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I just commented on Derek Sivers’ recent entry, a quick questionnaire to the marketer-extraodinaire Seth Godin.

I won’t repeat what’s been said there, but it got me thinking about the term Remarkable that Seth Godin coins.  I can’t remember which book that was — I’m not a fanatic follower of Godin, just followed his blog for a while and skimmed through one or two books.

First of all, my understanding of Remarkable is that when people learn of you or your offerings, they get so excited that they can’t stop talking about it with everyone they know.

I do believe it was Godin who said something like “if your product isn’t Remarkable, then don’t spend any more money on marketing.”  Go back to woodshedding — come back when you have something Remarkable.

This, my friends, is definitely my quest.  I hate to sound inmodest, but I always believed that I have something, something rather uncommon.  And by that,  I don’t necessarily mean musical talent, though it’s definitely a part of the picture.  I’m a passionate person at heart and there’s a tremendous energy in how passionately I love some things.  For example, after 20  years, I’m more madly in love with my electric guitar, than ever.  It just keeps surprising me — for such a long, long time, I feel like I’ve been suppressing my love of playing the guitar.  Why?  There are many reasons, but one of them is that there are so many guitar players — and so many of them Great and Remarkable — that I can’t believe that a wee little me can possibly have anything else to offer.  I realize that I am perfectly allowed to play it just because I want to, I also don’t think it’s a sin to want what you love so passionately to be something more than just your little fetish/indulgence.  When we love something, we naturally want to share it.

Anyway, I think what makes one Remarkable is often not a singular trait (though some are) but a unique combination/conglomeration of diverse (and seemingly incompatible) assets.   Sivers often talks about a singer/songwriter who is a sailer and writes songs about sailing, for example.  It’s Remarkable music to sailers.  My guess is that that artist never set out going “I bet it’ll be a big hit if I make music about sailing.”  The artist made music that was a natural and honest expression of who s/he is and what s/he loves — and success is a sweet bonus.

Hmm, as I think about it, I don’t think I’m going to hit upon my Remarkability by thinking and consciously looking for that sweet spot where things come together.  That’s not the way to go about it.  I just said it above — I need to seek out Natural and Honest Expression of Who I Am and What I Love.  I hate clichés but “follow your bliss” probably applies here.

By doing so, somewhere down the line, I will hit upon something, a spot — whether it’s a music or a concept or business idea — that will strike a chord.  People’s eyes will light up when they hear about it.  It will be clear and free of confusion.

Then — I will have arrived. I can’t wait.

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