark of success is that it makes you stand out from others. However, you must be outstanding in what you do for you to be successful. You must be ‘fantastically sophisticated’ in all you do to be successful and therefore stand out. Even your thinking must also be sophisticated. You must think outside the box. Frantically think about measures that will give you a comparative advantage over other competitors.
Furthermore, you must take necessary actions that will distinguish you from the others. Consequently, if you are a corporate entity I recommend branding your services. A good brand will put you ahead of other players in the industry. You must also consider re-branding over time. Review your brands from time to time. This will enable you to consolidate your hold on the market through your brands. In the nearest future, I will do justice to the subject of branding.
In addition, you may also want to consider improving your packaging if you are into the production of consumer goods. Make your products catchy and attractive; make them unique among rivals to stand out. Then improve on your customer service management to woo customers, and get a fair share of the market. These and more are all you need to do to stand out from aggressive competitors. Remember the high mark of success is to stand out in any field and be exceptionally good as that is a signal of success. For you to succeed, always dare to stand out from others no matter what.