6 ways to figure out what makes you genuinely stand out
Read time: 6 minutes
For a really long time, I thought I understood how success worked:
Work hard. Do well in school. Follow the right path. Keep progressing.
If I did all of that, things would naturally fall into place.
I’d be ok: financially comfortable, and in a career I enjoyed.
That’s why I chose to become a doctor: there was a structure and a process that felt safe and predictable.
But in reality, it didn’t exactly go how I expected.
Instead of fulfilled, I felt flat.
Instead of progressing, I felt stuck.
Instead of freedom, I felt constrained.
I realised I was working towards a version of success that wasn’t really mine. It was a version that belonged to society, maybe expectations I’d internalised — but it wasn't for me.
It wasn’t until I felt burnt out and had to step back that I started to see things differently.
No one can compete with you at being you.
Your experiences. Your perspective. Your skill combination.
That’s where your real advantage is.
We all have something that sets us apart. The challenge is recognising it, and then leaning into it.
Here’s a framework that helped me figure mine out.
1. Look at what feels natural to you
There are things you do without much effort that creates huge value for others. Because they feel easy, it’s tempting to dismiss them.
For me, it’s making complex ideas more simple. I used to think I was just “explaining things,” but over time I realised it’s actually a strength.
A question for you: What do you do instinctively that others find difficult?
2. Pay attention to what people come to you for
Your edge often shows up in the things people consistently ask for your help with.
For example, I’ve always found myself helping others prepare for presentations or pitches. It’s something I enjoy, but more importantly, it’s something others find challenging.
A question for you: What do people regularly rely on you for?
3. Notice your unusual combinations
Most people don’t stand out because of one skill. It’s the combination that makes them distinctive.
I have friends who combine design and writing. Others who blend clinical expertise with data. My own mix sits somewhere between strategy and storytelling. A bit unusual, but very much "me".
A question for you: What skills do you have that don’t usually sit together?
4. Follow what gives you energy
One thing I learnt to do is pay attention to the things that energise me, the tasks I’d happily do for ages, and the moments where time moves quickly. There's usually a pattern there.
And that’s often where your best (and most effortless) work is done.
A question for you: When was the last time you lost track of time because you were so focussed?
5. Use your experiences, not just your achievements
It’s easy to focus on the wins, but often, it’s the more difficult or uncertain times that shape you, and how you show up.
My transition away from medicine wasn’t straightforward, but it became one of the strongest moments of connection with others going through similar.
A question for you: What life or work experiences have shaped your perspective the most?
6. Turn challenges into something useful
The things you’ve struggled through can often become the most valuable part of your story. Not straight away, but over time and when you look back.
For me, going through burnout helped me recognise the signs earlier, and support others experiencing the same thing.
A question for you: What have you been through that could help someone else?
In summary
Your advantage isn’t something you need to go out and find.
It’s already there in your skills, your experiences, and how you see the world. The real work is noticing it.
Then using it.
And seeing where it takes you.
Speak soon,
Dupé
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