Dare to Differ

This is from Bruce Rector's Monday Morning Messages, and is something that really struck a chord with me:
Greatness, in the last analysis is largely bravery - courage in escaping from old ideas and old standards and respectable ways of doing things. This is one of the chief elements in what we vaguely call capacity. If you do not dare differ from your associates and teachers you will never be great or your life sublime. You may be the happier as a result, or you may be miserable. Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us.

James Harvey Robinson

Chelsey B. Sullenberger called for help as the airplane he was piloting, US Airways Flight 1549, glided without the power of its two engines over New York City. Sullenberger did what most pilots do when there is a problem with a plane: look for, and head toward, the nearest airport or landing strip. He turned the plane toward Teterboro Airport in New Jersey just a short distance away, on the other side of the Hudson River.

But as gravity pulled the plane closer to the ground, Sullenberger became increasingly concerned about whether or not he had could remain airborne long enough to reach the runway and so he bravely made a difficult choice. He turned the plane left and made an approach to land the plane in the Hudson River.

The plane cleared the George Washington Bridge by a mere 300 meters. It landed smoothly in the water. Nearby ferries quickly moved in to rescue the passengers. All 155 people on board survived and with only a few injuries.

Sullenberger has been lauded as a hero this past week. His quick and creative thinking saved the lives of 155 people aboard the plane and perhaps many more on the ground. But he assumed this status of greatness because largely because he was brave enough to differ from the traditional paradigm that planes should only land on runways and making it to the New Jersey airport was the best option he had.

Although great leaders are always learning and establishing systems based on best practices and traditional ways of doing things, like Sullenberger, they never become so locked into those ways that they can't differ from them when needed. They build knowledge and experience to do routine things well but they also have the capacity to differ from the crowd and traditional ways. They have the courage to tackle great challenges in new ways knowing it won't be easy.

Are you and your team too locked into tradition and the past to do the right thing today? Are you brave enough to deviate from "respectable" ways of doing things and suffer the criticism and ridicule that may come from differing from your associates, teachers and competitors [emphasis mine]? Do you have the confidence to undertake great things in a manner that gains you the trust, support and respect of others?

This week, begin your rise to greatness by thinking of meaningful ways you and your team might deviate from old ideas and standards. Gradually build your capacity to be brave enough to challenge tradition and separate yourself from the pack when necessary. Choose to undertake great challenges knowing they won't be easy, but understanding that the most satisfying achievements often come from going against the grain, defying the odds and popular opinion. [emphasis mine]