What? An actual purple squirrel found in a Pennsylvania backyard? Impossible, purple squirrels don’t exist!
But what about the one found in the UK in 2008?
Regardless if this discovery is the mystery of mysteries, a poor squirrel falling into the hands of some prankish kids, or the actual discovery of an elusive squirrel species (which to be honest, we recruiters have known about for some time), the imagination and delight people seem to be taking in this can be a great reminder to all of us – employer and employee alike.
Take delight in your uniqueness.
As an employer there is no other culture like yours, no other team, and no other business. As a person there is no other experience like yours, no other drive, and no other creativity.
Too often we measure ourselves through the lens of “what’s lacking” instead of what we’re good at. Yet, if we stop and look at the successes we’ve had in our lives, we’ll probably find those times were when we embraced our surplus of imagination, desire, drive and enthusiasm – not what was lacking.
What makes this world we live in so fascinating is the differences we all have. People who are happiest in their jobs are the ones who get to do what they love and what they’re interested in. Doesn’t that interest typically come from what makes us unique?
We applaud leaders in companies that see their teams as individuals, allowing them to engage their individual talents in the work they do, creating a happy and satisfying work environment. It’s time to stop measuring ourselves against others, wondering what we can do to be more like someone else.
It is the time of the purple squirrel.
So become the purple squirrel – revel in your uniqueness, focus on your skills and talent, not someone else’s.
Separate yourself from the pack.
