There are individuals who have walked, are walking, and will walk the Earth who are unfathomably different.
They possess a different level of talent, a gift, and something inexplicably unique that just makes them a bit of an outlier.
That doesn’t mean they don’t work hard, that everything is given to them on a silver platter.
In fact, from just observing from afar, it’s the complete opposite.
They are the individuals most obsessed. Who cannot rest easily and are always on the go, creating, innovating, thinking and seeing how they can do more and more of just what they do, no matter what their craft is. It’s an innate part of who they are. Take their craft away from them, and they just aren’t the same.
In the art and music world, this was your Michael Jackson; in entrepreneurship and business, this is your Elon Musk, or Steve Jobs; in sports, this was your Muhammad Ali.
Individuals who, from their earliest days, just had something different about them, often beyond what words can describe.
Sure, we’re all different in one way or another, but these individuals were and are unfathomably different.
Do We Really Want to Be Them?
Most of us look up to them. Most of us want to be them. The question is, do we really? Are we willing to pay the costs for what it takes to be these individuals?
And, that’s without even taking into consideration if we even have half the talent and that something inexplicably unique to reach anywhere near the level they reached.
For the far majority of us, the truth is it’s unreachable, unattainable, and impractical.
Not because we lack a work ethic. But, because there was something innate about these individuals that made them go on to do all they do and did, and be who they were and are.
The Hidden Costs Behind the Talent
Maybe it’s hidden traumas, as most of these individuals had rough, traumatic childhoods, not ordinary ones.
You could argue that many have hard upbringings, but haven’t and don’t go on to gain the stardom, fandom and success that only a few individuals at this time of writing have done, again, your Elon Musks, Michael Jacksons, and Steve Jobses of the world.
These individuals redefine the industries they operate in and touch the world in such a profound way.
What This Means for the Rest of Us
My take is that while the majority of us won’t reach these heights, that’s okay.
That’s how life’s designed.
There can only ever be one…
Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali
You get the point.
Striving to be them is naive at best. And, leads to more unhappiness, stress, pain and suffering at worst.
That doesn’t mean not to have ambitions, aspirations, or goals, or to want to grow in our personal and professional lives.
On the contrary, I believe it means that we have an incredible opportunity to create our lives by design, without the added weight, scrutiny and superstar fandom that most outliers endure.
Look at it this way: the outliers, the MJs of the world, became so famous that surely that took a toll not just on their health and well-being, but every facet of what it means to be human.
The majority of us will never experience that.
And, while we may lie to ourselves that we want it. The truth is, we humans tend to always want what we don’t have, only to arrive at what we thought we wanted to realise it’s not what we want, constantly changing the goalposts.
Most, if not all, of us wouldn’t be able to process the fandom, stardom, scrutiny, and pressure that outliers do, wishing we could just go back to our old boring lives.
Finding Your Own Innate Gifts
The challenge we have is that we may not know what our innate gifts or talents are, and how to bring them into the world.
For the outliers, in most cases, their gifts and talents were so obvious that everyone could see them. But again, everything has a cost. Nothing comes for free, and for us ordinary folks, it’s often more difficult to identify our gifts, what we want to create, and how to bring them into the world.
So, we just accept the status quo, stop growing, and fall into careers, jobs, and a life that isn’t true to ourselves. That’s been my experience anyway.
Growth Is Our Nature
Here’s the thing:
While we may not have some godly Michael Jackson talent or Elon Musk work ethic, we all have something to give to the world on some level, and ways in which we can grow. Discovering them for ourselves and how to bring them into the world is our life’s work.
This can be in the subtle things, such as starting a yoga studio, being a great painter, or helping out in the community, let alone ways we can grow by how we relate to others, how we communicate in relationships, how we process feelings, how we regulate emotions, and how we perform in the gym.
These are all ways that we can contribute and grow, which is exactly what we were designed to do.
We’re designed to grow just as everything in nature grows.
The great thing about being human is that we can grow in multiple ways: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, etc. You get the point.
Fundamentally, what I’m saying from observing the world from afar is that there are and have been only ever a few special, inexplicably unique individuals, special in the sense of their gifts and talents, that the far majority of us will never possess or reach the level of.
While they are still human, and should be treated as all humans should be, because it’s simply the right thing to do, which we often forget and ridicule them instead, striving to be them isn’t only naive at best, but won’t lead to any good place.
From Imitation to Inspiration
Instead, what if we were to merely observe them for the magic of their work? For example, the music MJ produced, the invention of the iPhone, which changed how we communicate today, and all the work Elon is doing, changing the face of planet Earth in real time.
By merely observing their work, their creations, we begin to not only enjoy their creations much more, but also see what kind of outliers they really are.
This in itself is a form of inspiration. Not one where we want to be them.
But one where we’re inspired, curious even, to discover our version of success, see what we can create and how we can grow, all by design.
The Key Takeaways on Creating Your Life by Design
- The Cost of Being an Outlier: Recognise that exceptional individuals like Elon Musk or Michael Jackson often face immense pressures and personal costs. Chasing their level of fame is impractical for most and can lead to dissatisfaction.
- The Opportunity in Being You: You have a unique chance to create a life by your own design, free from the extreme scrutiny and weight of superstardom that outliers endure.
- Discover Your Own Gifts: Your true work lies in discovering your own innate talents. This isn’t just about career, but about growing in all areas of life, from relationships to personal well-being.
- Growth is Your Nature: Humans are designed to grow, just like everything in nature. You can pursue growth physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to build a fulfilling life.
- Shift from Imitation to Inspiration: Instead of trying to copy outliers, observe their work as a source of inspiration. Let their creations spark curiosity about your own potential and what you can bring into the world.
FAQs for Stop Chasing Outliers. Create Your Life by Design Instead.
What does the article mean by an ‘outlier’?
An outlier is described as a rare individual with an inexplicable and unique talent, like Steve Jobs or Muhammad Ali. They are often intensely obsessed with their craft and end up redefining their entire industry, possessing something that sets them far apart from most people.
Why is it a bad idea to try to become an outlier?
The article suggests that trying to become an outlier is often an impractical and unhappy path. These individuals have innate gifts that cannot be replicated, and their lives come with hidden costs like extreme pressure and public scrutiny that most people would not be able to handle.
If I shouldn’t chase outliers, what should I do instead?
You should focus on creating your life by design. This means discovering your own unique gifts and focusing on personal growth in all its forms, whether that’s in your relationships, emotional well-being, or community contributions. It’s about building a life that is true to you.
How can I find my own ‘innate gifts’?
Finding your gifts is presented as your life’s work. It involves looking beyond conventional success and exploring what you can contribute, even in subtle ways. This could be anything from starting a small business to improving how you communicate with others or helping in your local community.
How should I view famous and successful people?
View them as a source of inspiration, not a blueprint for imitation. Appreciate the magic of their work, like the music of Michael Jackson or the innovations of Steve Jobs. Let their creations inspire you to discover your own version of success and see what you are capable of creating.