• Linking Park: 2007-W04, The Remarkable Minimalist Edition

    edited by Alexander Becker on January 30, 2007 | Link

    Remarkable because of what's up this week and minimalist because of the sheer number of links presented. It's more like a featured article. Think quantity vs. quality.

    It is definitely possible to bury quality in quantity but to the same extent, it is worth the effort to dig out and separate and recognize the true gems that exist within quantity. Without quantity there is no recognizable quality. The more quantity though, the higher the value of determined quality, which compares to each and every instance produced. Being better than twenty is more valuable than being better than two.

    Now, take a look at what it really takes to be remarkable --

    1. Understand the urgency of the situation. Half-measures simply won't do. The only way to grow is to abandon your strategy of doing what you did yesterday, but better. Commit.
    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.
    3. Being noticed is not the same as being remarkable. Running down the street naked will get you noticed, but it won't accomplish much. It's easy to pull off a stunt, but not useful.
    4. Extremism in the pursuit of remarkability is no sin. In fact, it's practically a requirement. People in first place, those considered the best in the world, these are the folks that get what they want. Rock stars have groupies because they're stars, not because they're good looking.
    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.

    For # 7 through 10, read the full article in the Guardian. By Seth Godin, who adds --

    The alternative sounds scary, but I don't think it is. The alternative is to just be remarkable. Go all the way to the edge. Not in a big thing, perhaps, but in a little one. Find some area where you have a tiny bit of authority and run with it. After you succeed, you'll discover you've got more leeway for next time. And if you fail? Don't worry. Your organisation secretly wants employees willing to push hard even if it means failing every so often.

    And when? When should you start being remarkable? How's this: if you don't start tomorrow, you're not really serious. Tomorrow night by midnight or don't bother. You're too talented to sit around waiting for the perfect moment. Go start.

    Seth Godin is also responsible for the book of the week: Permission Marketing.

    To your excellent life.

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