You are unique, so embrace it

Science has repeatedly shown that no two people are the same, not even identical twins.

When looking at the self-improvement space at any level, you hear the so-called gurus teaching people what worked for them and promising it will work for everybody else. However, this is an almost guaranteed way of misleading people and ruining lives.

What science has revealed to us is that success is more of a personality and biological thing. It’s a combination of factors like your natural abilities, curiosity level, motivation and passion.

Your natural abilities will determine what you learn with ease in the shortest space of time. I must emphasise these words – in the shortest space of time – because these are keywords. The greatest motivation is progress. When you see yourself progress quickly, it releases a brain chemical called dopamine, a happy chemical that drives you to do more. This has a domino effect.

There is no doubt you can learn anything to a particular level. However, individual differences in capability mean some people won’t reach the same level of expertise as others. So, more practice only increases your efficiency and effectiveness in what you do but might not improve your performance level.

This is where your unique natural ability comes into play. I frame the four factors psychologically tested as PPOD.

The first P stands for Prudence, the ability to make the right choices in life. Choosing the right career that matches your natural strengths is crucial if you want to perform at your highest level. The second P is for Perfectionism, meaning to double-check yourself. O is Organisation, meaning to be well structured. Lastly, D is for Diligence – the ability to work hard.