It came to me that if I wanted to be different from the millions of fiction authors out there, I had to stake out my niche. And to do that, I had to be clear what I was going to be about. I looked at my family, experiences, culture, and passions and applied it all to my work. I knew what I needed to do from there on in. If I didn’t want to be like everyone else, I had to develop a level of confidence that would carry me through what I was doing. I had to get
specific. And I have to say it’s made an enormous difference in how I’m viewed from the outside but, more importantly, how I view myself. I can comfortably differentiate my work from the majority, which is a big thing for me.
Having clarity is not just about my brand, but it’s a principle that can be applied to every aspect of life.
Get specific.
Many leaders conquered their biggest fears and achieved amazing things by clarifying exactly what they wanted. It makes your ambitions so much easier to attain by thrashing out the details and coming clean with the price you will need to pay. It’s just so much easier to absorb and come to terms with. The truth may be painful, but I promise you’ll be glad you did it.
Another useful thing you’ll find about clarity is that you’ve already broken down your need into its components, so when it comes a time for you to ask for help, you’ve got it covered. When you have this level of specificity, you will have confidence and conviction. It’s so much easier to ask when you know exactly what you want.
And finally, the most important reason I think for clarity is that your thoughts are what make you who you are. If you’re confused about your goals or aspirations, then your dominant thoughts will be that of confusion, and that’s what you’ll attract to yourself.
Earl Nightingale said it best in the Strangest Secret.
We become what we think about all the time.
The more specific you are, the better.
I don’t believe in coincidences, and whether you believe it or not, you are today exactly where you should be because of your thoughts. You are the scriptwriter for your life, and the story you are telling will depend on how you’ve been using your mind.
Just remember, when you’re about to skip the work that’s involved in clarifying your life, you’re a living, breathing version of your thoughts.
Are you happy with who you are?
I hope so.