Dash of Courage: Penguins in the Palm Trees

"Don't be indifferent be the difference, Standout!" - Bernard Clive

When you check into the Hyatt Regency in Maui, you expect the tropical perks: ocean views, palm trees, and maybe a pina colada...or two.

What you don't expect?
Penguins in Maui.
Real ones.
Waddling across the lobby like they own the place.

And yet, here they are. A colony of Black Footed Penguins, strutting past koi ponds, flamingos, and waterfalls as if the islands were made for them. 

How did they get there?

In the 1980's, the hotel partnered with conservation efforts to help protect the endangered species. Turns out, penguins are used to warmer climates, so while their tuxedos suggest Antarctica, they can thrive in tropical weather. 

They've adapted.
They've settled in. 
And they've become a beloved and completely bizarre part of the experience.

Owning who you are 
Leadership, real leadership, often means showing up where you "don't belong."  
Standing up, Standing out, and Refusing to Shrink.

It means being bold enough to walk through the lobby (or the boardroom, or the meeting, or the pitch), even if no one else looks or sounds like you. 

These penguins weren't put in Maui to blend in.
They were brought there to stand out. 
And they became unforgettable because they're out of place, not in spite of it. 

The same goes for Courageous Leaders.
You don't create impact by fitting in. 
You create it by owning the space you're in, even if it wasn't built for you.

Dash of Courage
This week, be the Penguin the Palm Trees.

Show up fully, wherever you are.
Own your difference.
Penguins weren't made for palm trees.
You don't have to be what people expect.

Difference isn't a disadvantage. It's your distinction.

Courage over Comfort,
Garrett