Christopher Lochhead - Niche Down: How To Become Legendary By Being Different

My life was transformed when I niched down.

After a successful career in sales with the biggest cutlery company in the United States and Canada (Cutco), I decided to reinvent myself as an author, speaker, and life coach.

Once I got started, I did pretty well.

But, I had a problem. In a sea of thousands of authors, speakers and life coaches, I didnt stand out.

I was one of many ex-sales folk serving up tips for how to achieve more, win more deals, and generate more qualified leads. Blah, blah, blah.

I didnt let it get me down. My rule, which I learned during my knife-wielding Cutco career: When things dont go your way, you can feel bad about it, but for five minutes. If you cant change it, move on.

So I wrote my book, The Miracle Morning , inspired by what I learned from the horrific car accident that literally (albeit briefly) claimed my life in 1999 and the profoundly difficult financial crisis I suffered a decade later during the Great Recession.

Heres my idea: I believe that what we do first thing in our day affects the whole day. If you can change your morning by getting up an hour earlier, you can profoundly affect the next 23 hours. And if you can change your days, you can change your entire life.

It was a different idea than what other motivational experts were espousing, and I evangelized this philosophy everywhere I could. Because I believe in it and live it myself. Once a few thousand people understood The Miracle Morning mantra, the idea tipped it became the sort of touchstone belief system that can guide people through all manner of life phases and choices.

Today, The Miracle Morning is an international bestseller that has been translated in 27 languages and that more than 500,000 people, in 70 countries, practice daily.

The philosophy behind it has also become a franchise that Ive been able to help apply to all sorts of different social and business communities. There are close to a dozen specialized versions that Ive co-authored with friends and colleagues, such as The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs , The Miracle Morning for Salespeople , The Miracle Morning for Parents and Families , The Miracle Morning for College Students , and many others.

Now, Im no longer just a good generic motivational speaker, author and coach.

Im known as The Miracle Morning guy.

Be known for a niche that you own.

This is a powerful idea. One that transforms how people think about their lives, careers and business ventures.

Niche Down is a life hack of life hacks.

Heres why.

Most of the people we admire the most were different in some tangible way .

Think about the entrepreneurs, scientists, executives, explorers, musicians, athletes, teachers, artists, parents, political leaders, authors, speakers, actors and creators that you most love.

They broke new ground.

They were original.

Unique.

They stood out because of the path they chose, deliberately.

They did not find their place in the world, they made their place in the world. They told the world how to think about them. They figured out how to stand out in a world that teaches us to color inside the lines and fit in. And as a result, they made a big impact.

My story speaks truth to the thesis underlying Niche Down , the idea that being different is the best way to become legendary. I have become known because of the niche that I own. And that has made all the difference in both my life and career.

This is the rare book that describes a life-changing idea and prescribes the practical steps required to implement the idea.

More than just a book, youre holding a guide to a legendary life and business.

Hal Elrod

International best-selling author of The Miracle Morning series of motivational books and host of the Achieve Your Goals podcast