Whether you are self-employed or employed by others, whether you work in a big business or own a small business, your career success depends on your ability to offer something new: new solutions for existing problems; new services and products; new ideas; etc. Everything that isn't new is old, and if you are doing old you are stuck in the past. In the age entrepreneurship, the future of you is new, and your value depends on your ability to do things differently. As the great Alan Kay pointed out, "a change in perspective is worth 80 IQ points."

via blogs.hbr.org

Great reminder. I worry a little about the advice about self-branding (people will translate this into a cheesy, sheeny, surfacy fascimile of real individuality) but the key point – be distinctive, be remarkable, be consistent – is right on.