What makes you think you're special?
My article "What Makes You Special?" was first published on Intuit Labs . “What makes you think you’re special?” Have you ever been asked this rhetorical question? A question like this usually comes as a response to a request for an exception to the rules. The well-meaning intention is that fairness requires that all of us be treated the same. However, I want to make a case that you are special! The idealized form of the world is not one where every single one of us is treated the same. In the ideal world, all of us get special treatment and that special treatment is unique to our individual special qualities and traits. Marcus Buckingham — author of “ Now Discover Your Strengths ” — makes the compelling case that we find fulfillment and success in work and life when we discover our special talents and spend most of our time playing to those strengths. The best managers are ones who recognize their employees’ strength...