Small Differences

The big New York publisher
I write with
has hundreds, if not thousands, of writers.
They approached me yesterday
with a very lush opportunity
(one that will either
make me a bestselling author
or not work at all).

Why did they approach me?

1) I write quickly.
They have this impression
because I always turn my stories in
before the deadline.
This is unique
because writers have reputations
for missing deadlines.

and

2) I’m flexible about what I write.
I had an 80,000 word idea.
My editor asked me to make it
45,000 words.
I made it 45,000 words.
This is unique
because writers are known
for ‘being true to their vision.’

That’s it.
These two small differences
are why the publisher chose me
for this plum assignment.

Your company doesn’t have to be
completely different
to be successful.
It merely has to be different
in one or two areas.