“Muggsy” Bogues was the shortest player ever to play in the NBA.
At 5’3″, he played 14 seasons, defying the massive odds stacked against him his entire career.
What was his secret? He turned his differences into his strengths.
Instead of trying to compete by playing the way everyone else does, Muggsy forced them to adapt to his unique style.
Instead of competing up high, he played down low. Being so low to the ground relative to the other players—who averaged 6’7″—he was able to steal balls so regularly that even the best dribblers became nervous around him.
His size allowed him to play a fast and nimble style of basketball that made it tough for the taller players to compete against him.
Sometimes, your differences can feel like your limitations. In his case, his size was his weakness until he learned how to turn it into his advantage.
But his size was also his differentiator. And differentiators can be your advantage—if you lean into them.