Do you have the U-Factor?

I post a lot of photos of myself.?

Not because I think I'm hot. I know the sight of me doesn't strip paint off walls, but I'm realistic about my swipe-right ratio on Tinder.

I do it because it's one of the things that is unique about me in a world of annoying social media and personal branding people with our big heads, big teeth and big voices.

No one looks quite the same as me.

But what you look like is just one of the things that will set you apart from everyone else.?

Want to see how some small businesses found their U-Factor?

Let's go!

The U Factor. It's a bit like the X Factor.

When we can't quite put our finger on what makes someone that bit more special than others, we describe them as having?The X Factor.

It's what the TV show of the same name is about. It's that extra-talented, showbiz, superstar, better-than-others quality that you can't quite define - you just know they've got it.

Outside of TV talent shows, I refer to something similar. The U Factor.?

What is it?

The?Unique?factor.

And it's not normally about?something you do. It's more about?someone you are.

So what exactly is the U Factor? And how do you work out what yours is?

It's probably easier to understand with real-life examples of people I've met.

Let's take a look at a few.

Unstoppably Curious. Unshakeably Collaborative.

This is Conni Warren . She might be surprised that I'd include her in my examples of The U Factor. Possibly even a little embarrassed?

But this is a part of what sets her apart.

Conni is an accomplished copywriter, tender response writer and bloody good human.

When Conni first arrived in Darwin, she checked LinkedIn to see who was about and who was active. She reached out with a simple idea. Let's catch up and find out what we each do. Maybe we can collaborate on stuff. Maybe we could just be fans of what we each do.

I am definitely a fan of Conni. You see, her U-Factor is that she is unstoppably curious. She just wants to get to know people. Whether it's for support, friendship or client identification, her curiosity is so disarming.

Know what else her U-Factor includes??

I don't think I've ever seen her post anything on social media that was self-promotional. At all.

I've seen her post photos of her catching up with people. There's what she calls #ntopportunities where she encourages people to consider joining us up here in the Top End. And there's a constant stream of her promoting other people and how she admires them.

Her humility and generosity of spirit are her U-Factor. And from what I am seeing, it's delivering her a lot of fans and a lot of work in a quite competitive industry.??

She doesn't advertise. She doesn't tout for work on social media. She just connects with people.

Unmistakably on a mission

This is the team from True Blue IT Services. They're pictured here with Vim Sharma from Darwin City Council. From the left, are?Rifat, Vim,?Fardin?and?Victor.

Seeing them in their uniforms and in this professional environment, you wouldn't guess that they are recent graduates setting out on their first business venture.

Sure, they are hardworking - doing full-time jobs and then backing up after hours and on weekends to get their IT services business up and running. That's table stakes for starting a new business.?

Sure, they are talented at what they do - and they are smart too. They've figured out how to get good work done in a number of categories by using their most available resources - their fellow Charles Darwin University graduates and friends.

But that's not their U-Factor.

What makes them unique is their bigger mission. And until I had a discovery session with them last weekend, this mission was hidden below all the things they do and the work they are looking for.

They are unique because they are not just trying to grow an IT business.

They are trying to grow a whole new IT business ecosystem.

A business of businesses.

You see, graduates get pumped out of universities at an astounding rate. There are more graduates in IT in the Northern Territory than there are IT jobs for them. So a lot of these graduates are still working their casual jobs at Woolworths, bars, cafes and security for years after they graduate.

This is because they either lack job-seeking skills, lack the confidence to apply for the jobs they want or are being systematically excluded because they aren't caucasian. And yes, I have spoken to?seven individual IT graduates in Darwin that were overlooked due to “cultural fit” reasons. This stuff still happens.

My chat with Fardin and Rifat showed that they are even willing to mentor and support the people who work with them to become competitors to them.

They are investing in people who they hope will become their competitors.

Why? Because they believe in abundance. They believe that competitors are excellent collaborators. And because they are Generation Z, they haven't inherited the same fear of collaboration that older generations carry.

They don't just give an uninterested nod to the idea of collaboration like the more established IT services in our market - they have written this very quality into the DNA of their company.

That's why I asked to meet with them. I wanted to know how I can help them achieve their goals and support this mission.

How to find your U-Factor

You might be “just a plumber” or “just an author.” But there's something in the “why” of what you do that sets you apart.?

Sure, your skills might not be any different to anyone else's, but your U-Factor doesn't come from your skills or even your knowledge. It comes from something that runs deeper in who you are.

When I am helping someone unpack their personal brand, I start with what their values are. Because every core value that someone holds close to their heart has a story attached to it. And it's in that story that I find the U-Factor.

Whether U stands for Unique, Unbeatable, Uncopyable, Unstoppable or any combination of Un words you can think up, it always comes down to some quality of the person you are.

The U-Factor is the You-Factor.

And I know that Rifat and Fardin can probably recall the moment we found their U-Factor because suddenly I came to life and all the pieces seemed to fit together with how to help them find their “brand.”

I admit that I find that moment of discovery quite intoxicating.

That's all for this weekend. Just one short read on some people that have got that special something that I can't help but be drawn to. And how you can start looking for your own special something.

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