If you've ever flown Southwest airlines you know that the flight attendants can be pretty funny. Because of that and other marketing they became known as "the fun airline." They took a real chance and it paid off. 

(But, don't get me started on them ending open seating. 😡)

Point is, blending in feels professional and reasonable. You follow what everyone else does and says because it's proven, accepted, and safe. Nothing about you or the conversation is different... or memorable.

What stands out gets remembered. What blends in disappears. 

Salespeople often confuse professionalism with sameness. Attention feels scary and too risky.

When you aren't trying to avoid rejection, you can afford to stand out. 

Ask a deeper, probing questions, offer new perspectives, challenge people's assumptions that not everyone will agree with. Make your branding and your personal look bold. 

Not just to be weird or argumentative but to be of true service. 

When someone is willing to risk hearing no, they stop worrying about how they come across and don't need universal approval. They want to attract the right people. 

Safe conversations rarely produce rejection, they end in a whimper. Confusion. The worse: no decision. 

Go for No accepts that standing out will repel some people and that is okay. (Trust me, we've lived this through many people disagreeing with our stance!)

Being forgettable feels comfortable in the moment. Being distinct and bold feels dangerous. 

One of those has a chance of working much better than the other.