In every industry; ICT, finance, education, or beyond, there is always the temptation to follow the crowd. It feels safe, it looks logical, and often it seems easier than standing alone.
But true growth, leadership, and innovation rarely come from blending in. They come from the courage to be different.
I learned this lesson many years ago, during my university days. We were ten close coursemates at the time, tasked with choosing an academic specialization in our 300 level: Language or Literature. Nine of my colleagues chose Language without hesitation. I was the only one who chose Literature.
Was it easy to make that choice? Absolutely not. These were people I had studied with, debated with, and grown with for over two years.
Choosing differently felt like breaking away from history, comfort, and friendship. But deep inside, I knew I would regret it if I ignored the pull of my heart and head. I wanted Literature because it aligned with my purpose.
That single decision became a defining moment. It set the tone for how I approach life: taking the longer, tougher, but more meaningful path.
It taught me that sometimes being the “odd one out” is not a setback but a setup to chart a new course others will eventually follow.
The truth is, many professionals never achieve the success they desire because they surrender their power of choice to the crowd.
They do what everyone else is doing even when it doesn’t align with their true strengths or values, simply because they fear being the odd one out. But leadership is not about conformity. Leadership is about conviction.
Robin Sharma, in his book The Leader Who Had No Title, put it this way: “The more you own your power to make choices, the more powerful your choices become.”
In industries like ICT, where competition is fierce and imitation is rampant, this principle is even more critical.
Too often, companies compete by copying rather than innovating, tearing each other down instead of building something unique. But real industry leadership comes from courage; the courage to collaborate when others compete, to innovate when others imitate, and to pursue purpose when others chase profit alone.
Vice President Kamala Harris once said, “Service to others gives life meaning and purpose.” When our choices reflect not just personal ambition but the value we bring to others, they become the foundation of authentic leadership. We own our stories more fully, we embrace the responsibilities that come with them, and we discover joy and fulfillment in the process.
So here’s the challenge: Don’t just follow the crowd in your industry; in this technology Industry or any other.
Ask yourself; What choice reflects who I truly am and the value I want to create for others? Sometimes the path will be harder. Sometimes it will be lonelier. But it will always be worth it.
In the end, the leaders we admire most are not the ones who fit in; they are the ones who stood out—and brought others along with them.
[Featured Image Credit]
