The drive to make a difference is an inherent drive in every human; no matter how rich or poor, wise or foolish, educated or illiterate, cool-headed or hard-headed a man or woman might be – the drive to do something differently will be there. Somehow, an average person wants to be the first to attain some height; the first to reach some depth; the first to start a thing; and the first to finish a thing.
Put some children under the age of 10 years in a room and leave them with some food items in the package without any instruction from you. After a few seconds or even minutes ofsilence; someone among them will stand up to unpack the items – the drive to do a new thing, pursue a new projet, start a new thing is indeed in every human.
However, as we grow up, we learn teamwork, we learn to observe, we learn to do the acceptable, we learn not to be isolated; we learn to live, act and talk as a group – and gradually, that inherent drive to be different is weakened in us and often replaced with the drive to be known, popular, accepted and praised. While this has produced a form of social cohesion in our societies, it has equally done some harm to our individual self-esteem, self-worth and self-awareness.
The reality today is a bit alarming – before an average person will tell you about his or her principles; what he or she stands for or represents; you would have heard words like: "I am a Tiv man", "I am a Yoruba man", "I am a PDP, APC, Republican, Conservative, or Labour man", "I am a Catholic", "I am a Muslim", and so on and so forth. The challenge with this is that, instead of discovering each one's uniqueness, people now find the meaning of their lives from that of the larger group, religion, tribe, association or organization. Instead of people having their own set of principles as guides for their lives; they rather show off the principles (or better still, the philosophy or doctrines) of their teams, groups, associations and nations and allow it to guide or shape them. And so, a man will not tell you if he tells lies or not; instead, he will say, "we are quite diplomatic here!".
The values that ought to be esteemed and adopted by each persons, are now replaced with the values or tenets of the religions, organizations, groups and associations. Genuine leaders do not try to be like others; they simply become their own best. There is an excellent spirit in man, which makes him intelligent and thus, attract other people; and the best way to engage and deploy the full capacities of every man is not by "becoming the largest people", but by becoming the best you!" Genuine leaders find courage in the understanding of their uniqueness and they passionately pursue their purpose for living.
While people can comply with a man because of his position; people follow (willingly) genuine leaders because such leaders believe in themselves and their God and are passionate in their pursuit of His purpose for their lives. Because everyman's purpose is unique, the pursuit of such purpose will make anyman unique in his or her generation. You do not need to struggle to be different from the multitudes in your organization, nation and generation; just pursue your discovered purpose for living – it is in the unique pursuit of your unique purpose that your leadership will be established.
Truly, "people don't just follow people; people only follow people who are followin purpose" – in short, people don't follow people in real sense; people only follow purpose! Genuine leaders know why they are living; and they differ the odds daily in the pursuit of their purpose for living.Usually, when everyone is doing what everyone is doing; and everyone is saying what everyone is saying – if you you come up with a new or different thing – you will become a threat to everyone; hence, everyone's purpose or passion will be to threaten your own purposeful living. Knowing this ahead, you must not give up your dreams; you must dare to be different.
Choose the right path in life, and follow it; however, make sure that it is the right path. You do not need to be religious or hypocritical because everyone around you is – you must dare to be different; look for the truth; not just the general norm. Appraise your life regularly and chart the right path out of the commoner living to a unique and right living.Dare to be different, know the Lord for yourself and become His best for your life. Many people or places could claim to be the right path or way or life or truth for your greatness; but read this:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one (Christian, Muslim, Judaist, Hindu, Budha, or anyone other) comes to the Father (God) except through Me.
John 14:6 (Emphasis added)
