Want something exceptional? You have to be willing to be different.

It's really easy to want to be exceptional. To want the early promotion, the best selling book, the state champion, the poise of an actor or the wit of a comedian. 

But the thing about being exceptional is exactly that -- you have to be willing to be the exception. You have to be different.

This is why so many goals fail: people want the outcome, but they don't decide if they want to put in the work and the discomfort of being different. 

Next time you are striving to be exceptional, step back and ask yourself how you are acting differently.

Are you working harder? Do you have a better strategy? Do you have a unique insight, or relationship? Is there an innovation unique to you? Do you have a better coach?

Take the advantages that are unique to you, that make you the exception, and do everything you can to magnify them.