You are not everyone

“Everyone does it this way.”
“If it were good, more people would be doing it.”
Does that sound familiar? These phrases shape careers, financial decisions, and even personal relationships. The problem is that they are based on a false assumption: your journey should fit the average standard. But you are not everyone – and recognizing that opens the door to more aligned, innovative, and paradoxically, safer choices in the long term.

The Trap of Comparison

Social media has turned the feed into a showcase of others’ achievements. The result is an epidemic of emotional benchmarking: we measure success by what we see in others, not by our own internal criteria. This constant comparison generates two toxic effects:

1. Paralysis: You delay your photography project because “there are already thousands of better photographers.”
2. Conformity: You accept a stable but suffocating job because “most people would be happy.”

Both ignore your unique set of skills, passions, and context.

Uniqueness as a Competitive Advantage

Saturated markets reward authenticity. In the era of copy-paste solutions, those who bring their own voice stand out. Companies pay more for solutions that combine technical expertise with a unique perspective. Therefore, embracing the “not being everyone” approach is strategic, not rebellious.

How to Practice Differentiation

1. Inventory of Uniqueness: List experiences and hobbies that few in your field possess. These can become a niche or your brand signature.
2. Limit Comparisons: Compare yourself only to previous versions of yourself. The real metric is personal progress, not competitive podiums.
3. Quick Experiments: Test ideas on a small scale (blog, prototype, pilot consulting). Feedback will validate whether the world values your difference.
4. Contrast Network: Connect with people from different industries. They illuminate angles that your traditional peers cannot see.

The Risk of Following the Herd

Mediocrity resides in the “acceptable standard.” Entire professions are being automated because they did the same old thing. If your work is replicable, your compensation will be as well. Those who build unique professional identities blur the parameters for replacement.

Conclusion

Since school, we’ve been told that “you are not everyone” as a moral lesson. In the adult world, it’s a strategic mantra. Innovation, satisfaction, and relevance are born when we recognize that our combination of history, talent, and vision cannot be reduced to a statistical average. Remember: following the crowd is safe… until the crowd goes off track. Choosing your own route may give you butterflies, but that’s where the chance to build something truly yours – and valuable – lies.

That’s it.