Figuring Out What Makes You Special

Source: Pixabay, CC0 Public Domain

No one wants to feel ordinary: a replaceable part in society, the workplace, or relationships.

Fortunately, even identical twins aren’t completely identical. So there probably are myriad ways you differ from the norm. But how do you figure out what makes you special? And more challenging, how might better use your specialness to enhance your place in the world?

These questions derived from a chapter in my just-published book, Careers for Dummies, may help:

Looking forward

Imagine that you're 17 but have all your self-knowledge and knowledge of the world. What would you do careerwise that’s at least slightly unconventional? Would it be different if you were 30?

Anything unconventional regarding relationships?

How about avocationally?

You’re in perfect health but have only one day left to live. How do you spend it?

What if you have one year left?

If you were to give a last lecture, broadcast worldwide, at the end of which you dropped dead, what would be your main point(s) that is at least slightly unconventional?

Lessons from your past

What’s something unusual, even weird, about you?

What's a second unusualness?

Have you had an unusual accomplishment or two?

What’s one or two unconventional things you’ve done?

If a few people who know you well are talking about you, what do they say is unusual about you?

The takeaway

As you review your answers, is there at least one thing that makes you different from the average bear? And does that suggest something you actually want to do more of, less or, or something completely new? Do you want to do it now? At some date certain?

I read this aloud on YouTube