Why Strategy Isn’t About Being the Best It’s About Being a Freak

When people think about strategy, they usually assume it’s about being the best, outpacing the competition, stacking up awards, and dominating the market.

But that mindset is broken.

Strategy isn’t about being the best. It’s about being different. It’s about being a freak.

In today’s world, differentiation is everything. Nobody remembers the tenth version of the same thing. The ones who lead the ones who truly disrupt are the ones bold enough to break the mold entirely.

Strategy = Standing Out

We’ve got to stop confusing strategy with competition. True strategy isn’t about outperforming everyone in the same race, it's about running a completely different race.

When you choose to be different, you stop playing by someone else’s rules. You create your own lane. You build value not by imitating others but by being undeniably, unapologetically yourself.

That’s not just strategy. That’s power.

Innovation Is 90% Psychology, 10% Technology

People love throwing the word innovation around like it’s all about tech. But here’s the truth: innovation is mostly psychological.

It’s 90% mindset, creativity, vulnerability, and emotion and only 10% code, hardware, or algorithms.

Tech has limits. It’s bound by physics, structure, logic. But human imagination? That’s limitless. The most game-changing innovations don’t start with a tool, they start with a thought.

If we want to drive real innovation, we’ve got to reprogram how people think, how they collaborate, how they dream.

Tech Has Constraints Psychology Doesn’t

I love tech. But let’s be real, it has boundaries. The physical world has rules. Software has bugs. Machines have limits.

The real breakthroughs happen when we reimagine the problem entirely when we question assumptions, challenge paradigms, and approach things from radically new angles.

That’s what psychological innovation looks like. It’s not about what a tool can do. It’s about what we believe is possible.

The Most Innovative Leaders Are Vulnerable

Let’s kill the myth of the bulletproof leader, the one who always knows what to do, never shows fear, never needs help.

That’s not leadership. That’s performance.

The most innovative leaders I know are the ones who are open, uncertain, and willing to ask for help. They’re vulnerable not because they’re weak, but because they’re strong enough to admit they don’t have all the answers.

Vulnerability is a superpower. It builds trust. It creates space for collaboration. It unlocks experimentation. And in a world where change is constant, that mindset is everything.

Embrace Uncertainty with Boldness

Here’s the truth: we can’t predict the future. Full stop.

But what we can do is show up with boldness to try new things, take risks, and move forward even when the path is unclear.

Strategy today isn’t about knowing what’s next. It’s about being brave enough to act anyway.

The ones who lead the future aren’t the ones who guess right, they're the ones who go first.

Fear Isn’t the Enemy It’s the Fuel

Let me be real: I feel fear all the time. Anyone doing bold, meaningful work does.

But fear doesn’t mean stop. Fear means you’re onto something that matters. The trick is to use fear as fuel, not as a brake.

The most dangerous person in the room isn’t the one without fear, it's the one who feels it and moves anyway.

That’s real innovation. That’s what real strategy looks like.

Embrace Your Freak Factor

In a world obsessed with fitting in, the boldest thing you can do is stand out.

Be the freak.

Be the one who zigged when everyone else zagged. Be the one who asked the dumb question that unlocked a breakthrough. Be the one who refused to follow the formula and created something new instead.

Because strategy isn’t about being the best version of something that already exists. It’s about being something entirely new.

And that starts with having the courage to be different and to stay different.

Final Thought

This isn’t just a different way of thinking about strategy, it's a total paradigm shift.

We’ve been conditioned to think that innovation is about technology, and strategy is about winning. But let me be clear: strategy is about being different, and innovation is mostly human.

We need to stop chasing formulas, certainty, and best practices. That’s the old game.

The future belongs to those who are psychologically bold, emotionally real, and willing to lead with vulnerability. The ones who know that creativity isn’t a process, it's a posture.

So whether you’re a leader, creator, founder, or team member don’t aim to be the best in the game.

Aim to be the one nobody saw coming.

If we want to drive meaningful progress, we have to double down on what makes us human imagination, mindset, courage, and uniqueness, not just tools and trends.

That’s how you change the game entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

1 - What does it really mean to be strategic in today’s world?

Being strategic today isn’t about being the best, it's about being different. It’s not about beating others at their game; it’s about creating your own game. Strategy is standing out, not fitting in.

2 - Is strategy the same as competition?

No. Strategy is not about outcompeting others. True strategy is about differentiation: finding your own lane, doing things your way, and refusing to copy what already exists.

3 - Why is being different more powerful than being the best?

Because no one remembers the 10th version of the same idea. The boldest leaders break the mold, not follow it. Being different gets attention, builds loyalty, and drives lasting impact.

4 - Is innovation really more about mindset than technology?

Absolutely. Innovation is 90% psychology mindset, imagination, boldness and only 10% technology. The real breakthroughs start in our heads, not in hardware.

5 - Can fear actually help you innovate?

Yes. Fear doesn’t mean stop, it means you’re on to something important. The key is to use fear as fuel. The most innovative people feel fear and move forward anyway.

About the Author:

Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized disruption strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations adapt to change and leverage disruptive thinking. Named one of the "Best New Speakers" by the National Speakers Bureau, Shawn has spoken at some of the world's most innovative organizations, including IBM, Walmart, and 3M. His expertise in digital disruption strategies helps leaders navigate transformation and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain business environment.