Stand Out - Khác biệt

by Dorie Clark, Nguyễn Ngọc Hân (Translator)

STAND OUT - KHÁC BIỆT tạo nên sự đặc biệt

Theo Steve Jobs, lý do quan trọng nhất để chúng ta đầu tư vào việc phát triển và phổ biến ý tưởng của mình là khao khát được “để lại dấu ấn của bản thân trong vũ trụ này”.

Nếu bạn thật sự muốn để lại dấu ấn của riêng mình thì điều quan trọng nhất là tiếng nói của bạn phải được lắng nghe. Tuy nhiên, bạn muốn người khác lắng nghe, bạn phải nói. Một số người trong chúng ta lại thu mình lại trước cơ hội tìm kiếm và chia sẻ những ý tưởng của mình với thế giới. Một số khác lại cho rằng làm việc chăm chỉ, tránh xa rắc rối và không thu hút quá nhiều sự chú ý về mình là đã đủ để sự nghiệp của bản thân đều đều thăng tiến. Họ cho rằng, đó là sự ổn định để có một sự nghiệp vững chắc. Tuy nhiên, việc xây dựng danh tiếng cho bản thân sẽ khiến người khác muốn mời bạn làm việc, hợp tác và lan tỏa những ý tưởng hay ho của bạn. Đó là sự ổn định hiệu quả nhất cho sự nghiệp của bạn.

Chắc chắn không có một công thức chung mà mọi người đều thành công, nhưng khẳng định có một hệ thống nguyên tắc mà các nhà lãnh đạo tài ba đều tôn trọng. Và chúng được viết lại với một cách dễ hiểu hơn, dễ thực hành hơn trong Stand out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It.

Trở thành một chuyên gia được mọi người công nhận nhờ kỹ năng ra quyết định sáng suốt

Với Dorie Clark, để trở thành một chuyên gia thực thụ, bạn cần có được danh tiếng nhờ những ý tưởng tuyệt vời của mình. Bạn đừng lo vì mình không là chuyên gia hàng đầu thế giới trong một lĩnh vực nào đó để thực hiện điều này. Bạn hoàn toàn có thể trở thành nhà lãnh đạo tư tưởng trong công ty hay cộng đồng của mình. Khi bạn đã là một nhà lãnh đạo tư tưởng thực thụ, mấu chốt vấn đề không còn là sự thăng tiến nữa mà sẽ là sự phát triển ý tưởng của chính bạn.

Bạn không còn lựa chọn nào khác ngoài làm bản thân nổi bật

Đôi lúc, bạn bắt buộc phải trở nên nổi bật hơn đám đông. Bởi kinh tế ngày càng phát triển, mọi người xung quanh bạn ngày càng giỏi, nếu bạn không tiến ắt sẽ lùi. Hơn thế nữa, bạn không thể thành công nếu chỉ là lựa chọn tốt nhất giữa những lựa chọn đang có sẵn. Thêm vào đó, những công việc “an toàn”, phụ thuộc vào khả năng giữ mồm giữ miệng và chỉ làm những gì mà người khác yêu cầu lại đang nhanh chóng biến mất. Vì vậy, hãy xây dựng cho mình một danh tiếng chuyên môn vững chắc chính là cách tốt nhất để bảo vệ vị trí và thăng tiến trong sự nghiệp.

Thế giới đang cần bạn và ý tưởng của bạn

Trong mỗi cá nhân, luôn có những sáng kiến tuyệt vời mãi bị chôn vùi trong tâm trí, kể cả bạn. Vì vậy, bạn cần dũng cảm dám bộc lộ bản thân mình

Bất kể sứ mệnh, góc nhìn hay tư tưởng của bạn là gì, thì chúng ta cũng không thể để cho những sáng kiến tuyệt vời mãi bị chôn vùi trong tâm trí bạn được, tin rằng những ý tưởng của mình có thể giúp đỡ cho người khác. Thậm chí bạn sẵn sàng chấp nhận rằng ý tưởng ấy có thể bị mọi người bác bỏ. Nhưng sau tất cả, đó là niềm hy vọng rằng sự phóng khoáng của bản thân sẽ mang lại lợi ích cho cả thế giới

Hiện thực hóa kỹ năng lãnh đạo tư tưởng

Bước đầu tiên để trở thành nhà lãnh đạo tư tưởng, bạn cần ngồi xuống, lật từng trang sách kỹ năng này.

Phần 1: Tập trung xác định ý tưởng bứt phá của bạn.

Phần 2: Làm cách nào để thu hút sự ủng hộ cho ý tưởng của bạn – một bước cũng rất quan trọng để đảm bảo ý tưởng đó đến được với cả thế giới.

Phần 3: Tổng hợp lại và thảo luận về những việc “hậu cần” quan trọng để hiện thực hóa mục tiêu lãnh đạo tư tưởng.

Khác biệt: Để có được ý tưởng tuyệt vời và ai cũng đồng thuận sẽ giúp bạn nuôi dưỡng chúng và tạo một bệ phóng cần thiết để chúng được lan tỏa rộng rãi. Hãy xem quyển sách như một công thức giúp phát triển bản thân bạn. Chúng không chỉ thúc đẩy sự nghiệp của bạn, lan tỏa tầm nhìn của bạn, để lại dấu ấn trong cuộc đời, mà còn tạo cơ hội cho bạn sống một cuộc sống mình hằng mong ước.

Khác biệt là kết quả từ kinh nghiệm cá nhân của Dorie. Nó chứa đựng những kiến thức mà ông góp nhặt được từ việc phỏng vấn rất nhiều nhà lãnh đạo tư tưởng trong một loạt các lĩnh vực chuyên môn thú vị, từ nghiên cứu gene, quy hoạch đô thị đến các chuyên gia về năng suất cá nhân và công nghệ cao. Vì vậy, sẽ không có một lý do gì mà bạn từ chối một cuốn sách phát triển bản thân hữu ích, thực tiễn và dễ hiểu như thế này!

Đôi nét về tác giả

Dorie Clark đã dành cả thập kỷ qua để trau chuốt ý tưởng và cố gắng mở rộng phạm vi hoạt động cũng như đối tượng mà ông có thể tiếp cận. Ông đã từng dạy học ở các trường kinh doanh trên toàn thế giới; là cố vấn và diễn thuyết ở những tổ chức lớn, từ Google, Đại học Yale đến cả Ngân hàng Thế giới; thường xuyên chia sẻ ý kiến của mình trong các ấn phẩm như Harvard Business Review, Forbes và Entrepreneur.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Entrepreneurship, Self Help, Leadership, Personal Development, Communication

296 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2015

About the author

Dorie Clark helps individuals and companies get their best ideas heard in a crowded, noisy world. She has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. She was honored as the #1 Communication Coach by the Marshall Goldsmith Leading Global Coaches Awards and one of the Top 5 Communication Professionals in the World by Global Gurus. She is a keynote speaker and teaches for Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School.

She is the author of The Long Game, Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You, and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of the Year by Inc. magazine.

A former presidential campaign spokeswoman, Clark has been described by the New York Times as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives.” She is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, and consults and speaks for clients such as Google, Yale University, and the World Bank. Forbes has declared that “her insights connect marketing, social media, communications, learning technologies, and personal discovery to give us a blueprint for success in the future economy.”

She is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, a producer of a multiple Grammy-winning jazz album, and a Broadway investor. You can download her free Long Game Strategic Thinking Self-Assessment at dorieclark.com/thelonggame.

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book might be useful for people who graduated within the last five years or for someone who has been living under a rock for their entire professional career. For everyone else, let me spare you the effort and give you some advice (i.e., a summary of the book). If you want to know how to stand out in your field, look at those who do stand out and do what they do. Write a blog, speak at conferences, promote an idea, etc. This is not rocket science, people.

I will say that this is clearly written in an almost textbook style and very practical. However, the examples were boring. And the whole thing is just tedious.

I'm sorry I let Andrew Sobel sell me on this title. It's just another nonfiction business book that serves as a promotional tool for the author rather than as an indispensable reference. This short book took me an entire year to read. Actually, it was so forgettable, it hid for months under a pile and I was surprised when I found it to see that I had never finished it. I've finally forced myself to do so, with effort.

[cellomerl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very practical guidebook on making thoughts into a marketable reality. I have read a couple of Dorie Clark’s books and enjoy her fresh, cheerful and approachable (but no-nonsense) style. She has made a rather exhaustive study of thought leaders and brought their ideas under one roof in this book. Unfortunately most of these “you can be a thought leader” type business books are focused on what I call meta-work: i.e., not actually producing anything, but teaching yourself how to charge other people for listening to your ideas. Not everyone will develop a web-based service that no one even knew they needed, then sell it to a company like Google or Adobe for kajillions. But I still enjoyed the positivity, and the principles would apply to any small business that needs to be bootstrapped up in a satisfying way.

[Delta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read so many business books in the last few years that I feel like I've heard everything. Nothing in this book feels new and some of the suggestions are the equivalent to: throw everything into your idea and it will work out. Maybe I'm jaded or maybe I'm just not interested in reading another book that encourages someone to just "get out there" and do something with a handful of useful suggestions and dozens of case studies.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

[Tilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorie Clark's latest book, Stand Out, describes how to become a "thought leader" in the field of one's choice: a recognized expert whose ideas shape, challenge, and promote the culture of that field. The book's breezy, readable style and endearing can-do attitude almost mask the fact that it is bursting with content. In every chapter we hear of unlikely thought leaders who followed their passions, often swimming against the currents of conventional wisdom, to become lauded experts in areas as diverse as statistics (Nate Silver) and urban cycling (John Allen). Clark also has specific advice, from how to network to how to unplug in order to let the mind unwind and become creative.

Most of us know that we want to find something we love and do it well. Stand Out takes the concept a step further: we can find what we love, and elevate it and ourselves with our specific skills and leadership. The book really does make one feel that our dreams are just blueprints, waiting to be build into reality. I highly recommend this book.

[Svetlana Kurilova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following updates from this author for awhile and it was definitely time to read Dorie Clark's books. I started with Stand Out . The book is packed with strategies for leveraging your professional identity and becoming a true thought leader. I am excited to incorporate many of these tips for my personal branding.

Stand out quotes I had to include here!
Too often, we don't bring our full selves to work - and that's a mistake.
The more stuff you create - a blog, websites, books - the more articulate you become about your passion and purpose.
Too often, we forget that our professional lives can, and should, be joyful
Being bored isn't a sign that something is serious and important; it's a sign that something is seriously wrong.

[Javier Artime Muñiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, less boring and superficial than I expected. Useful advice on the practicalities of becoming a thought leader (yes... I know...).
If you are thinking in promoting an idea and trying to build a movement around it so that you and your associates can change the world, and you plan to invest significant effort and time into it, this book can be very useful helping you understand how to sequence the work you need to do and what to focus on at each step along the way. If you want a cheap, fast and easy recipe for world domination better look somewhere else.

[Fer Tostado · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt that half of the book my mind was elsewhere but into its content. I can't recall much of what I've read since all the information in there is so generic and in the end throws you in the typical strategy of "pivot your entire life, build a blog and write a book while starving and working your ass off".

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Full of useful insights such as: “Whatever your cause, or perspective, or point of view, we can’t afford for the best ideas to remain buried inside you. The world needs your insights.”

[Brit McGinnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book for my show on business books—a lovely read for those looking for a less cynical take on "thought leadership" and having unique ideas. Anecdote heavy. Based in common sense.

[Wilson Gov · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a reference from Forever Employable by Jeff Gothelf.
I liked the sequenced approach Dorie takes, first focusing in "Finding your breakthrough idea" and then on part 2 "Building a following around your ideas".
Although it's an easy book to read with lots of examples anyone can pick it from the middle depending where they feel they are in their path to standing out.

[Thomas III · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. There are some chapters that are much more useful than others. That is expected in a "breakthrough idea" book. The end of chapter summaries are useful, thought-provoking, and self-reflective. The author uses several impactful stories and brings in some well-known players who have succeeded, to relate to the readers and to emphasize points. As mentioned, some chapters were better than others. Some chapters dragged on with repetitive information that no longer needed reinforcing. Overall, for individuals looking to differentiate themselves in the world will find something useful. - Thomas B. Dowd III, business book author Note: the book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review

[Zahedul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author breaks down the process of attaining thought leadership in any field. The book covers the steps for building a niche, as well as, creating a community around the idea. The last section provides concrete strategies for making a living out of the core idea. Main monetization tools include- consulting opportunities, speaking engagements and content e.g. books, blogs etc. Overall, a decent book, and helpful to those looking to build a personal brand.

[Grumpiestmonkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thoughts but a tad short on details

I liked this book but I felt like a lot of it was aspirational more than informational. Sure, we'd all like to have a good idea, work hard at it, and have it be a great success. But after reading that book I still don't know where I would start. A nice, quick and easy read, though.

[Rajiv Chopra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book a lot, and is a worthy successor to "Reinventing You", her earlier book. In this book, Dorie does give a lot of practical advice on how you can indeed stand out from the crowd.

The advice is good, simple, and can be followed. However, what is needed, is clarity on who you are and what your brand is. This is where I would say that the to books should be read in conjunction.

[Jamie]

A solid book for thinking through the process of becoming a recognised expert, and building a following. Very useful as an exercise for freelancers, entrepreneurs, or those in business who want to make a dent in the world.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read that sparked a lot of ideas within me for further developing in my areas of expertise. The cases and stories presented were interesting, relevant and provided excellent examples for illustrating her ideas.

So good I think I will read it again!

[Micheline Bourque · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is strong enough to have an impact on someone's career if they act on the advice.... Our Club de lecture Affaires will do a review on September 24. Dorie Clark will join our panel discussion.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cannot fairly review as did not even get through the first chapter -felt as if it was promoting other products through cliche's and sound bites. Did violate my rule never to read books having numerous reviews on back, inside covers, first dozen pages.

[Teri Temme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with valuable ideas of how to become a thought leader. Loved her examples and questions at the end of the sections. Read this book!

[Stephanie Scotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to become a recognized expert and influencer in your field, your goal is to make your ideas stand out. But how do you make that happen? Dorie Clark’s book Stand Out: How to Find Your Breakthrough Idea and Build a Following Around It is one of the best resources I’ve come across on this topic. It reads like a how-to guide for developing and promoting thought leadership.

Are you a bagel or a croissant?

No, I’m not asking what you had for breakfast! This question summarizes the direction of Dorie Clark’s book. A “bagel” refers to communicating within a tight circle that makes it difficult for outsiders to break in and contribute to the conversation. A “croissant,” on the other hand, is an open circle that eliminates barriers and welcomes all participants, inviting strangers into the fold.

As the author points out, “Too many of us shrink back when it comes to finding and sharing our ideas with the world.” That’s why many gravitate toward the bagel method of communication: it may feel less risky since you already know everyone. But if you want to stand out, you need to branch out. Dorie’s book explores the guiding principles every aspiring thought leader should be following to develop breakthrough ideas and cultivate a community of followers.

Here are some of my favorites.

Question the unquestionable

Dorie says, “Big ideas aren’t hatched by a rare breed of intellectuals living in isolation. Instead they come from regular people who are willing to ask the right questions and stay open to new ways of looking at the world.”

Cultivating a questioning mindset (what others might call “thinking outside the box”) puts you in the right place for developing the big idea that will help you become a thought leader. Get in the habit of questioning assumptions that others take for granted as truth. Asking “what if?” and “why not?” can give you a unique perspective by opening your mind to possibilities that others would never consider.

Dorie’s advice? “Once you know the rules, break them!”

Leverage your unique gifts

Having a creative breakthrough with the power to “make a dent in the world” (as Steve Jobs would say), often comes from a fresh perspective. I firmly believe that there are enough ways in the world for everyone to have their own: your unique career and life experiences blend into a point of view that no one else shares. Use that to your advantage and connect with others!

Build a community

By now, I think most of us are aware that “if you build it, they will come” is a myth. In a culture where we are constantly barraged by information and ideas, being heard is challenging enough, let alone standing out. I’m sure many of you (myself included) can tell stories about people who are brilliant and hard-working, yet failed in an attempt to launch a new product or service. Talent and diligence alone simply aren’t enough to guarantee that an idea will take hold and spread. That takes a community.

How do you begin to build a community? If you want your ideas to grow and thrive outside of your sphere of influence, Dorie stresses the importance of being a “connector” who makes a point of bringing others together. Doing so helps to develop a following of people who believe in what you’re saying and will keep talking about it even when you’re not in the room.

Make it happen

After spending most of the book advocating the “push” that’s needed to share your viewpoint with the world, Clark suggests that we also need to pull back at times. It’s important to allow yourself “ponder time:” those moments of quiet contemplation that fuel your creative thinking and allow powerful ideas to bubble up to the surface.

When working toward a goal, we tend to behave like a train going full speed ahead. Our intense focus can create tunnel vision that blinds us to opportunities around us. According to Dorie, that’s why seemingly “lucky” people are lucky… they make it happen by opening themselves up to more opportunities.

This was a revelation for me and one of my favorite parts of the book. In fact, I took the lesson to heart and have stated to leave room in my schedule for the unexpected. I’ve already seen my luck and my opportunities increasing!

Perhaps the most meaningful takeaway for me has been the awareness I’ve developed from reading this book. Although most would describe me as a croissant, I am now consciously looking for what others are doing to stand out: how they share information, provide introductions and invite others into their world.

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author provides a high-level step-by-step guide to becoming an influential, sought-after thought leader in the field of one's choice, while sharing dozens of success stories that will sure inspire many readers to start taking action. The author argues convincingly in this age of rapid changes and uncertainty, the ultimate career insurance is to develop your credentials and reputation as an expert in your field, hence the importance of finding and establishing one's unique voice, attracting a following, and, hopefully, building a strong community around the significant ideas you wholeheartedly champion. With the Internet, social media sites, and blogging platforms as freely accessible as they are nowadays, there is no reason not to at least give it a try. The book, however, consists mainly of broad guidelines and is rather light on detailed action steps, which are often the most tricky and messy parts that few authors talk about. On the other hand, I find the thought-provoking questions at the end of each section very helpful in figuring out ways to apply the author's advice to my own situation.

[Arun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book of Dorie Clark's I read; I enjoyed Reinventing You just before starting Stand Out. Chronologically I read them in reverse, and could tell some of the insights and ideas she presents in this work are integrated into her overall message in Reinventing You. That said ...

Stand Out is a great book for someone who is struggling on how to present their ideas to a wider audience. The book is intended for professionals looking to establish themselves in a field's thought leadership; the advice it offers would also allow you to better understand how any thought leader you favor structures their message and all of the media options at their disposal. For the reader, Clark breaks down how to find those key insights and ideas from your own background and experiences, then how to present those ideas to the world, and finally how to build and grow an audience that's investing in those ideas.

Great book for someone looking to enter the fray and invested in the kinds of civil discourse we need to move good ideas forward and disqualify the bad ones without losing the future value of their creators' imaginations.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a lot out of this book as a potential small business owner. I appreciated all the many relevant stories. I found myself wondering many times where Ms. Clark was able to find these people to interview because the stories weren't the typical powerhouse examples readily available in the news. I appreciated that. I did recognize some names, but most were new to me.

This book is very actionable. There are questions to ask yourself and exercises to do at the end of every chapter to make things personal to you. While I didn't take the time to do them myself because I had to return the book to the library, with the proper amount of diligence I can see how these steps would be extremely beneficial. I didn't feel like things were dumbed down or made to look easy with little effort. Dorie makes clear that this is a drawn out process that only works with hard work and dedication.

I look forward to reviewing my notes as I move further into my business.

[Muhammad Yusuf Qordhawi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorie Clark memberikan pencerahan tentang bagaimana mencari ide yang unik dan dapat disebarkan ke banyak orang

Konsep thought leader, dijelaskan secara lengkap serta bagaimana mencari ide untuk thoght leadership, mencari orang2 yang mendukung ide tersebut, membuat komunitas, menyebarkannya ke banyak orang serta yang terpentin memonetisasi nya menjadi penghasilan

Disajikan pula banyak sekali contoh pegiat thhought leadership yang berhasil seperti robert cialdini dengan psikologi persuasi nya (yg skrg jadi patokan banyak marketer), seth godin, pembicara dan marketing handal yg malah membuat blog gratis berisi tips2 marketing, dan banyak lainnya

Sayangnya tips tang diberikan tidaklah mudah dan membutuhkan koneksi, keberanian, kerja keras dan kerja cerdas sehingga buku ini hanya cocok dikalangan profesional saja

[Jesse Langel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really happy I found this book. I believe it was cited in Pivot, by Jenny Blake.

In Stand Out, Dorie Clark produced a solid, actionable yet easy-to-read piece. It's inspirational with direct, thought-provoking questions systematically placed throughout. I underlined plenty of gold, and have recorded that gold into my phone.

It contains a nice mix of philosophical and tactical advice. Some advice includes: develop independent research, combine ideas, build a platform, and offer practical insights to solve problems.

The essence of this book is about making moves to advance fresh insights about an overlooked story. How does that no deserve 5 stars?

[Alex Gostev · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a founder of a successful personal branding agency. Source of this recommendation made me read the book with care, which resulted in listing many useful ideas that are applicable right away to my career. The book is structured as a set of success stories distilled by a professional to find explanations and patterns of real-world success in career, personal services, entrepreneurship. I get that many reviewers here skimmed the book finding nothing special there. I'd advice to put some effort in thinking through the ideas presented, they are both powerful and applicable.

[Donn Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical book that had many good ideas, but... not sure how to put it, but it felt a bit disconnected at times. I suppose it was more that I didn't feel an overarching narrative throughout the book, and many of the chapters and thoughts felt quite stand-alone. Which can be good, but in the long-form of a book might have needed more of a common thread.

That being said, the ideas here were good, albeit not something that you wouldn't be able to find online. More a book with curated ideas than new ones, but still worth a read.

[Tito's Taqueria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging, Uplifting, Practical

Dorie shares with us her journey to success through hardship and pairs it with other great in depth examples of taking an idea and creating a life with it. Personally she’s inspired me to start recording my thoughts on paper about
a future coaching program focused on how to start a food truck, and to record YouTube videos to practice being recorded. I highly recommend reading and answering the questions at the end of each section. Thank you for this gem Dorie Clark!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for people who want to become thought leaders and create a following. What i liked most about the book are the examples of what others have done and the thought-provoking questions at the end of each sections. The books is a good resource for anyone willing to do the work and walk the last mile.
I didn't give a 5 because i didn't find the book groundbreaking and because sometimes the examples seemed a bit limited and non-diverse.

[Gabriel Perlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorie Clark brings out the best in others and inspires them to contribute to society with ideas of value. The book contains examples of thought leaders and describes their paths to eminence. Strategies to cultivate and spread outstanding ideas are also discussed. Dorie's intelligence shines through her writing and her honesty is uplifting.