Onto this week’s main theme, which is
all about being a maverick.
Last week, I was described as being a ‘Maverick’ by UK Health Radio, I was introduced onto the show as being a maverick and they tweeted the same about me once the show had gone live.
Much of my stance on the field of hypnotherapy was considered
maverick by the show’s host (the very lovely Chris Williams, a real gent), my evidence based stance that is. On the show I spoke on themes that are very different to the previous guests that they had had on the show. I refuted much of the typical ‘received wisdom’ type of spiel that people usually rehash and spew out when explaining hypnosis, and spoke about how academics and researchers tend to oppose much of the typical stance of frontline
hypnotherapists.
I tweeted back that I thought I was more ‘responsible’ or ‘sensible’ as a result of adhering to evidence based principles in my work, but I guess that would not have made for a sexy headline looking to attract listeners to their show.
I wanted to be sure that I understood what
maverick meant too, so I looked it up and a typical definition is along the lines of this;
noun
1. An unorthodox or independent-minded person. “he’s the maverick of the senate”
synonyms: individualist,
nonconformist, free spirit, unorthodox person, unconventional person, original, trendsetter, bohemian, eccentric, outsider.
Therefore, I eased up about the fact that I was being labelled as a maverick because given the definition, it is probably true. It is not just my adherence to evidence base that makes me a maverick according to this definition, I think those that ever experience me present,
teach or lecture also recognise that I am unlike my professional peers in a number of ways. It really got me thinking.
My previous two blog posts here have been related to the UK Hypnosis Convention that occurred last weekend. The more popular and successful hypnotherapists and hypnosis trainers all had this in common, that of being a maverick to a certain extent. They all were individualist and
unconventional people that stand out, and let’s be honest, this does not just apply to the field of hypnotherapy (which some might consider to be a maverick field!) but to pretty much any field – just look at the wealthiest people, world innovators, stars of the arts, leaders in fields and all those way beyond those categories.
No matter how well our lives may be going, many of us seem to be at
our wit’s end when it comes to attaining that next level of success, but I believe that there is a solution to this challenge. Whether we want to improve our relationships, personal development, emotional well-being, health or career ambitions, we so often find that we’re our own greatest enemies.
The real entrepreneurs are not just “doers”, they are the creative thinkers, barnstormers,
innovators and relentlessly curious folk who have a vision of a better world, a better experience and have a realistic view of the acceleration of the future.
So, let’s take a look at what a Maverick is, how to be one and what their traits are in order that we can all apply the maverick mindset to what we do and excel as a result. Being maverick is not an inherent thing, like most of what I
write about, it can be learned and developed. Don’t take it from me, take it from one of the world’s most auspicious mavericks;
“There’s no talent here, this is hard work. This is an obsession. Talent does not exist. We are all equals as human beings. You could be anyone if you put in the time. You will reach the top, and that’s that. I am not talented. I am
obsessed.”
– Conor McGregor
Go and have a good read of this article which shows you exactly how to adopt the maverick mindset to advance your personal and professional life:
Within that article I have also added reference to a couple of other articles that I want to mention here because they are so relevant and useful to my main topic. Maverick’s often
operate with a real sense of purpose and know how to learn from failures and use them as a progress of growth and development.
Have a read of these two articles on those subjects:
