A knife is sharp only at its ends.
Your house key or car key is simply a piece of metal if the ends are flattened out.
Your pen will fail to work if the tip is broken.
You will probably your next email with your “fingertips”
In most cases, edges are what matters.
When it comes to distinguish yourself, edges matter a lot as that’s what people notice.
You can play it safe and be in the center and probably get moved to the sidelines. Someone else will take the risk, go to the edges and finally end up in the center stage.
At the center you follow what is popular. At the edges, you set a new trend.
At the center you follow the rules. At the edges, you create new rules.
At the center lies the common. At the edges, you explore the uncommon
At the center, you are with the known. At the edges, you start getting familiar with the unknown.
At the center, you comply. At the edges, you create.
At the center, you try to conquer. At the edges, you try to contribute.
At the center, you are safe but not going anywhere. At the edges, there is risk but that’s where you see the world of possibilities.
All the best!
Hat Tip: Arun Nithyanandam
Photo Courtesy: xjara69 on Flickr
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Note 1: Here are links to the other 200 articles in the series
Rajesh Setty: Best of Life Beyond Code – Distinguish Yourself #1 – #50
Rajesh Setty: Best of Life Beyond Code -Distinguish Yourself #51 – #100
Rajesh Setty: Best of Life Beyond Code -Distinguish Yourself #101 – #100
Rajesh Setty: Best of Life Beyond Code -Distinguish Yourself #151 – #200
Note 2: The first 25 entries in the series have been packaged in a ChangeThis manifesto that was published on September 07, 2005. You can download that manifesto here:
ChangeThis Manifesto: 25 Ways to Distinguish Yourself (PDF, Free)
Note 3: My latest manifesto on ChangeThis was published on August 6, 2008. This is a photographic manifesto featuring 15 of my mini sagas (stories in exactly 50 words). Here is the link:
ChangeThis Manifesto: Mini Sagas – Bite Sized Lessons for Life and Business (PDF, Free)