You only get one chance to make a first impression on a new employee. 

How you handle the first day for a new employee will go a long way with shaping their attitude about your organization. 

What do you want them to know? What do you want them to feel?

Design your new employee's first day to answer those first two questions. 

Have you ever been lost in the woods? It has happened to me more than once. 

Once, deep in the wilderness of Wyoming, I was so lost I thought I may never find my way back to civilization. 

According to Jonathan David Lewis, there is little difference physiologically between people lost in the wilderness and leaders in a boardroom dealing with an unexpected challenge. In both cases, there is a predictable response to disruption. 

People make bad decisions when they are in a difficult situation. 

At some point, your business is going to face a disruption. And people will react as if they are lost in the wilderness. 

In his book, Brand vs. Wild, Jonathan David Lewis presents research to show what organizations can learn from wilderness survival to survive disruption in business. 

Find your one thing to help you stand out. Be unique. Be different. 

Whatever is normal, do the exact opposite. 

Jesse Cole, often seen in a bright yellow tuxedo, wants you to understand you don't have to do things the same way everyone else does it. 

Jesse is the owner of the Savannah Bananas baseball team, author, podcaster, and business disrupter. 

When Jesse first became the owner of a minor league baseball team, he realized no one cared about the team. There were no fans at the games. There was no money in the bank account. 

Instead of getting discouraged, Jesse tackled the problem head-on. He knew people thought baseball was long, slow, and boring. 

Jesse encourages you to find what frustrates you about your business. Also, find what frustrates your customers about your business or industry. Now, tackle those problems directly. Do the opposite of what people expect or what others are doing.

Get a copy of Jesse's book, Find Your Yellow Tux. 

Jesse Cole's website - FindYourYellowTux.com

Jesse Cole on Facebook - YellowTuxJesse

Jesse Cole on Twitter - @YellowTuxJesse

I finished 2017 by staying at the Historic Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane, WA. During my stay, I was reminded why it is important to focus on what is uniquely you. 

When I sampled the soft peanut brittle a chef was making in the lobby of the hotel, it set me off thinking about why they do it. Why do they make the treat in the lobby and give it out to guests? 

The peanut brittle is not about selling more of the tasty treat. It is about adding something special to guest's stay at the hotel. Something special you can only find at the Historic Davenport. 

Richard Benson said, "Make only that to which you bring a unique quality and buy everything else around the corner."

As you start the new year, think about what you can offer that is uniquely you.