Never a Cookie Cutter Fit

One of the first things a new business must do is determine their target market. What is the goal or objective of the service you will provide? What’s your niche?

A builder will secure the best fit replacement window for your home. It is less expensive to go with original fittings, rather than to cut into drywall and the frame to install a different sized window.

Human nature is to place our lives into a cookie cutter. We create business that fill a perfect fit cut. We make home improvements within the constraints of our current house frame. We even place people we meet or interact with into a certain cookie cutter ideal.

Sometimes, we will never fit the cookie cutter.

I remember a childhood goal of mine was to play the part of Helen Keller in a play. In high school, the opportunity was presented. I gave a knock out audition (you know this when everyone in the room gives you an standing ovation ;-). Everyone agreed, the part of Helen was mine. Except, I didn’t fit the cookie cutter.

My physical presence didn’t fit the part of Helen. Bright blonde hair and too far developed to fit the image of a young girl, the part was handed to younger, brunette girl. It took four rounds of auditions, each one our director squinted at me and at her. I could see him trying to “visualize” the perfect cookie cutter fit for his play. I just wasn’t it.

Sometimes in life, it doesn’t matter if you give an outstanding performance and your perfect for the part. If you don’t fit the cookie cutter, you’ll never be it. It’s not about failing or changing who you are. It’s about learning to be dynamic and fluid enough to move with life. Because you will never be the cookie cutter fit, and cutting the drywall is too much work.