Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Organizations tend to highlight their differences. The differences set them apart in the marketplace. Concentrating on the differences also can dim thinking. Perhaps it is good enough to merely be good enough.

In my experience, organizations tend to highlight what makes them different from all other organizations. They concentrate on the differences. They talk about the differences often.

This is who we are! This is us!

Well, why not? Why drive across town to buy a product from me if I am just like the store around the corner? Why travel a thousand miles to hear my seminar if the one in your town is 90% the same? My eyes are blue, not brown. That must make me special, right?

We could highlight our similarities. That would be the opposite, but wouldn’t it be boring? “Our cars also have four wheels,” isn’t exciting.

Alas, there is trouble in concentrating on the differences. Our differences soon become paramount. They become important beyond their worth. They go beyond rational thought and discussion.

If all consultants know the same things I know, write the same books I write, give the same speeches I give, why would you hire me? Why pay me the money? Why help me grow my business?

But isn’t it enough that an organization does good in its endeavors?

There are a lot of question marks in this blog post. That isn’t good writing. Good writing makes assertions instead of asking questions. Perhaps the question marks will set this blog post apart from all others. Perhaps this blog post will highlight the differences between me and other bloggers.

Then again, perhaps this blog post will spur some thoughts. I think that would be good, and that is enough for me for today.