what makes you so special?

A guest post by Tara Gentile of Scoutie Girl.

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking to over 30 different business owners individually. I was kicking off a new chapter in my life – becoming the sole breadwinner in my family – in a big way.

And while I gave each & every business owner individual care & preparation, certain themes emerged over & over again. Most often, they had not taken the time or energy to figure out what separated their business from every other one offering a similar service. They knew what they liked and were building a business around that.

“That’s fine & good” I would say.

But why would someone buy from you instead of from your competitor?

It’s not a question of value or quality or design but understanding the unique perspective you bring to the marketplace.

If your business feels stagnant, like you’re not getting any traction and just can’t get ahead, there’s a good chance you haven’t spent enough time on this key component as well.

Are You Caught Up in the Process?

As creative entrepreneurs, we are often caught up in the process of creating and reinventing. It is oh so tempting to make and refine and make again. We smooth out a problem and then duplicate the results just to satisfy our need to create & do. We concentrate on creating things we love and often don’t stop to consider how others will interact with them. We spend time touting the features of our products and forget to mention the benefit: that this product is completely unique because we made it that way.

While we’re busy creating new solutions to old problems, we don’t stop to think what it is about our work that’s unique. We do great things and forget to consider the value of what we do for others.

It’s More Than Marketing.

Considering your unique selling point is not just marketing and selling. Figuring out what is special about what you do is great for your productivity & effectiveness too.

Once you’ve identified what makes you and your work remarkable, you can spend more time focused on work that adds to your remarkableness quotient. Instead of trying new things just for the sake of trying, you can work at honing those things that make you you. You will spend less time procrastinating difficult or boring work and spend more time engaged with your business.

Your work will flow faster, more enthusiastically, and with higher quality results when it’s based on what is uniquely “you.” You’ll feel better about asking for what you’re worth. Clients and customers will be naturally attracted to your confident perspective on their needs.

Get Uncomfortable.

Today, take a few minutes – or the day – to consider whether the frustration you feel with your business is due to not having a clear idea of what you bring to the market. It can be extremely uncomfortable to consider this fundamental question, to try and figure out what makes you special when we’re constantly told how insignificant we are.

But we all have something to offer. And we all have a duty to put our signature spin on it, to offer something that has never been done before.

When you choose to focus on what makes you different, it’s uncomfortable – for a bit – and then its liberating and clarifying.

What makes you so special?

Tara Gentile blogs at Scoutie Girl to empower you to live a more creative life & change the world with your money. Take her free ecourse on creating more action in your life.