Portable: Celebrating Your Unique Genius
“What makes you unique makes you successful” — William Arruda
EVERYBODY is a genius in something! The easiest way to kill your inner genius is to stay where it is not being celebrated. Kurt Cobain once said: “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.” You are who you are for a reason. In the journey of destiny fulfilment, you must not trim down who you are just because you want to fit in where you are.
Habeeb Okikiola was born on March 12, 1994, popularly known as Portable or Dr. Zeh. He is a Nigerian singer, rapper and songwriter. Portable became famous after contributing to the song “Zazoozehh” featuring Nigerian rapper Olamide and Nigerian dancer Poco Lee. The controversial Nigerian singer has been in and out of troubles more than any other artiste in the history of entertainment in Nigeria, but one thing you cannot take away from this ‘ trouble maker’ is the ability to always stick with his uniqueness.
Though I do not condone some of his ways and approaches to life, likewise many other artistes out there, but I am a silent fan of the Zazu crooner for his originality and authenticity. He is undoubtedly a good case study for sales and marketing strategies. The best sales strategy is being original and authentic with who you are. If you can stick to your authenticity for long, one day the whole world will pay you for it!
Oscar Wilde said: “Be yourself, everyone is already taken”. The greatest form of expression is in ‘ being yourself’. We are all on a journey in search of ‘ ourselves’. To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. The hardest battle you will ever have to fight is the battle to be yourself. We must spend more time with people and in places that give us the privilege of being ourselves. He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle away. We all possess a unique strand of brilliance – that rare blend of skill, passion, and perspective that sets us apart. But here’s the catch: not everyone harnesses this genius to its full potential. When you channel this distinct flavour into your offers, you’re not just selling a product or a service; you’re selling an experience. An experience only you can provide.
Your unique genius isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the magic ingredient that separates your offer from the crowd. Think about it: with countless people providing similar services or products, what makes clients choose you? It’s that spark, that flair, that distinctive quality you bring to the table.
In order to unleash your inner genius, I will be giving us ten tips for free:
• Be The Best Version Of Yourself: Self- awareness is key. Take a deep dive into self- reflection. Ask yourself: What are my strengths? What gets me excited? Where do I consistently excel? Identifying your genius starts with knowing yourself. Socrates said, ‘’ Man, know thyself.’’ The secret of success and the highest form of enlightenment lies in self- discovery. Selfdiscovery with self- mastery is real power. We need a generation that is more self- aware. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ‘’ Make the best of yourself because that is all there is of you.’’
• Upgrade Yourself: Max Depreeonce said, “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are”. One thing Portable is always seeking after is an upgrade. His recent upgrade to feature in the single,‘ Tony Montana’ with the UK rap artist skepta has really launched him into international limelight.
• Never Settle For Less: When you realize your intrinsic worth, you will stop accepting peanuts for your services. Maureen Dowd said, ‘’ The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for”. The greatest tragedy of life is not that we set high aim and miss it but that we set low aim and reach it! Strive to never settle for less in every area of your life.
• Rise Beyond Your Background: Where you are coming from is not what defines you, but rather where you are going in life. You must endeavour in life to ensure that where you are going in life does not in any way look like where you are coming from. No matter what you are going through in life, you can rise above your background. You may succeed when others give up on you, but you will never succeed if you give up on yourself. Mel Robbins said: “There will always be someone who can’t see your worth. Don’t let it be you.” Whatever becomes of you is your responsibility. Don’t ever allow your conditions to determine your destination. No matter where you are from, no matter what you are passing through, no matter how obscure you think you are, no matter your limitation, you can rise beyond your background. At any given moment, you have the power to say, “This is not how my story will end.”
• See Redirection In Every Rejection: When men reject you, it is because God is redirecting you to something better.
Your unique genius isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the magic ingredient that separates your offer from the crowd. Think about it: with countless people providing similar services or products, what makes clients choose you? It’s that spark, that flair, that distinctive quality you bring to the table
Sometimes, that one rejection is all you need to get to where God is taking you to. Mar Amend once said, “Rejection doesn’t mean you are not good enough; it means the other person failed to notice what you have to offer”. Rejection is inevitable and the most empowering way to handle rejection is to see it as redirection. God sometimes allow men to reject us so that we don’t settle for less than what He has for us. Skepta bringing in Portable to feature in ‘ Tony Montana’ is evident to the fact that bitter rejections can lead to the sweetest re- direction!
• Seek Feedback: Get daily feedbacks! Talk to clients, friends, colleagues, or mentors. Often, others can pinpoint what’s special about your approach or style that you might be overlooking. Ken Blanchard said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions”. We’ve all heard the saying, “What gets measured gets done.” It means regular measurement and reporting keeps you focused because you use that information to make decisions to improve your results. Seeking feedback is the best to track and scale up your progress.
• Tell Your Story: One thing Portable does so well is telling his stories. When God is writing your story, no man can write you off! Your experiences, challenges, and journey make up the tapestry of your genius. Weave these into your brand narrative. Let your audience connect with the person behind the offer.
• Innovate: Great minds confront the status quo by looking out for better ways of doing things. Thomas Edison said, “There is always a better way, find it! Don’t just offer what everyone else is offering. Bring something new to the table. A unique twist, a fresh perspective, an unexpected bonus – something that makes your audience think, “Wow, I’ve never seen it done like that before!” Re- evaluate Your Offerings. Look at your current products or services. Where can you sprinkle a bit more of ‘ you’? Perhaps it’s in the packaging, the delivery, the follow- up, or the actual content.
• Communicate Your Genius: Every conversation must be an opportunity to sell yourself and services. From your social media posts to your official website, ensure that your unique flavor shines through. This isn’t about bragging; it’s about branding and letting your audience know the real value they’ll get when they choose you.
• Consistency Is King: One of the greatest philosophers of all times, Aristotle, once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” Your genius isn’t a one- time thing. Consistency is the core of any commitment. If you want to build something long lasting, you must build it with consistency at the foundation. Consistency infused it into every aspect of your life can be a miracle worker!
I want you to take some actions today. Start with defining your genius in a sentence. Start simple. If you had to describe what makes your approach unique in one sentence, what would it be? This clarity will serve as your guiding light. Remember: Your unique genius is your secret sauce, your special spice mix. When you truly understand its power and weave it into your offers, not only will your value skyrocket, but you’ll also find a deeper sense of satisfaction and purpose in your work. So go on, genius, sprinkle your magic everywhere and watch as the world savors the unique flavor of your success!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Most people don’t know who they are, so they die as someone else”— Myles Munroe