What Separates a Visionary from the Freelancing Crowd
What drives you? Often times, I ask myself what motivates me to freelance this long, especially when I’m having a brain dump. Sometimes, you can’t stop wondering if freelancing will fade away once the economy rebounds. If you wake up each day feeling new, bold, inspired and creative – congratulate yourself! You have what it takes to leap from successful freelancing to becoming a visionary in a league of your own. You have a higher purpose and you know it. It runs in your blood, calling you to challenge yourself to the edge of your limitations. You are inspired to put your dreams into reality and you’re itching to share this goal, to make a difference as you cast your eyes on the horizon ahead.
Top Three Qualities of a Visionary Exposed
If you don’t feel like what I wrote here, know that it’s never too late to become a groundbreaking thinker. True, everyone has ideas, but visionaries find the opportunity to put them into action. That’s what separates them from the rest. If you want to sell that idea and get noticed in your niche, the first lesson is this: Becoming a visionary is not easy. If patience is a virtue, persistence is the pancake you have to eat for breakfast; it’s a habit to learn. What’s in it for you? I’d say a lot.. because what you do with your dreams will move your freelancing career to the next level – to entrepreneurship, thought leadership and more. Are you ready to take that giant leap?
A Visionary… loves opportunities. What separates them from freelancers ( even successful ones ) who love the same? Visionaries have a vision, a purpose, a direction. S/he will do everything to resist the temptation of biting every hook of the bait, especially those that are not aligned with ‘the vision’.
A Visionary… doesn’t only preach to the crowd, but loves the idea of sharing for innovation’s sake. S/he is not afraid of taking a different approach, even when many people will disagree with the idea. It’s all about making an impact, no matter how unconventional the concept is.
A Visionary… loves communicating ideas effectively, to stay focus on the road map of these ideas, and use all resources necessary to refine what was just a thought inside his/her head.. and turn it into something that can make a difference in people’s lives.
In short, visionaries love the “F” word – as in Finish Fast on the Fast lane.. or be left behind. Becoming a visionary means exploring the blind spots inside your mind and seeing them for the very first time. It’s a scary process for some, especially those who are comfortable with the way things are done.
There’s a fine line between a mere observer and a thought leader. We listen to these mind movers because their ideas are validated with the success they now possess. Is it enough for you to go with the adage of ‘show, don’t tell’ when it comes to the work that you do? True visionaries are rare and they didn’t reach the summit of fortune and fame with talk and bragging rights. They chose an idea, thought of a strategy, and implemented their plan like hell. That’s how it was and that’s how it will be.
Whether you choose to make something beautiful for everyone to experience, like what Ben Silbermann, co-founder of Pinterest, did.. or bring a concept to life in just a few months’ time… always remember that becoming a visionary is all about commitment to values.
The question now is: Are you ready to accomplish great things?
p.s. This post was inspired by Entrepreneur magazine’s series on Young Visionaries. You can view more of their inspiring videos HERE.
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