There are a lot of young talented underdogs who come to me and ask how they should build their career, and my only response to them is to find their BLUE OCEAN, not just find their WHY but to achieve the WHY they should have a unique go-to-market and approach that no one has ever done so that you stand out.
I recently listened to one of my favorite podcasters, Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic, in which he interviewed Renee Mauborgne about her new book Beyond Disruption: Innovate and Achieve Growth without Displacing Industries, Companies, or Jobs (Harvard Business Review Press, May 2023). Renee originally wrote a book called Blue Ocean Strategy, which is by far the best book in the non-fiction business category. Renee Mauborgne is an economist, business theorist, and author. She is a professor of strategy at INSEAD, a business school based in France, and the co-director of the Fontainebleau-based INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute.
I love the podcast for various reasons, but the most critical takeaway was building a blue ocean life with a moat, uniqueness, and advantage. Building a "blue ocean life" is a concept inspired by the book "Blue Ocean Strategy" principles but applied to personal development and lifestyle choices. It involves creating a unique and fulfilling life by exploring uncharted territories and breaking away from conventional norms. It draws parallels from the book Blue Ocean Strategy.
I never knew my blue ocean, but one thing was clear: I want to have a unique path, and I can pursue it at my will while creating value for myself and society in general. Trust me, I don’t come from a privileged background. Instead, I see non-privilege as an advantage to finding and pursuing my blue ocean. It came with no baggage and expectation. As I tell my sister, “Sky is the limit”!
Red Ocean
Before you find your blue ocean, it is essential to understand what “Red ocean” means in business strategy terms.
"Red ocean" refers to an existing market space where industries are characterized by intense competition, intense rivalry, and limited growth opportunities. In a red ocean, companies compete within the boundaries of an established market, striving to gain a larger market share by outperforming their rivals.
If we apply this to our life and personal career, it means finding opportunities and building our careers in an intensely competitive environment. Hence, we need to find an edge, i.e., our blue ocean, something unique that nobody has pursued or looked at from our lens. It gives us an advantage in molding our life and career with our terms.
How to find your blue ocean?
Finding your blue ocean is not a straightforward process with an exact framework that works for everyone. It involves being reflective, stoic, disciplined, value-creation, and creative.
Five key steps that will help you find your blue ocean are:
Define Your Vision: Clearly define what blue ocean life means to you. Five key steps will help you find your blue ocean: determine your passions, values, and aspirations. Consider how you can align your personal and professional goals to create a life that reflects your true desires.
Cultivate a Growth Mindset & Never Stop Learning: Adopt a growth mindset that views failures and setbacks as learning opportunities rather than obstacles. Seek personal development through education, self-reflection, and acquiring new skills.
Challenge Assumptions: Start by questioning the assumptions and beliefs that dictate the traditional path to success and happiness. Identify areas where you feel constrained or unfulfilled and challenge the status quo.
Take Calculated Risks: Blue ocean thinking often requires taking calculated risks. Assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of new ventures or choices and make informed decisions. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and embrace uncertainty.
Focus on Value Creation: Strive to create value in everything you do. Consider how your actions can positively impact others and contribute to the greater good. Look for ways to solve problems, address unmet needs, and make a difference in the lives of those around you. Embrace a willingness to continuously learn, adapt, and improve.
It involves embracing your uniqueness, exploring new possibilities, and creating a life that resonates with your authentic self. Ultimately, finding your blue ocean will help you find your spirituality, connect with yourself, and be truly happy.
What is your blue ocean? Please share it with me at sagar@idexaccelerator.com.