At some point in all of our lives we’re asked the dreaded question – “What makes you unique?” 

I don’t know about you but I’ve spent my whole life trying to prove my uniqueness. As a teenager, I was hell bent on being different. Forget about the current trends – I was the kid scraping the bottom of the op shop bin, looking for pre-loved gems and vintage finds. 

I was the sole student in my high school art class that chose to make a piece of wearable art for my 12th grade project, and if I ever saw someone wearing a piece of clothing I owned you could be damn sure it’d never be on my back again. I was always looking for ways to visually express how different I was… probably because back then I couldn’t really articulate what made me different.

These days I’m so determined to understand what makes ME unique and what makes YOU unique, that I’ve basically dedicated my life and my work to answering this question.

I’ve taken some time over the last few days to really reflect on and think about what separates you as a leader and what makes you unique. And I came up with FIVE things that make you unique as a leader (Five seems to be my lucky number).

If you’re keen to dive even deeper into this topic, check out my previous blog post about branding yourself uniquely. Also, come check out my Youtube channel for more content! I release new videos every Thursday.

1. You’re intentional in the way you live your life.

Life doesn’t just happen to you. Your career didn’t just happen to you. 

For a lot of people life just happens right? They go to school, then they graduate and they go to work or to university or some type of further education. Some people find themselves in other situations they didn’t plan for – and from there life just goes on. 

What makes YOU unique is that you’re intentional about the way you live your life. You have a vision and a plan, and you took steps to get you to where you are today. You didn’t just fall into the position you’re in – you planned for it, prayed for it, you visioned it. And your dreams are coming to life right before your eyes.

2. You ask a LOT of questions.

You don’t take things at face value and you’re always looking to go deeper and really understand how things work, and why things are the way they are. 

When I decided to delve on this topic, I decided NOT to see what other people were saying about it. I wanted to go deep into my own understanding so that I could provide some answers that weren’t a regurgitation of things you may have heard before.

You’re the same. 

You ask questions, you develop your own viewpoints.

You’re so determined to excel in your life and leadership that you’ll forever be exploring in your industry so that you can truly be a master of your craft.

3. You apply the answers you find. 

 You don’t just ask questions with no clue about what you’ll do with the answers. 

We all know probably a lot of people who are forever questioning and forever studying. Forever on the verge of doing something but never applying, who sits on ideas for years and who are always talking about what they’ll do one day. 

That isn’t YOU. In those sea of people, you’re the one person who goes looking for answers and when you find them, you find new, innovative and powerful ways to leverage them.

4. You speak up, even when your viewpoint is polarizing.

This one hits me deep.

I’ve held back from using my voice on MANY occasions because I wanted to avoid “potential” backlash. Times when I KNEW my brutal honesty and transparency could’ve helped someone, but probably would’ve bothered others and so I just decided not to go there.

For example, the past month I’ve released two videos on mixed race identity. I wanted to talk about being mixed race for the longest time, but anything related to race is always polarizing. For about 3 years I just didn’t talk about it. Finally, a few weeks ago I summoned the courage and posted the video. Within a week of releasing it, I got accused of being anti-white and racist, when the video was about belonging and self-expression! But you know what’s empowering? Those comments just rolled right off me. I decided, I don’t care. I’m a leader. And my courage and willingness to use my voice is what makes me unique.

AS a leader, YOU go there.

5. You don’t fear leadership or the responsibility that comes with it.

Leadership requires a certain level of responsibility to yourself and to others, so YOU aren’t a commitment-phobe. Having to answer to the people you serve is something you’re able and willing to do with transparency and some real talk.

You face the criticism and feedback head on and you don’t take everything personally.

I’m going to say that last one again because I need to make sure you didn’t miss it. 

You don’t take everything personally. 

You’re able to separate yourself from other people’s feelings, understand where your responsibility ends and theirs begins. And you handle yourself like a class act.

What makes you unique as a leader? Let me know in the comments below!

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I created a FREE 5-day mini-course that teaches the five things you must know in order to build a profitable personal brand. You’ll receive daily emails with audio guidance, stories and inspiration to give you the confidence to begin showing up online. So if you’re ready to stop hiding, start shining and finally become known to the people who need you then head over to my mini-course and get started now!