Mason - Youre Born an Original (Dont Die a Copy)

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 didnt take me long to see a connection between his success and his distinctiveness.

Ill 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 Im 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 doesnt blend it.

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

Ive always said one of the highest compliments you can hear is when someone says to you, Youre different! You must be doing something special, matchless, and rare to hear those words.

Of course, Im 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, Im 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?

Thats 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 Hes placed within you!

I know youve 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. Thats why I organized this book into fifty-two nuggets of truth like in my first book, An Enemy Called Average . You wont have to wait ten pages to get one point; youll 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 Hes put inside you, and cause you to take action toward the great plan He has for your life.

How many outstanding people do you know with unique and distinctive characteristics? Dont be a living custard. Its true what Eric Hoffer said: When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. Humankind is the only creation that refuses to be what it is.

Dont just look for miracles. You are a miracle. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14). Dont be awestruck by other people and try to copy them. Nobody can be you as efficiently and as effectively as you can. When you use the gifts you have, people call you gifted. One of the hardest things about climbing the ladder of success is getting through the crowd of copies at the bottom.

The number of people who dont take advantage of their talents is more than made up for by the number who take full advantage of the talents they have. Youre a specialist... an expert at what you do best. Youre not created to be all things to all people. Youre the greatest miracle in the world.

Following the path of least resistance is what makes men and rivers crooked.

Larry Bielat

More than 90 percent of all flowers have either an unpleasant odor or none at all. Yet its the ones with fragrances we want and remember. Stand out! Too many people make cemeteries of their lives by burying their talents.

Dont try to live up to anyones expectations but Gods. A copy adapts to the world, but an original tries to make the world adapt. Therefore, all progress depends upon originals.

Dont copy the behaviors of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you.

Romans 12:2 TLB

It doesnt take a majority to make a change; it takes a few determined originals and a right cause. Youre the only one in all of creation who has your set of abilities. Youre special... youre rare. And in all rarity there is great value. Jesus says, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works (Matt. 5:16, emphasis added). The more were like Jesus, the more we become who were supposed to be.