Follow Your Nose:

One of my favorite things is to sit down with my wife and children and watch classic Christmas tales like Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Frosty the Snowman. And my all-time favorite Christmas tale is the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Perhaps, it's because I relate so well with Rudolph. As you remember, Rudolph was different than the other reindeer. He was born with a shiny nose (some would even say it glowed). As a result, he was called names and not allowed to play in any reindeer games.

Have you ever felt like Rudolph? I know I have. As a child, I was hyperactive. I was labeled as a "bad kid." As a result, I missed my fair share of "reindeer games" while sitting in the principal's office. Is there something about you that makes you like Rudolph? Perhaps, you don't look like everyone else. Or perhaps, you speak a little differently or walk funny. Or perhaps, you just see the world in a different light. You're not "hip" or "with it." You don't wear the "right" clothes, listen to the "right" music or drive the "right" car.

If so, you should get excited because this difference could change your destiny. As you probably remember, one foggy Christmas Eve, Rudolph went from being ridiculed to being revered. But how did Rudolph finally find success? Did he have plastic surgery to "fix" his nose? Of course not! Rudolph was able to "go down in history" because of his nose, not despite it. Rudolph's glowing red nose turned out to be his greatest asset.

I relate to this story so well because I have been able to find success by following my nose. My "nose" is being high energy and not being able to take "no" for an answer. These qualities were troublesome as a child but they have proven themselves to be invaluable to my success as an entrepreneur. These qualities have helped me to create four successful businesses and amass a fortune for myself and others. In fact, upon closer look, I realize that my "big red nose" is my greatest asset. And so is yours.

For instance, your creativity may have caused others to label you as "weird" in the past but it will be your creativity that will make others stand and cheer in the future. Likewise, your analytical nature may cause others to view you as a "geek" or a "nerd", but that same skill is the one that could help you to create a multi-billion dollar software company (how many of us would kill to be as "nerdy" as Bill Gates or Steven Jobs?).

However, if you are going to sail off into your destiny, you must learn Rudolph's greatest skill - his humility. Just think, Rudolph had been teased and tormented mercilessly by the denizens of the North Pole. It would have been easy for him to reply to Santa's request to pull the sleigh by saying, "No fat boy, you pull your own sleigh and I hope you run into a telephone pole on your trip!"

While it may have been satisfying for Rudolph to give Santa and the other reindeer a taste of their own medicine, Rudolph would have been the one left with a bad taste in his mouth. To my knowledge, that one foggy Christmas Eve was Rudolph's only chance to shine. If Rudolph would have let his ego get in the way, he would have missed his date with destiny.

Someday soon (I'd guess sooner than you think), the weather is going to get foggy and your detractors are going to need that special light you possess. Don't blow it by being bitter. Just remember what Frank Sinatra once said, "The best revenge is massive success."