The renowned Thomas L. Friedman, he of The World Is Flat fame, wrote another excellent editorial in last week's New York Times (here for you for free from the Pasadena Star News).
In it, he talked about the ramifications of our reputations now that the democratization of broadcasting has rendered us cellophane-transparent. More importantly, he introduced How, a new book by Dov Seidman, the CEO of business ethics specialists LRN. To quote Friedman:
"In this transparent world, 'how' you live your life and 'how' you conduct your business matters more than ever, because so many people can now see into what you do, and tell so many other people about it on their own without any editor.
"To win now, he (Seidman) argues, you have to turn these new conditions to your advantage."
Pardon the pun, but "how" do you do that?
Well, to paraphrase the expression "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king," in a world where everyone knows everything about you...change what they know about you. Or, in other words...
Surprise them.
The same information that's available to them is also available to you. Do your homework, and come to the same conclusions about yourself that others will come to of you.
Then mix 'em up.
It's like throwing a fastball when they're expecting a curve.
Confounding expectations can be the greatest advantage of them all.