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re·mark·a·ble
/rɪˈmɑr
kəbəl/ 
Show Spelled[ri-mahr-kuh-buhl] Show IPA
–adjective
2. worthy of notice or attentio
That is what Dictionary.com says about remarkable. To me it means something that stands out; something with a unique quality that differentiates it from other things; peerless; without compare. In other words, pretty special.
Popular usage is wrong
In popular speech, we associate remarkable with being better: better than good, very good. It lies on the extreme range of similar products. According the Seth Godin, that is flat out wrong. He says that remarkable is the opposite of very good.
Not incrementalism
So if you think that achieving the status of remarkable will happen by being incrementally better than other similar products, you are doomed to disappointment. You will move from good to very good to very,very good but you won’t ever make it to remarkable.
The less-traveled road
So if you want to be remarkable – perhaps even a Purple Cow – don’t think about improving what you do or have now. Don’t make the good, better or even the mediocre, good. Find that less traveled road that goes in the opposite direction. Be outrageous.
Hi Ralph,
The trouble is with being purple it only lasts for a short time, until others copy what you do.
I agree. You have to be more than purple. Outrageous is Great!!!
.-= Matthew Needham´s last blog ..The Aweber Code – and why you need to promote it =-.
Awesome Ralph. I finished reading this with a huge grin on my face 😀
To be honest, when I read the headline in comment luv, my first thought was ‘hell yeah!’ and I rushed straight over here because I love posts about being different, special, unusual, outside of the box. All of these sorts of posts help me feel vindicated in believing that the Give A Brick concept can work.
I don’t know if I said this elsewhere before so apologies if you’ve heard this story before but a short time before Christmas, there was a documentory on the TV here in the UK about Christian pop star Cliff Richard. he’s got loads of cash and my mum suggested we write to him and ask him for some money for Give A Brick. I corrected her and said no, we ask him to give ‘a’ brick (just 1) because that’s our ‘thing’.
She was a bit put out to think that Cliff Richard might send a single £1 and that really he could afford to be more generous than that. I argued that the only way Cliff Richard (or anyone else for that matter who has no immediate connection with the charity) was going to be persuaded to donate was with outside of the box thinking.
And that’s how today I feel vindicated. She still hasn’t yet written to Cliff Richard though 😉
Eleanor
.-= Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..Life lessons from the car wash =-.
Matthew,
I’m still figuring out Purple Cows but I think if you find one it lasts long enough to make some real money because then you milk it.
Eleanor,
Correct me if I’m wrong but you don’t mind if people give two bricks instead of one, right? Or maybe even 1,000 bricks. You make it accessible. They can make it outrageous.
Hi Ralph,
I really enjoyed reading this post. I’m still searching for my less-traveled road, struggling to be outrageous.
Do you have any suggestions for me,please?
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Change Your Thinking Change Your Life =-.
Jazz Salinger,
What do you dream about? What goal are you afraid to tell your friends about because you would feel silly? What are sure you can’t do? These are the places to look. I’ve got the same problem but it is easier to advise than to do. Go do it and make me feel bad.
It means to be pretty special to me, too, Ralph.
I think that we all have qualities that are considered remarkable. How can they not, since there is no one on the planet who is exactly like me or like you?
We are already remarkable just by existing!
Thanks for sharing and being remarkably you 🙂
Karen
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Invest In Your Most Important Asset – Yourself =-.
Karen,
That is exactly the point. Most of us try to be like everybody else.
I think we are all remarkable, everyone is unique in there own way and that is what makes everyone in my eyes special
We are indeed although most people don’t want to be remarkable in any way.
It appears to me as though Seth Godin needs to read a dictionary. The opposite of very good? Where did he get that?
.-= Ray´s last blog ..How To #3 – Crafting A New Post =-.
I agree with Winnie. Everyone is remarkable in one way or another. I think we are the most remarkable when we are not trying to be remarkable at all.
Btw. everyone is mentioning Purple Cow 😛 I gotta read that book 😉
Julius,
I won’t argue with Winnie either but yes you should read the book
Ray,
Read the book.
Ralph,
You’re right of course. Folks can give more than one brick if they so desire 😉 But we like to go with ‘a’ brick because everyone giving just one is much more valuable in the long run than one or two flash individuals giving 1000. That said, if you know any flash Harry’s who’d like to give the side of a wall, feel free to send them in our direction 😉
.-= Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..Life Without Limbs? Life Without Limits! =-.