I’m the nerd on the left with the glasses (Picture from Sage Summit with our wonderful customers)
When I was younger I tried so hard to fit in with the popular crowd. Looking back I’m not really sure what that crowd had to offer.
Don’t follow the Crowd
One day, some of the popular girls started harassing a girl who was very different. Not even thinking, I almost joined in and something hit me like a ton of bricks. It was the anguished look on her face. I did what my Mother and family raised me to do, the right thing. I stood up for the victim and therefore, earned no spot in the platform for the popular people.
Different Is Good
What’s funny is that I’m very different. My Mom used to laugh every time I came up with something radical or comical. I had countless report cards that stated, “Kirsten is not living up to her full potential. She talks too much. She is not following directions. She daydreams.” My Mom tried all sorts of things to get me motivated. For instance she put me into ballet. It did not help my clumsiness and I sure could not hold the poses. She purchased piano lessons for me. Although I could play I did not practice. My piano teacher finally got disappointed and said, “You are wasting my time and yours. Go home and let your mom know you are not practicing and she’s wasting her money.”
Do What You Like – You May be an Entrepreneur
I did like drawing, painting, business, hiking, writing and talking. Thank goodness after going through a few jobs and realizing I was not the very best with authority or conformity, I was led to a path of entrepreneurship. That was the very perfect outlet. I’d like to say it was easy but it wasn’t and isn’t. However, through very hard work, sacrifice and patience my difference was what helped me.
Don’t Let People Bring You Down
If I had one piece of advice to leave as a legacy it would be this. People should never ever let their differences bring them down. It takes different people to come up with new inventions. It takes leaders, not followers to build new products and lead companies. It takes one person with class to say, “This is wrong and I am not going to be a part of it.” It takes one precedential case to change a law. It takes one brave act to save a life. So the next time your teacher, co-workers, fellow students, friends or even enemies tell you you’re different take it as a compliment.
