Falling out of line

In spite of great urging from professors and students alike to fall in line, my beliefs have remained fully intact since enrolling in university last year. There have been at least half a dozen professors who have strongly encouraged me to fall in line with university thinking. Luckily, falling in line has its detractors there too.

Falling in line is falling down.

It’s you giving up on your beliefs. It’s bad for your health, and it’s bad for everyone around you who might have been inspired. Falling in line shuts down your own ability to grow as a person.

There is a time and place for everything, right? Business is not the time for falling in line. (Neither is vacation.)

Except in the case of threat of physical violence, there is no reason why anyone should fall in line. We’re not in the military. Your sister’s life does not depend on your compliance.

I suggest falling out of line.

Do you recall the hundreds or thousands of people you’ve encountered who did exactly what they were supposed to do? Not so much. They march in line, uniformly, obediently, anonymously under control.

We remember the people who fall out of line. They make great characters, inspiring individuals, and memorable leaders.

Kelly Hobkirk - teaching marketers how to harness strategy, goals, reality, and purpose to connect and do better work.

 

Kelly Hobkirk has been helping companies succeed in creative ways for nearly 25 years. His work has been featured in Time Magazine, and books by Rockport and Rotovision. Get exclusive articles when you sign up for his monthly newsletter.

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