DailyPost 202
INDIVIDUALITY & ORIGINALITY
With the onset of mass production, commercialization of every activity of our life including education, consumerism, mainstream media & social media et al, it seems the days of individuality & consequent originality are counted . Individuality in behavioural traits, thought and action has been the order of the day through monarchies and other forms of government, reaching its bloom during renaissance, reformation and more so in the present days of innovation & Exponential Change.
The iconic innovators of our times added fresh blood of originality with companies and products unheard of, making our present day world so different and comfortable , completely dissimilar to anything humanity has experienced down the ages.
Human beings are individuals with uniqueness, originality, peculiarity & distinctiveness as the defining traits. Society as a cumulative entity of individuals tries to dictate conformism. What is so called COOL in any society is the accepted norm. The battle between individuality & conformism is the history of human civilization not likely to change in the days to come. Conformism is gaining ground, nonetheless, the society would keep surging ahead only because of individuals practicing individuality & originality.
They are ones who Steve Jobs calls the Crazy Ones , the round pegs in the square holes, the geniuses, who are determined to change mankind. Adam Grant in his recent book titled Originals elaborates where they come from, their mindset and how & why they succeed. Successful nonconformists are not born leaders. Anyone can recognize a good idea, speak out successfully & spot opportunities for change, is the undercurrent running across the book.
The courage to stand against all onslaughts which a conformist society throws up, is the real challenge and they are ready to face it. The field can be any society, polity or business.
INDIVIDUALITY & ORIGINALITY ARE THE TRUE BAROMETER OF A COUNTY’s OVERALL HEALTH.
Sanjay Sahay