Are You Specialty Coffee or Just Another Cup? How to Stand Out in Life and Career

Welcome to a new article here at Being Honest. First, I want to say a big thank you. I didn’t expect such a great response from this work, and I’m thrilled to keep contributing to these conversations.

Let’s Begin

The other morning, while making breakfast (eggs with pepper and coffee), I started thinking about the coffee I was brewing. This wasn’t your typical supermarket coffee—it was specialty coffee, sourced from a small shop that focuses on quality. You might wonder: What makes this coffee “specialty”?

Specialty coffee stands out because of a few key elements:

• Origin: Specialty coffee is grown by dedicated producers who often spend their entire lives perfecting the craft. These beans are typically grown in specific altitudes and climates, sometimes nurtured for years before the first harvest.
• Quality Over Quantity: The beans are handpicked, not mass-produced like chain coffee brands. You won’t find industrial-scale quantities of this coffee, and that’s part of its uniqueness.
• Sustainability: The farmers and supply chain prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility, ensuring that the process benefits both the earth and their communities.
• Fair Pricing: Yes, it’s more expensive, but for a good reason. The quality is higher, the process more deliberate, and I know that the farmers are being paid fairly for their hard work.

This got me thinking—sometimes in our own lives and careers, we need to approach things like specialty coffee. Why? Because just like we chase money, recognition, and accomplishments, we often overlook what’s required to truly excel.

Be Like Specialty Coffee

One important lesson from specialty coffee is that it takes time to develop into something exceptional. You don’t become the best version of yourself overnight. It takes years of maturity, learning, and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Too often, we want instant results. We want to master new skills, get promoted, or be recognized for our work right away. But just like specialty coffee, which takes years to cultivate, great things take time. Success isn’t about rushing through life trying to tick boxes—it’s about dedicating time to honing your craft and being consistent in your efforts.

Focus on Quality

In today’s fast-paced world, we’re often encouraged to do more, achieve more, and be more. But is that always the right approach? Specialty coffee reminds us that quality often trumps quantity. Instead of trying to be good at everything, focus on becoming exceptional at a few things.

Ask yourself:

• Are you specializing in a few areas, or are you trying to cover everything without mastering anything?
• Are you aiming for quality in what you do, or are you just trying to check boxes?

When we spread ourselves too thin, we risk diluting our impact. In contrast, when we focus on developing specific skills or honing in on a particular area of our lives, we can truly stand out. Whether it’s in your personal relationships, your career, or a passion project, quality should always come before quantity.

Uniqueness Is Your Strength

Another lesson from specialty coffee is the importance of being unique. Specialty coffee isn’t mass-produced; it’s crafted with care, which gives it distinct characteristics that set it apart from the rest. Similarly, we all have unique qualities, strengths, and talents that make us stand out.

Are you playing your life like specialty coffee—unique, valuable, and cultivated with care—or are you just another industrial coffee, blending in with the crowd?

Being unique isn’t about being perfect; it’s about embracing what makes you different and using that to your advantage. In a world where everyone is trying to do more, being authentic and true to yourself is what will make you truly special. Whether it’s in your career, your hobbies, or your relationships, focus on cultivating the qualities that make you stand out.

Patience and Consistency Are Key

Like specialty coffee, success doesn’t come overnight. It takes patience and consistency. Sometimes, you’ll put in the work and feel like you’re not seeing the results you want right away. But just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t.

The farmers who produce specialty coffee don’t rush the process; they nurture the beans over time, trusting that their efforts will pay off. We need to approach our goals with the same mindset. Keep learning, keep refining, and stay patient. The results will come when the time is right.

Build Meaningful Connections

Specialty coffee is often part of a larger community, from the farmers who grow it to the local coffee shops that serve it. Similarly, building meaningful connections in your life and career is essential for long-term growth. Whether it's networking in your field, developing deeper relationships with colleagues, or finding a mentor, the people you surround yourself with can influence the trajectory of your success.

Don’t try to do it all alone. Specialty coffee thrives because of the collaborative effort behind it, and we can thrive by learning from and supporting each other.

To Conclude

As we wrap up this article, here are a few things to think about if you want to be more like specialty coffee:

1. Train and Learn: Just like specialty coffee, you need to continuously improve. Involve yourself in things that matter to you and make your presence known.
2. Be Unique: Find your own way of doing things. Stand out by offering something different, something valuable.
3. Be Patient and Consistent: Good things take time. Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t. Stay consistent, keep pushing, and the results will follow.
4. Build Connections: Don’t go it alone. Surround yourself with people who can help you grow, share their experiences, and support your journey.

Lastly, I’d love to hear from you. What do you do to be unique? How do you become your version of specialty coffee? Share your thoughts in The Honest Growth Community Slack, and let’s keep the conversation going.

This is a rework from an article that I wrote on Linkedin in 2021.