Video Essay/Masterclass

Why you need to celebrate what makes you weird

Embracing your weirdness is the key to your authenticity

In this video essay and masterclass, I will focus on one key factor that will tremendously increase your happiness and your quality of life:

That one key is embracing, and even amplifying, your weirdness.

I regularly teach my students and professionals a small workshop titled “Celebrate and Embrace Your Weirdness!”

Doodle Artwork titled “Be Your Weird Self” by Fahri Karakas

Embracing your own weird will make you happier and more productive.

Your inner voice might resist this thesis at first:

Most people are often averse to someone who is weird.

Weirdness is not regarded as a good label to have.

Think of the enormous pressures of conformity we have faced when we were at school.

We have been always conditioned to be ‘normal’. Or appear to be normal.

No one wants to be perceived as a ‘weirdo’, after all.

It is a recipe for exclusion or rejection.

Society pressures individuals to conform.

If you do not conform, the risk you will face is stigmatization.

However, I think we should face all these risks and we should try to stay as our weird selves.

In fact, I have come to believe in the following:

Resisting the temptation to conform to societal pressures is a key to creativity, success, and genius in life. — Fahri Karakas

In Praise of Weirdness

Chris Sacca is one of the most celebrated entrepreneurs and investors of our time. He made the following commencement speech at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management:

“The most important piece of advice I can give you on the path to happiness is not just to be yourself but be your weird self. It takes too much energy to be anything but your weird self.We spend too much of our lives trying to live up to the expectations of others. We buy things we don’t really want with money we don’t really have to impress people we don’t really care about. Forget that, forget what other people think. Everyone here is weird, admit it. We each have our quirks. Celebrate those,be goofy, tell corny jokes, dance awkwardly, express your half-baked thoughts but most importantly laugh about your failures…

It’s our collection screw-ups in idiosyncrasies and memories and stories and lessons learned that make us weird and interesting. Weirdness is why we adore our friends. I can see the weirdness in mutual recognition of weirdness in your eyes as you look around each other. Weirdness is what bonds us to our colleagues. Weirdness is what sets us apart gets hired. Be your unapologetically weird self. In fact being weird may even find you the ultimate happiness.

That’s expressed an old saying whose author was lost long ago but it goes like this. “We’re all little weird and life’s a little weird and we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours. We join up with them. We fall in mutual weirdness. We call it love.”

Weirdness lies at the heart of all happiness. Want to be happy? Just go on with your weird self.

As you see, this speech is a Masterclass in weirdness.

I completely agree with Chris Sacca — these are indeed wise words from a genius.

Many geniuses from Einstein to Van Gogh, from Tesla to Balsac were weird people. They were outliers. They were often seen as freaks. They did not fit the mold of society.

So, we should not fear weirdness.

We should fear conformity.

But, how do we apply this principle in our lives?

This requires going out of our comfort zones.

It requires not taking ourselves so damn seriously.

I am weird and I am damn proud of it!

Here is my motto:

I am weird and I am proud of it.

In my first classes, I have started using the photos you see here.

I was terrified at first. I resisted the idea for a long time.

My inner voice told me: Why would you be so stupid and undermine your professional image in front of your students? Are you out of your mind?

However, I was determined to stick with my decision.

Looking back, I am so glad that I have shared these photos.

Whenever I started using these photos, I have felt much happier.

This has set the scene for the whole year.

Students have felt closer to me.

We had a nice laugh.

All the tension was gone.

This opened up new and fresh possibilities for us.

Through this simple action, I opened a room for more authenticity and humor.

I resisted the temptation to act as a professional.

Being a know-all professional all the time is a recipe for mediocrity.

I do not want to be mediocre.

I care a lot about my students.

I want to create the best learning experiences for my students.

That is why I know that I have to go outside of my comfort zone.

I do not want to conform to the pressures of higher education. I want to be weird.

Sharing these pictures right at the start of my classes has been a great decision.

It has worked and it has made me very happy.

It has also made my students happy.

Resist the temptation to appear smart

I took a risk and went beyond my comfort zone.

I have signaled that I am this goofy person.

I have signaled that I do not care about appearing or trying to be smart.

I can be foolish and it is OK.

This is an amazing feeling — it is very liberating and refreshing.

I also act as a role model for my students: I signal to them that they can be foolish, naive, and curious.

I believe we should all resist the temptation to appear smart all the rime.

If you want to develop your creativity, be foolish and curious

Creativity starts with an open, naive, curious mind.

You cannot be creative if you are obsessed about being right or appearing smart.

You cannot focus on your learning if you are focused on how you will be perceived by others.

You cannot learn and grow if you try to be clever all the time.

It is much better to be naïve, hungry, foolish, playful, and curious.

To this end, I have stopped taking myself so seriously.

In my teaching, I have started experimenting with humor and self-deprecation.

Do not take yourself so seriously

Our lives are really short.

We should not take ourselves so seriously.

No one cares, really.

Our lives are fleeting— we might as well take risks and enjoy ourselves.

Most importantly, we should not care about how others judge us.

We can perhaps start by doing something seemingly stupid.

Just to go out of our comfort zones.

I am doing this in this post.

I am sharing these photos with you — my readers — hoping to serve as a role model.

I want to be a role model in ‘not taking myself so seriously’.

Now, it is your turn.

What will you be doing to go out of your own comfort zone?

Please take action now.

Declare and share it with the world.

Why is weirdness fun and original?

Weirdness causes a release of dopamine in the part of our brain responsible for discovering and processing new sensory impressions.

Because weirdness arises from novelty, it evokes a feeling of curiosity and fun.

Weirdness is inherently connected to non-conformity.

If you are weird, you are going against what is commonly accepted by society.

As such, weirdness is the root of creativity and originality.

Having the courage to stay weird and foolish is the basis of openness, learning, and flexibility.

If you accept your weirdness as an asset, you might actually end up having a better eye for what is original, unique, and innovative.

Seeking originality is one of the key ingredients of building something fresh, exciting, and valuable — whether this is an artwork, a blog, a video, a product, a brand, or a company.

When you are being weird, you give yourself more opportunities for adventure and exploration.

You are questioning mediocrity and resisting conformity — which are valuable traits of super-successful and super-creative people.

Let us look at one of those people — Steve Jobs.

Here is his legendary manifesto “Here is to the Crazy Ones”:

Steve Jobs was wildly creative because he was weird and he could connect dots in ways that no one else could.

It is not a coincidence that creativity is associated with divergent thinking. You need to diverge from others. You need to travel the road less traveled.

Some of the best inventions, artwork, and products were created by people who dared to travel their own paths alone.

Creative breakthroughs happen when you challenge accepted or established ways of doing things.

Innovation occurs when you depart from existing and dominant paradigms. Everything that is accepted as innovative has been perceived as weird at some point.

When you become successful as a weird person, your idea is no longer seen as that weird — it becomes the mainstream.

Then, society starts to accept, praise, and respect you.

This is the same society that previously questioned or even ostracised you.

This is why you should not give a damn about what others think about you.

When you own your strangeness, the world will follow you.

When you stop fitting in, you will stand out and everyone will take notice.

Some might hate you — no problem.

Others will love you and who you are — and that matters.

You can use your weirdness as a fuel — since it gives you a fresh perspective.

It is important to be yourself however weird you are.

It is important that you be an independent thinker.

If your friends are judging or bullying or pressuring you because of this, perhaps they do not deserve to be your true friends.

Then, you need to broaden your friend group and connect with more diverse and original people.

People who dare to disappoint others’ expectations.

People who speak their minds.

People with eccentric hobbies.

People who laugh at themselves.

You need to find your own tribe of originals.

Your weirdness is your superhero power

What makes you different is your biggest asset, and you probably do not realize it.

Turn it into your super-power.

For example, if you are a quiet and reserved person, you are probably a great listener. Own and be proud of it.

Instead of obsessing over fixing your weaknesses, you need to embrace, harness and amplify your natural strengths.

That means you need to let your authentic self shine.

Think about best comedians, scientists, artists, Nobel Prize winners, entrepreneurs, and investors.

All of them are weird in a lot of ways.

Think about it: Because they are outliers, they have to be weird.

And they have cultivated, amplified, and compounded what makes them unique and weird.

You also need to invest more in these things that make you outstanding and unique.

The more strange, wild, and wonderful your thoughts are, the more potential you have for originality.

A great example of this is Lady Gaga.

She is an icon of creativity in our times.

She is proud of what makes her unique and outstanding.

Why is Lady Gaga so remarkable?

Because she is crazy — and I mean this in a positive way.

She does not shy away from controversy.

Authentic is the new normal

If you cherish what is unique about yourself, the world out there will eventually respect you.

There is nothing that is good about mediocrity.

You need to be a proud outlier.

If you are an outlier, there is less competition.

You are essentially competing with yourself.

You are navigating uncharted territories (blue oceans).

You are creating your own category, which is the ultimate cool.

You will be number 1 in that category because you own it:)

You will be a monopoly and you can make up your own rules.

You do not need to obey ridiculous rules or you do not need to such up to anyone.

You are playing your own game.

When you stand out, you become outstanding.

This means more freedom.

You can be stupid, as long as you are true to yourself.

People will love you.

One of the best ever Shark Tank episodes was Potato Parcel.

These guys were writing messages on potatoes and mailing them.

You might think that this is the ultimate stupid idea.

However, it turns out that it is profitable.

And the sharks (investors) loved it!

Why is that?

It turns out that people love fun and quirkiness.

They pay for the adventure.

They want to share joy and laughter with others.

And that is what matters.

Weirdness is viral

Weirdness is also one of the top formulas for going viral.

Seth Godin has a whole book on weirdness and he calls it “Purple Cow”.

When you are your weird self, you better connect with others.

You also better connect with your friends.

You find your own tribe.

Your friends will love you because you are weird.

Your weirdness then becomes a glue — it becomes this cool thing that you talk and laugh about.

In this way, weirdness is weirdly contagious.

Have you seen the following viral video titled “When your friend is as weird as you”

Weird hobbies do help to develop a sense of community and companionship.

There is a subreddit or a chat room on any imaginable interest or hobby — you name it and you will find it.

It is through weirdness that we foster a community of friends — whether online or in real life.

For example, I have mild dyspraxia.

More plainly, I am a rather clumsy person. I regularly bump into objects.

I cannot ride a bike, that is why I use a trike to go to work.

I cause small accidents all the time — at home or at work.

One time, my friends requested me to make tea and I have put the kettle on the oven — leading to disastrous results.

Another time, I almost burned the office of Sertac (my wife) at Pembroke College. I received extensive fire and safety training after the incident; which was very helpful.

Despite all the troubles I have caused my family members and friends, I know that they love me.

Our bonds are even stronger because they know all of my quirky habits, mistakes, foolishness, and all.

I have a puzzle for you now:

Which Friends character is the most popular?

Any guesses?

The answer is, of course, Phoebe Buffay.

This is no surprise to me. She is a quirky one.

We love her because of her sense of humor, originality, and naivety.

The world needs more of your authentic and quirky self. Do not constrain yourself and share it with the world.

When you do so, you are also encouraging others to open up and be themselves.

When you incorporate your weirdness into your work, you will better connect with others and the world.

For example, I do not know how to draw. I did not take any sketching courses. However, I love the simple act of doodling. Doodling helps me reflect, cool down, and relax.

So, I have started doodling and shared them with the world. My doodles are not perfect — they are full of mistakes. They look crude, untidy, even ugly. And all these mistakes are fine. I still choose to share my doodles.

My book might look like a ‘kitsch museum’ (a bit like Skopje city center which is full of fancy statues and pirate ships — a capital that I truly adore). It still reflects my personality and perspectives on life. I love goofy and cheesy stuff. I am an optimist at heart but sometimes lose my heart. I tend to work hard and I believe in strict self-discipline, but sometimes I will be a master of procrastination and self-pity. I tend to follow the rules of the game, but sometimes I will grow tired of the whole game. My doodles will carry the seeds of my personality and my own life choices and perspectives.

So, my doodle book is a bit weird and it is OK.

I know that it was something which only I could bring to the world. It is fresh, real, and remarkable because it is weird.

People are tired of the same old formulas and they seek novelty. They seek to be surprised.

We all seek remarkable stories, purple cows, strange ideas, and memorable characters.

That is why it pays to be weird.

Being weird provides you the ultimate freedom to embrace strange ideas and do your own thing.

So, you need to provide yourself the permission and the courage to do your own thing.

Now, I would like to share with you a great documentary about a weird character: Vivian Maier.

Vivian Maier worked as a nanny, but she also had a secret hobby: She was a street photographer.

Nobody knew of the impressive street photography collection she has created until her death.

It turned out that Vivian Maier was one of the best street photographers and artists of this century.

Here is the trailer titled “Finding Vivian Maier”.

It was unfortunate that Vivian Maier chose not to share her fascinating art and work with the world.

Everyone loses if you decide that you do not share your weird work with the world.

Everyone benefits from your work if you allow yourself to be weird and share it with the world.

A great excellent example of this is “Joseph’s Useless Machines”.

Joseph makes useless machines that have delightful absurdity.

Of course, these machines have gone viral:

So, as we see, again and again, weirdness is the source of creative power.

You need to embrace your weirdness, not censor it.

It is up to you to decide how to use it: You might dance, invent, sing, design, improvise, or create weird stuff.

But you need to share it with the world.

Shane Carruth was a software engineer. He wanted to make his own science fiction movie. He spent only $7000 and made one of the most original time travel movies of all time. This movie, “Primer”, won the Grand Jury Prize and the Alfred P. Sloan Award at the Sundance Film Festival. He is known for his complicated, bizarre, and nonlinear narratives.

Weird movies are often among the best movies.

A classically weird movie is “Being John Malkovich”, one of my all time favourites:

I have found this page on my diary from the time I first watched this movie.

I tried to capture and remind myself what is wonderful and weird about this movie:

**“Being John Malkovich and Being Weird”**

Movies that celebrate weirdness are my absolute favourites. Another such movie is “I Heart Huckabees” where everything is connected and everything matters. Now, isn’t that cool?

I have to stop listing all my weird favourite movies now, because…

Well, this post is getting too long!

**Doodle Artwork titled “Embrace the Weird” by Fahri Karakas, 2018.**

Exercise: Celebrating your own weirdness

Now, it is time for a little self-reflection and soul-searching.

I want you to make a list of things that make you “weird”.

Please write down your list now:

Make a list of 6 things that make you “weird”.

Now, after forming your Top 6 Weird List, I want you to reflect back on your life and your work.

Please respond to the following questions:

Do you nourish or restrict these in your daily life?

Are you celebrating what makes you weird?

Do you feel the need to censor yourself at work?

Please reflect and write down how you feel about your weird list and how you handle these in your life.

Are you pleased about how you represent yourself in your life?

Do you feel a need to make any changes? If so, what could be these changes?

Please reflect and write down.

In the next stage, I want you to choose a weird close friend of yours.

Please schedule an online meeting with your weird friend.

Discuss and celebrate what makes each of you weird. Who is weirder?

Try to find a film or fiction character that would resemble your friend.

Then, please write a popcorn message to one another.

A popcorn message is a positive and encouraging message you write and customize for your friend.

You do not just say nice things, as they tend to be forgotten. You need to put them in writing.

Please hand-write a message, take a picture of it and share it with your friend.

You will exchange your popcorns with one another and keep them as fond memories.

I will finish this post with two weird and fun videos.

The first one is “Exercising Women on Turkish Daytime TV”.

I became aware of these women thanks to Sertac who did her ethnographic fieldwork on exercise craze (spor meraki) in Turkey:

And the second video is a fun and hilarious travel documentary featuring Jack Whitehall and his father (on Netflix):

OK, this has been very sweet.

I will say goodbye to you with my weirdness poster below.

**Doodle Artwork titled “In Praise of Weirdness” by Fahri Karakas**

I hope you enjoyed this masterclass.

In the upcoming days, I will try to share more segments from my lectures and workshops using Medium as a platform for my teaching.

As I finish the post, please feel free to add your comments on the things that make you weird and wonderful.

Let us keep in touch and let us keep things weird.

Sincerely;

Fahri

Fahri Karakas is the author of Self-making Studio. You can explore more here.