"Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits" by William Vanderbloemen

Описание: Chris Lehnes | Factoring Specialist | 203-664-1535 | [email protected]

00:00 The central premise of the book is that certain individuals possess an "X-factor" that makes them "special," "stand out from the crowd," and "irreplaceable." Vanderbloemen likens these individuals to "mythical unicorns," implying they are "mythically valuable." This concept is not based on unteachable traits but on observable, repeatable habits.

Data Foundation: The author’s insights are derived from "more than thirty thousand face-to-face interviews" conducted during executive talent searches. This extensive dataset allowed him and his team to identify commonalities among the most successful candidates.
Teachable Habits: A core message is that "this isn’t just a book of case studies. You’re holding a manual for becoming unusually successful—as unusual as a mythical unicorn. It’s a manual based on hard data that unlocks the way you can become mythically valuable. Successful. Irreplaceable." The book aims to "unlock the teachable habits they practice that make them successful."
Human Skills Over Algorithms: Vanderbloemen, with a background in divinity school, argues that "It’s human skills that make the difference, not the formulas and algorithms that can be programmed." He believes his experience in understanding people is more valuable than traditional business credentials like an MBA in certain contexts.
B. Key Habits Explored in the Excerpts
The excerpts detail five of the twelve habits: The Fast, The Solver, The Anticipator, The Self-Aware, The Curious, The Likable, and The Productive, and The Purpose-Driven.

05:00 The Fast (Responsiveness & Decisiveness)
Core Idea: Being "fast" means discerning "quickly! what needs an immediate response and what does not." It's about responsive decision-making, not saying yes to everything.
Challenges: "Acting fast isn’t always in our nature, especially when we’re afraid." Human brains are predisposed to "wait and see" due to evolutionary hardwiring for safety and also to procrastination ("our limbic system...is much stronger than our prefrontal cortex").
Benefits & Examples: Speed can lead to "more opportunities and successes," as seen in Blake Mycoskie (Toms shoes founder). Military and aviation backgrounds often cultivate this trait, requiring "rapid assessment of the situation and quick decision-making skills." Lin-Manuel Miranda exemplifies thinking and acting fast without overthinking.
Cultivating Speed:Distinguish between "Distraction" (doesn't get you closer to goals, limbic system says "heck yes," takes more than it's worth) and "Opportunity" (gets you closer to goals, whole brain agrees, yields results worth sacrifices).
"Overthinking is not" valuable when quick decisions are needed; it can lead to missed opportunities.
"Fail fast and learn."
The Solver (Solution-Oriented Mindset)
Core Idea: Focus on solutions rather than problems. As one individual shared, "People are either on the problem side of the equation, or they are on the solution side."
Contrast with Complaining: "Complaining and stressing never help a situation... To rise above, you need to be a Solver." Dale Carnegie's "Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain" is cited.
Collaborative Approach: "Solving is better when done with a group." The author learned to "Never use I when you could use we."
Hiring Manager Appeal: Hiring managers "love the Solvers" because they bring solutions instead of just complaints to HR.
10:00 Cultivating a Solver Mentality:"Ask that staff bring solutions to the table at each meeting; even if they’re bombastic and unachievable, it puts them in the right mindset."
Rebrand "problems" as "possibilities."
"Come with a solution," even if it's not perfect or feasible, to encourage creative thinking.
"Recognize if it really needs to be solved" – not every issue requires a solution; sometimes people just need to vent.
The Anticipator (Thinking Ahead & Learning from the Past)
Core Idea: The ability to "almost see the future" by thinking ahead and understanding potential outcomes.
Brain's Role: "Our brains are the ultimate anticipators," constantly making "predictions... about what will happen in the immediate future, based on whatever combination of past and present that your brain is currently conjuring."
Examples: Chess grandmasters and athletes like Aaron Rodgers exemplify this, anticipating opponents' moves and desired outcomes.
20:00 Cultivating Anticipation: "Practice solving with the end in mind."
"Encourage reading and learning history. Coach 'thinking things through.'" The author believes, "If you want to know the future, just study the past. Humans are incredibly cyclical."

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