Introduction

Years ago I worked for a very successful man, a self-made multimillionaire. Not only was he successful, he was also a very unique individual. This is something you notice quite quickly once you get to know him. It didn’t take me long to see a connection between his success and his distinctiveness.

I’ll never forget one day talking with him and telling him how different he was. His response at first was quite defensive: “What do you mean I’m different?” Like most people, he thought being called unique or different was negative.

Fortunately, I had a good working relationship with this boss. So I could candidly explain to him what I meant and why what I said was a good thing. I told him that his differentness was a strong asset for him and that nearly every highly successful person I know stands out and doesn’t blend it.

Well, his eyes lit up and his countenance changed the more I complimented him on his strangeness . . . in a good way.

I’ve always said one of the highest compliments you can hear is when someone says to you, “You’re different!” You must be doing something special, matchless, and rare to hear those words.

Of course, I’m not encouraging you to be bizarre, nutty, or weird. What I am saying is as you become you . . . you will stand out. So many people are just copies.

One of the great blessings in my life is the privilege of speaking many times each year throughout the country. Because of this, I spend a fair amount of time in airports. As I walk through these terminals, I’m always moved by the hundreds of people seemingly in a hurry to nowhere. My heart goes out not only to this mass of people, but also to some specific individuals.

I wish I could stop them and ask, “Do you realize God has a unique plan for your life? Do you know that He ‘packaged’ you perfectly for the job? Are you aware His best for you is a life of peace, abundance, satisfaction, and love?”

That’s why I wrote this book. First, to attack the mediocrity of doing anything other than what God wants you to do. Second, to stir up the gifts He’s placed within you!

I know you’ve entrusted me with one of your most precious resources, your time. I promise to do my best to be a good steward of the minutes we spend together. That’s why I organized this book into fifty-two nuggets of truth like in my first book, An Enemy Called Average. You won’t have to wait ten pages to get one point; you’ll find ten points on one page.

My prayer as you read this book is that God will reveal His plan for you, stir up what He’s put inside you, and cause you to take action toward the great plan He has for your life.