Be Original

I used to have a friend, a Sales guy by the name, Sashi. One of the difficult jobs for any sales guy is to get an appointment with any prospect. They always cold shoulder you. He was also dejected one day when he did not get the appointments. Suddenly his eyes lit and he was full of energy. An idea was born! He picked up the phone and called a prospect. He started, “Good morning, Sir. I’m Sashi from ABC. I have a wonderful tool to make life easier for you and your team. Can I meet you tomorrow at 10.33 am?

“Did you say 10.33 am?” the voice on the other end asked.

“Yes, Sir” replied Sashi

“Why 10.33 am? Why not 10.30 am?” asked the prospect with a surprised tone.

“Well, sir. I’ll be there at your office by 10.30 am. 3 minutes is for your front office to let me in.” said Sashi with a smile.

“Mr. Sashi, you certainly have caught my attention and you seemed to be a different salesman. Let’s meet at 10.33 am” said the prospect.

Sashi was thrilled and pumped his fist in the air.

Now, this is what being creative or being original is all about. Try to do something different. Don’t just do what others do! Use your own imagination and be original. That’s what I learnt from Sashi that day.

No one is going to complain if you are original. Imitation is a great form of flattery, but it kills your original thoughts. In a way, this blog is all about how to resist being someone else!!!

Being original means doing what is “right” for you rather than what is “good” for you. It maybe tough but it’s worth the trouble.


You've gotta be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for? - Bernadette Peters

To determine whether someone (or something) is original, ask these 3 questions: what exactly was done, when exactly was it done and was this ever done before.

Here is a true story on being original.About 8 years ago I interviewed a candidate for a Documentation/Technical writer position. In his cover letter he had misspelled the word 'writing' (as 'writting') and had it highlighted in several places.I asked him if he had spell checked the letter. He replied he had done it.Then I asked if he knew he had misspelled any word incorrectly. He said he did.Then I asked why he didn't correct it. He said. “It got your attention and I'm here now, aren't I?He got the job for his original creative thinking!

Being original means being creative, being bold, being ready to take on the road less traveled. Only the courageous can do it. Do you have this quality in you?

Why do people copy and fail to maintain their originality?

It’s just because, they lack imagination, courage and more importantly, lack self- conviction. They think if something succeeds, it can be manipulated to their advantage and can ride the success wave. How mean! How ignorant they are!! People do identify the imitations quickly and will not pay attention. Originality has a beauty that an imitation cannot match up to. When you fake a product or try to imitate others, you may succeed temporarily. You lose the game in the long run.

Being original means being true to oneself! True to our conscience! No matter what! If you are brave, believe in yourself, you will be original. Copy others and you make a mockery of your own individuality!!

Being original is applicable to all walks of life. It could be the dress you wear, the soap you choose, the mobile phone that you use. Know what you want and look for the right one, not the one your friend or neighbour has chosen. Your needs are different and don’t try to go by what others do. Just because the majority follows a pattern or does something, it does not mean it is right.

Our cricket players have lost many matches when they try to bat like a Kapil Dev or a Sachin or a Dhoni! You’ve got “your” game and not Kapil’s or Sachin’s or Dhoni’s. Their style is different. You can’t be a Kapil or Sachin or Dhoni.

Being original applies to a child’s upbringing too! This reminds me of Bernard Shah, the famous philosopher. During Bernard Shah’s days, there lived a beautiful actress. Once she told him, “Mr. Shah, You have an amazing brain and I’m the most beautiful woman. If we have a child with your brain and my beauty, that’s ecstacy, isn’t it? Bernard Shah replied, “It will an agony if it’s the other way around”. Why should she think her child should have a “Bernard Shah” brain? There can be only one Bernard Shah and that’s him.

These days we have many options. What your child wants to become is entirely with the child and the way the child is brought up. Instill our culture and value system, our way of life. Don’t try to ape the west in everything. I’m not against MTV or Coke or Pepsi. Never ever lose your originality at any cost. Embrace changes, new cultures, behaviours without affecting our roots.

“One who sits in two chairs, will fall down” is a Russian proverb.

For us being Indian is being original. Someone said. “You can take an Indian from India, but not India out of an Indian”

Ships are safe in harbour. But they’ve got to sail and that’s what they are meant to be. You might be safe when you imitate. It’s like protecting the ship at the harbour. Let it be free and like the ship, your originality will take you places.