Statistic or Outlier

We have to make a choice in what kind of people we are going to be, Statistic or Outlier. 

Allow me to tell you a story. My parents got divorced when I was about 8 years old. Nowadays divorce is popular but in the 70's is wasn’t as groovy. One was a bit ostracized, at least I was. At 8, I went to an after-school program where other divorced kids attended and did drugs and fought a lot. It wasn’t fun for a tall and lanky kid that refused the ganga. When I got a bit older, I became a Latch Key kid. I don’t hear much about Latch Key kids now but in the 70's we were the kids that had the house key hanging around our neck on a string so we could unlock the door to our empty house when we got home. Once home alone I could devour all the junk food I wanted, do what I wanted, watch what I wanted, and do nothing if I wanted. Being home alone for a child seems vastly more popular today but in the 70's I was the only latch key kid I knew except for the drug addict bullies at the after-school program.

In the high school library (no internet yet) I distinctly recall reading articles written by Sociologists about “children of broken homes”, that’s what they started calling us. In these articles they discussed how we would not be as successful as children of homes without divorce. These kids will have broken marriages, abandon their children, they won’t make as much money, won’t hold down jobs, experience jail time, etc. When you are young and you read something like that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You start to believe about yourself what you have read others in your situation have done. In your mind your fate is sealed. The data they had was based on “children of broken homes” that have gone on before me, so there I was, slowly and by all means, unknowingly yet intentionally, becoming a Statistic.

I recall discussing this with my mother and she told me I have choices. I can be Statistic like those kids I read in the article or I can be an Outlier. “What’s an Outlier”? I asked. When people discuss statistics nobody really mentions the outliers too much. She explained “that to have statistics you also have to have outliers. People that don’t fit the mold, people that fall outside the circle of what is supposed to be. Unless the statistic is 100% then that means there is at least one outlier.” She told me, “don’t focus on the statistic, focus on the outliers. That’s who you are, an Outlier.” When the statistic is really close to 100% it’s very difficult to focus on the outliers but she was right. There were outliers, a small number of people that didn’t fit the data, outside the circle, people above the line on the graph, people that skewed the data; the Outliers. I wanted to be one of those people. The first rule of being an Outlier is to make a decision you were not going to be a Statistic. It’s a mindset thing. Then, not only decide what you were going to do to become an Outlier, but you had to intentionally decide to NOT do what Statistics do. Doing different is easy, not doing the same is more difficult. Bit of a mind bender so I will explain. Its easier to be different than your group but its more difficult not being the same. Ok, I will try to explain again. Sometimes what you not do is more important than what you decide to do. Breaking a habit/mindset can be more difficult than creating a habit/mindset. If you want change in your life it may not begin with “I will start doing X”, it may start with I will STOP doing X”. 

Now, as they say…the rest of the story. Proud to say that now the data would define me as an Outlier and I’m not quite done yet. I don’t mind bragging a bit but at 51 years old I skewed the data. Being a Statistic sucks. I decided to not do some things, I decided I was going to do some other things differently. I have enjoyed jacking with the data of the Sociologists. While I am a proud Outlier, I really want to jack the data so my real goal is to be an Anomaly. This is in progress.

Fast forward to Covid19. I am reading plenty of statistics. Not only those sick, recovered and victims. I am reading about the economic impact of all the social distancing. The number of layoffs, furloughs, expected foreclosures, evictions, loss stock value, unemployed, bankruptcies, businesses lost completely and on and on and on. As I dialed into all these statistics I began to hang my head and then I recalled the Outliers. Oh those Outliers! Those people, those businesses, those investors, those fathers, mothers, friends, parents and so on that decided being a statistic sucked. The Outliers. They are so precious to me. These Outliers, they forged a path for us to follow. Albeit it’s a narrow path but one does exist where all the Statistics people admire from behind. The Statistic people think, “wow, he’s so lucky”, or “good thing he knows the right people”. Statistics will also come to you and say, “you have changed, you are not one of us anymore”. The problem isn’t that the Outlier has changed, the problem is the Statistic has stayed the same. That’s what Statistic people think of Outliers and Outliers usually think, “it was so freakin hard, it took everything I had and some of what I had to create within but it was so rewarding I would not have done it. Any. Other. Way”.

Friends, family, followers, consider this, don’t let Covid19 make you a Statistic. To have a statistic you have to have outliers. Be an Outlier. Consider a couple things.

1.      Statistics start with your mindset, Outliers do too. Guard your mindset and choose wisely.

2.      Realize it’s not just what you need to do that is the solution, it may be what you need to not to do that is the solution.

3.      Don’t let the Statistic people criticize your Outlier decisions. They will continue to be Statistics for a reason. You will most likely not be able to justify your Outlier decisions to Statistics. Trust your instincts.

4.      Don’t fear failure. This is more difficult than you think but after failing a couple times you get used to it. I know this personally.

5.      Don’t give up. Its not easy being an Outlier. If it was easy you would be the Statistic.

For Covid19, I say jack with the Sociologist’s data. Make it hard for the tabulators to tabulate. Make them have to say, “wait, what’s this person doing so far outside the norm of depression and despair.” And if you really want to mess with them go ahead and be an Anomoly. That will really freak them out!

Folks, 2020 started out really rough. April 1, I am celebrating New Years Day again. I am asking that you put a reminder on your calendar and on December 31, 2020 I would like for you to tell us where your data falls on the chart of life, Statistic, Outlier, or Anomoly. Just remember, being a Statistic sucks.

Finally, don’t put too much value on articles that tell you what you are supposed to be based on some data from a Sociologist. Consider what you could be if you didn’t already know who you were. Maybe your biggest problem is what you think of yourself because of some stupid article you read in your high school library decades ago.

Leave Nothing to Chance,

David

I capitalized statistic and outlier in some situations on purpose. Don’t @ me please, its intentional.