Be So Good They Can't Ignore You
Learning from comedian Steve Martin
During an appearance on the Charlie Rose show, legendary comedian Steve Martin said the following which has always stuck with me.
People always ask me, how do you make it in show business or whatever?
What I always tell them, I’ve said it for many years and nobody ever takes note of it. Because it’s not the answer they want to hear. What they want to hear is, here’s how you get an agent, here’s how you write a script, here’s how you do this, here’s how you do that.
But I always say, be so good they can’t ignore you. And I just think that if someone’s thinking, how can I be really good? People are going to come to you.
Be so good they can’t ignore you.
That sentence really makes you think, doesn’t it?
In a world with endless competition across all types of jobs, industries and professions, we all want to be noticed.
If you own a business you want to grow it. If you want to get promoted within a large company you want to standout. If you work in service or hospitality you want your customers to have a great experience.
But are you being so good that you can’t be ignored?
What makes you, your product or service so good that they can’t ignore you?
Are you giving unreasonable service? Unreasonable hospitatility? Unreasonable experiences? Do you do something that your competitors can’t match? Do you go above and beyond. Are you leaving that type of an impression?
If not, what is it that you’re actually doing? What’s the point? Do you strive to be average? To be like everyone else? Is your goal just to fit and be like the rest?
What are you’re doing that is unreasonable and unmatched?
If there isn’t anything, find or develop something. Find the competitive advantage. Do things that nobody else is. Build rare or valuable skills. Deliver a service or hospitality experience like none other. Be in a class of your own.
Whatever you’re building. Whoever you’re working for. Whatever you’re starting or want to start. Whatever you do or want to do.
Be so good they can’t ignore you.
The Coffee Table ☕
I recently watched the movie BlackBerry. It was the phone before the iPhone. Did you have one? When I started in business I had a BlackBerry for a number of years. They were the must have. I remember the day I got an iPhone to replace my last BlackBerry. This movie told that story very well. It had great acting while telling a great story. One of the best business movies I have seen. Very well done.
A record 63% of US workers are satisfied with their jobs. That’s the highest level ever for this survey which goes back to 1987. Take a look at the spike upward after the pandemic.
Source: Charlie Bilello
Were you aware that big technology companies had been acquiring this many companies? I had no idea. This is such a cool chart.
Source: Chartr
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed Spilled Coffee, please subscribe.
Spilled Coffee grows through word of mouth. Please consider sharing this post with someone who might appreciate it.
Order my book, Two-Way Street below.
