My Unfair Advantage

My Unfair Advantage

Confidence

Valuable: This is something that I’ve been working to build up since I became an adult, as it is absolutely needed to get far in all that one desires to achieve.

Rare: As millennials get older, confidence becomes more prevalent – it’s just a fact of life. It is an expectation, so its rarity isn’t that potent.

Inimitable: Confidence is contagious, in my opinion. Confidence breeds confidence, and it’s a trait that entrepreneurs should have because it resonates among their entire organization.

Non-substitutable: I’m not sure that confidence has a substitute – one can be conceited, egotistical, and arrogant, but I think those are misguided. Confidence isn’t a bad thing – the latter options are, however.

Experience

Valuable: Experience is invaluable. And I don’t just mean professional experiences – personal experiences mold people into who they are today.

Rare: This one is tricky, as everyone has a different experience within their professional life and their upbringing. My experience is diverse, for example, as I have a background in radio and banking – that’s probably rare.

Inimitable: Experiences can’t be replicated, but they can be similar.  

Non-substitutable: The only possible substitute for experience is education, and even education can often times be constituted and replaced with experience.

Ambition

Valuable: Ambition is a key driver in a venture, and a critical trait for an entrepreneur to have. Building a business of any magnitude requires ambition.

Rare: I believe that true ambition is rare. I think a lot of people fear ambition because they’re afraid of getting their hopes up and failing.

Inimitable: Ambition, though rare, can have a positive effect on those without it when they interact with someone that does possess it.

Non-substitutable: There is no substitute for ambition. One either possesses it or they don’t.

Network:

Valuable: A network of any kind brings tremendous value to any person and organization.

Rare: Everyone’s network is unique. Take my own for example – I’ve built relationships throughout various parts of Southwest Florida due to my professional experiences there.

Inimitable: Though networks can’t necessarily be copied, they can be shared, which can only help and enrich the lives of those within my network.

Non-substitutable: There is no substitute for my network.

Resilience – Resilience is a trait that any entrepreneur needs, and I’ve overcome a lot of challenges in life to get to where I am today. I’m proud of that.

Valuable – There aren’t numbers to quantify the importance of resilience for both entrepreneurs and everyone else in all facets of life. We’re all going to face challenges, and how we respond to them is everything.

Rare – Fortunately, resilience, often not by choice, is not rare because we must have it in order to succeed.

Inimitable – Resilience can be contagious, in my opinion. If you see others overcoming adversity, then you naturally want to follow in their footsteps.

Non-substitutable – There is no substitute for resilience. You either have it or you don’t.

Open-mindedness – I’m very open minded to both any and all opinions of others, which is a good thing because stubbornness is often times a negative thing, especially when it comes to working with others.

Valuable – No one gets through any challenges by themselves, and being open-minded enough to include the thoughts and opinions of others is extremely valuable.

Rare – In my experiences, unfortunately, I’ve found open-minded people to be incredibly rare.

Inimitable – Being open-minded is not overly contagious in adults. In your formative years, however, one can definitely become more open-minded.

Non-substitutable – There is no substitute for being open-minded. You either are accepting of other opinions that aren’t your own, or you’re not.

My Mother – My mother is a resource that gives me unlimited potential due to the fact that she’ll always support me and any venture that I decide to undertake. She’s the rock that every son or daughter needs, and will give her all to make sure she does all she can to help me succeed.

Valuable – My mother is invaluable. For those lucky enough to have and know their mother, I’m sure they can understand. My mother, however, is special enough to include on this list.

Rare – I know people that haven’t had the privilege of meeting their mothers, and know some that have lost theirs. I feel sad for them because I couldn’t imagine not having my mother to support me. I consider my mom and her supportive nature to be rare, actually.

Inimitable – My mother is not inimitable.

Non-substitutable – There is no substitute for my mother.

Creativity – Creativity is putting your imagination to work, and it's produced the most extraordinary results in human culture. -- Ken Robinson

Valuable – My creative mind is valuable because it is mine, and one that will always be unique to myself.

Rare – Some minds are creative and some minds are not. I’m hopeful that some minds are innovative enough to have creative ideas.

Inimitable – I’m of the belief that creativity isn’t necessarily inimitable, but the desire to be innovative is.

Non-substitutable – While there is no substitute for creativity, I believe that the willingness to think out of the box and the mindset that it requires is an adequate substitute for it.

Knowledge – Knowledge is power.

Valuable – While my knowledge is exclusive to me because I’ve gained it through my education, professional, and personal experiences, it is valuable to just about anyone because I can share that knowledge.

Rare – I haven’t yet lost faith in humanity, as I do believe that knowledge isn’t limited to just a few people. I hope knowledge is something everyone seeks everyday.

Inimitable – Knowledge can be shared, and I’m always willing to share what I know with those that I meet. I’m also always willing to learn more.

Non-substitutable – There is no substitute for knowledge.