In this solo, spoken‑word episode recorded at the Minnesota State Fair, speaker Sally Koering Zimney argues that a leader’s “weirdness” – the unique, unconventional traits and passions that set them apart – is not a liability but a strategic advantage. Using the fair’s tradition of putting every imaginable food on a stick as a vivid metaphor, she frames authenticity as a “zag” that counters the prevailing “zig” of algorithm‑driven conformity and homogenizing best‑practice advice. She references cultural figures (T.S. Eliot, Picasso) to illustrate that while ideas may be recycled, each person’s particular expression is novel. Zimney challenges listeners to stop polishing away their quirks, to double‑down on their distinct humor, interests, and strengths, and to view those differences as the engine of innovation. The talk concludes with a call‑to‑action: visitors can download a suite of tools – the “Zag Factor” assessment, anti‑resume, weird‑strengths inventory, comparison‑trap escape route, and action plan – from her website to help them identify and leverage their own zag. The overall purpose is to motivate leaders to embrace and operationalize their weirdness to move themselves and others.
Chapters
There's something beautiful about being in a place where putting any food you can think of on a stick is a little weird and wonderful. And that's what we're doing this week. We're celebrating the weird and the wonderful. That's gifting, Sally Koering Zimney. It's not just okay to be different, it's truly essential for us as leaders to own our weird. In fact, it might be the most valuable thing that you have to offer. Welcome to This Moved Me, a show to move you to be braver so that you can move others. Coming to you from the great Minnesota get-together, our state fair, from this Minnesota gal, where weird isn't just accepted, it is celebrated. Hi everybody, I'm Sally Zimney, your go-to professional nudger, a speaker, coach, and author. Today I want to talk about why your weirdness might be the most valuable thing that you have to offer as a leader, as a mover. I was talking to some clients this week who said something to me that I hear frankly all the time, and they were saying, I feel like there's already too many people out there doing what I want to do. There's already people out there with that idea. Another person said, Sally, I feel like I should just do it like she's doing it. But then honestly, I thought about the state fair. Just take a peek at my day at the fair. This place is basically a shrine to embracing the weird. One of the things that the Minnesota State Fair is known for is putting literally every food you can think of on a stick. Why? I don't know. That's just what we do. It was kind of the thing that made us different and we really owned it. And so now everything comes on a stick. This is what we do. This is our zag to everybody else's zig. Instead of that idea being weird, our ownership of that idea has become something that everybody rallies around. And you know what? My time at the fair was such a powerful reminder as I looked around and saw crafts that frankly, who's doing these? Well, somebody who has embraced their weird, who have said, This is what I'm passionate about. A lot of people standing in line to see seed art. I'm gonna own it. I don't care how weird you think it is. This is a contribution I can make to the world. Instead of trying to blend in, they said, here I am. T.S. Eliot said, there's no such thing as a new idea. He's not wrong. Picasso said, good artists copy, great artists steal. The core messages, the fundamental truths, they've all been shared before. I can think of 5 people right now, including me, who talks about authenticity. But you know what has never existed before? Those ideas in you. You, in all of the weird and wonderful ways that you show up. You, your particularities, your zag to their zig, your food on a stick. We live in a world where algorithms push conformity. You see more of the same. You say you like this, I'm going to give you more of that. Where best practices try and sand down our edges, the edges that I think help lead to new innovations, new ideas, new ways of being and doing. We're told to be professional, which is, I think, code sometimes for a little less you. But here is the paradox. In a world of sameness, your difference is the difference maker. It's your zag to their zig. You know, the State Fair exists because of weird. If everyone just sold normal food in normal ways, would anyone drive 3 states away to eat here? So here is my nudge for you. What part of you have you been polishing away because you're afraid it's just a little too out there, a little too different. Your sense of humor, your passion for something obscure. Be more you. Double down on you, the things that make you you. Your zag to their zig. Your food on a stick. The world doesn't need another carbon copy, do it like everybody else does it. We don't want, want. It needs your specific weird wonderful. You, the State Fair, really moved me this year, and I'm wondering what's moving you, and can you share more of that? And listen, I've got something that is going to help you on this journey to zag when everybody else is zigging. It's called the Zag Factor. Do you know your zag factor? I want to help you get clear on what your zag factor is. If you go to Sally Koering Zimney Zimney forward slash zag, you'll be able to download all kinds of tools that are gonna help you define for yourself you're weird, you're weird and you're wonderful. A really quick zag assessment, develop your anti-resume, your weird strengths inventory, a comparison trap escape route, and your zag action plan. This is more than just a PDF download. This is really helping you develop your zag factor. And as somebody who is always, always trying to get more of real, more of you in the world, I want you to come join me over there. Sally-Koering-Zimney.com/zag. I'll see you over there.
