Expanding the Enterprise Through Conformity

con·form Adapt, accommodate. Comply with rules, standards or laws. Behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards. Be similar in form or type.

in·di·vid·u·al Of or relating to an individual, especially a single human. By or for one person. Existing as a distinct entity.

If you have ever been to a concert, you've noticed them. If you attend major sporting events, it’s evident. You have seen many of them. In school we called them cliques. Each member attempts to be different while acting the same.

Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers. Mignon McLaughlin

They have a deeper understanding of each other, an almost unspoken confidence. To the untrained eye, they may all have had a sip of the Kool-Aid but they will tell you they think freely on their own.

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority,
it is time to pause and reflect. Mark Twain

Their iPad was a sound choice made void of any peer influence which is evident in their lack of need to tell everyone on the planet about their purchase. The navy suit with crisp white shirt and steel blue tie was simply a gut call. The tattoo and pocket shorts had nothing to do with establishing an accepted image by others.

When you don't control your mind, someone else will.
John Alliston

I had a conversation recently with a great friend who said, “that doesn’t fit the culture here” and my lunch almost made a return visit. Culture is not a sentence in the annual report. Be like him and her and you'll do just fine. Step out and we may have a problem.

Do you ever push conformity aside to share a great idea?

Kneale Mann

image credit: oracle | original post: Dec 2010

Conformity and Individuality

con·form adapt, accommodate, comply, fit. Comply with rules, standards or laws. Behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards. Be similar in form or type. 
in·di·vid·u·al Of or relating to an individual, especially a single human. By or for one person. Existing as a distinct entity.

If you have ever been to a concert, you've noticed them. If you attend major sporting events, it’s evident. You have seen many of them. In school we called them cliques. Each member attempts to be different while acting the same.

Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers. Mignon McLaughlin

They have a deeper understanding of each other, an almost unspoken confidence. To the untrained eye, they may all have had a sip of the Kool-Aid but they will tell you they think freely on their own.

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, 
it is time to pause and reflect. Mark Twain

Their iPad was a sound choice made void of any peer influence which is evident in their lack of need to tell everyone on the planet about their purchase. The navy suit with crisp white shirt and steel blue tie was simply a gut call. The tattoo and pocket shorts had nothing to do with establishing an accepted image by others.

When you don't control your mind, someone else will. 
John Alliston

I had a conversation recently with a great friend who said, “that doesn’t fit the culture here” and my lunch almost made a return visit. Culture is not a sentence in the annual report. Be like him and her and you'll do just fine. Step out and we may have a problem.

Do you ever push conformity aside to share a great idea?

knealemann | email


image credit: google images 

Out Of Uniform

A few weeks ago, I received a call from a buddy who was playing in an upcoming charity golf tournament. He hadn’t golfed in years. The clubs were a bit rusty but nothing compared to his game.

He went out and bought new clothes, along with new golf shoes, cleaned up the clubs and then worried. He hadn’t swung a club since 2004. He was concerned he would make a fool of himself.


How did it go?

He called me last week to say he had a blast. Apparently there were others in the same situation as him. They all had a great laugh about it. The takeaway was sharing the event, not how well they played. His team came in 3rd in best-ball and the event was a resounding success.

We worry about what others think.

I received an email this morning from a friend who told me how she saw her business turn around in the last six weeks simply because she stopped trying so hard. This is not to suggest her work ethic waned or her efforts diminished but she stopped worrying about what others thought because she knows her company offers great solutions for clients.

How can I help you?

Her focus turned from her needs to their needs and things began to fall in to place. There are those who won’t want your services and that’s okay, but if you focus on the needs of others you will quickly stop worrying about yours. In turn, yours will be met through helping others.

Sometimes we feel out of uniform. If you focus on your abilities, you will soon discover you have a lot to offer.

Go clean your clubs and get out there.

@knealemann
knealemann at gmail dot com

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