You Can Be Good or Remarkable. Not Both
Apr-May 2020 Favorite Reads
Picked up several business books this month, not because I’m interested in business (not yet, dear). But because I got curious about creative mind. How people think and act to get the “AHA” or “EUREKA” or anything like that. Also, how one business can be more interesting or memorable compared to other with similar product.
This started with several articles and interviews of Indonesians’ start-up leaders, internet influencers, and some entrepreneurs. In the past I used to think they started what they did because they just know what they want. But it turns out I am wrong. They did not know it at first. They did not know what they want to be, they just discovered it.
Each of them got through various journeys. But if we pulled a string, we can find the similarity: they choose to be different thus it makes them remarkable. How? Let’s check how it become like that through 2 books below:
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable — Seth Godin
12 years of school (based on Indonesian standard) we were told to follow the rules. For example, if we were given homework, then finished it, or study obligation before exams, no cheating, wore your uniform neatly, etc. But when a student act differently, then he/she will be punished. Even Pandji Pragiwaksono in one of his stand-up comedy mentioned “if there is one thing that works from our education, is to make us obey the rules.” or we can just say, “to be very good”.
But Godin in this book mentioned, “Very good is an everyday occurrence and hardly worth mentioning.” By being very good, we are hardly being recognized in the crowd. Because very good is average. This also the same with our works. If we just do things the same like others, then we are very good yet well-hidden. There are millions other people who are very good (or even better) like us to.
On the other hands, the students who acted differently to school rules got noticed by everyone, some even got remembered. But as they were given punishment, then it shaped in our mind, being different is bad, thus makes us scared to act differently. In fact, the opposite of very good is not very bad, but:
“The opposite of Remarkable is very good“— Seth Godin
Because that student being different, he/she is not being very good. But remarkable. They are remembered by others because they stand out. It is the same with our works (whatever your industries are) if we wanted to be noticeable, then be brave to do it outside the rulebooks.
As this book is talking about making a remarkable business, it offers various tips and trick to do that. So, if you are looking for a way to improve your business, or just looking for creative inspiration (like me) please do read this book. No need to worry over the complicated concept, it is an easy-to-read one 😉
Elon Musk: How the Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping our Future — Ashlee Vance
One of my friend draw inspiration a lot of Elon Musk, especially in aspect of grit. So, he often talked about Musk and this book. Thanks to him, I got curious and picked up this book. One word to say about Elon Musk (purely based on this book) is INSANE!
“I’d rather play video games, write software, and read books than try and get an A if there’s no point in getting an A. “— Ashlee Vance
He is the exact opposite of “very good” that was mentioned before. The one who acted totally outside the rulebooks. Maybe even the rulebooks never existed for him.
Although Musk is famously described as a great example of persistence, hard-worker, but what drawn me to this book is how he is willing to risk everything. How he puts his entire fortune on the line for what he believes in. He ignored how an electric car should be, or how a rocket industry should be. He believes in his vision instead of the “what it should be”. He is definitely an example of not a “very good” but the “remarkable” one.
“If you told him that you made a particular choice because ‘it was the standard way things had always been done,’ he’d kick you out of a meeting fast. “— Ashlee Vance
Lots of trials and errors, ups and downs of Musk’s life stories are described in this book. If you are looking for persistence, inspiration, this book is a must read. Or if you are a fan of Iron man (Marvel) like me, you also must read this one. After all Robert Downey Jr. got inspiration for Tony Stark’s character from Elon Musk. Hehehe..
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