Being remarkable
You're either boring or you stand out. You're either invisible or remarkable. And, all your life, everyone has been pushing you to fit in. All your life you're told to keep your head down, work hard, don't make waves and get it done. What rubbish.
That's Seth Godin, writing in the Guardian, providing 10 steps on how to stand out and make a difference. As our staff is setting goals for the new year, the list is one that is worth savoring. (And taping to the side of the computer.) Some good ones:
2. Remarkable doesn't mean remarkable to you. It means remarkable to me. Am I going to make a remark about it? If not, then you're average, and average is for losers.
5. Remarkability lies in the edges. The biggest, fastest, slowest, richest, easiest, most difficult. It doesn't always matter which edge, more that you're at (or beyond) the edge.
6. Not everyone appreciates your efforts to be remarkable. In fact, most people don't. So what? Most people are ostriches, heads in the sand, unable to help you anyway. Your goal isn't to please everyone. Your goal is to please those that actually speak up, spread the word, buy new things or hire the talented.
Imagine the benefit newspapers would get if everyone tried to be remarkable! Fear of failure, fear of the new, fear of organizational disapproval and old-fashioned inertia are the roadblocks. My goal and my encouragement to our staff is to shake off those fears and do something remarkable this year. Put that in your performance and development plans for the year. Even if your efforts fail, we'll at least have fun along the way.
Comments (4)
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Remarkable is good, but let's try for fabulous!
Posted on January 10, 2007 8:47 AM
Hey John. Is THIS "remarkable" enough for you?
Posted on January 10, 2007 10:04 AM
Yes, you're right, Mr. Walker. Fabulous is the way to go.
Posted on January 10, 2007 12:12 PM
Great goal JR. Seriously.
But, be careful of the unintended consequences...
Some people at your organization play important roles that are best done when they go unnoticed.
Just like the guy who makes sure my plane doesn't crash (I'd rather him be invisible and thereby unremarkable), there are key people who need to focus -- on doing things right.
Obviously, putting out a paper or website does not put lives at risk...
But, I've been at papers before where the fundamentals (and the "overlooked" jobs) are simply ignored. The result: people who toil doing the jobs that hold everything together while those who are able to be "remarkable" (usually through double-speak and simply shirking basic responsibilites) are able to flit about and be, well, "remarkable" (or at least project that as their perception..)
I think goals are important, but being perceived as "remarkable" can sometimes gloss over the reality of being very competent...
Posted on January 10, 2007 9:05 PM