Who is the best competitive swimmer in the world right now? Michael Phelps. You knew the answer, I’m sure. You might not even follow the Olympics, or any sport, but you still know who Michael Phelps is. We remember him and his record-breaking eight gold medals (and maybe we remember him for another, slightly less impressive reason).
But what about the swimmers who only won one gold medal? Or a silver? Or all the swimmers who qualified for the Olympics—something most people on the planet could never do. They’re all better at swimming than the rest of us, but we don’t know who they are. If the goal is to be remembered, to get noticed, to gain the world’s attention, better is not better. Different is better.
The other day in my Break to Fix post, we talked about doing that ONE thing that you shouldn’t do in order to get noticed. What if one of the Olympic swimmers did a cannonball into the pool instead of diving? He’d probably lose, but he would get noticed. And we’d remember him, too—likely forever, as he would be immortalized in every “memorable moments in Olympic history” video montage until the end of time.
All these incredible swimmers practice day after day, year after year, trying to get better. Countless hours are spent simply perfecting the dive into the pool or trying to shave just 0.01 seconds. Yet with no practice at all, any swimmer could get into the annals of swimming history by cannonballing into the pool, or better yet, doing the classic third grade can-opener jump.
There are millions of ways to be different. It’s really not that difficult to come up with ideas that are as easy to do as a cannonball. The key is to make sure whatever you do is authentic to you, and that you back it up with the goods. I suspect you’re up to that challenge, since you’ve been trying to be better anyway.
I would be pissed big time if I was that preacher.
Big laugh and likely my biggest all day. Thanks! And the message isn’t lost on me either.
:>)
Interesting approach. Better to different. Sometimes it is better to be different – but sometimes it is better just to be better. Being remembered is not always the way to more business. The cannon ball would not lead to a gold medal and would simply make the swimmer a curiosity. It would be unlikely to advance his career as a swimmer or land him any celebrity endorsements. On the other hand, he might quickly launch a speaking tour about “making a splash”.
I completely agree. We all need to be better. Better brings people back as repeats. The thing is better doesn’t attract attention nearly as well as different. So I believe to use different when facing the market and better on the delivery of services or products.
The kid WAS being authentic and everyone will remember it AND their laughter. Look at the preacher; he’s laughing too and gets off a nice little zinger at the end. If he like many good clergy he will create a wonderful story and weave it into his lessons for years. The kid will have a funny story to relate and the congregation will have a fun memory. All in all, releasing a few endorphins is a good thing. Reputation? In this case (not the Olympics) everyone got points – the kid for some good-natured high jinx, the preacher for a sense of humor and presence of mind, and the congregation for going with the flow and seeing the humor in life. Love the video!
I am watching it again. The first pass I did not see the preacher smile. I thought he was actually upset.
I’m glad I saw this, I’m preparing my son for baptism in a couple of months. Some how and some way, the chaplain is going to see this video:) I love it.
LOL. I just don’t suggest your son does it. Or if he does, I suggest that your chaplain wears a raincoat.
Its the same just like when usian bolt does his pose, everybody remembers that as well
Very true. He was also the best. I think the other gold medal runners where “better”…. but they are “forgotten” as compared to Bolt. Bolt was the best and different… even his name was perfect… BOLT!
“Different is better.” amen.
Agreed!
Right back at you Melody. Amen!
Exactly! The key is to be different…
Yes siree, Devesh!
Great point. Sometimes people run low on ideas, so I wrote a book called “Do Something Different” about 100 ways people have used that concept successfully–the best thing is, just as with your examples, most of the time this approach is low cost or no cost, a big advantage to the solo marketer. Sir Richard Branson wrote the introduction and, in my opinion, is a great role model for doing something different.
Here is the link to Jurgen’s book:
Do Something Different
Good post. I led a mastermind table at a conference in January and I had a butterfly headband, that had wings coming out. I also gifted everyone at my table with their own set of wings. Needless to say we stood out in the room, had other people jealous because we had the “fun” table, and I had people coming up to me because of the headband. No lie, I went to the afterparty at the bar and that is what drew people to me. I did great business that day. But it is important to point out that you don’t want to be too gimmicky either. As for the video: We laugh in church all of the time. You’d swear my pastor was a christian comedian. And you know what, he is memorable because he is different. .
I totally believe it. It sounds crazy that a little butterfly headband would get attention like that, but it surely does. No one pays attention to the normal, regular stuff. We notice the different.
Not surprised it drew people to you both during and after the event. And I am not surprised of the jealousy. Different is loved by some and loathed by others. The common goes unnoticed.
Great stuff Mike!
Thank you fine doctor.
Mike, how do you determine if the thing you do to be viewed as different is the right thing? How do you do this authentically? Can you say more about that?
Hey Flint – In regards to authenticity, as you know, that is a MUST. To be authentic you must listen to your inner guidance (a.k.a. your gut). I also like to call it Immutable Laws and while I explain it in detail in The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur it is basically your core, most important values.
Then when you do what you do, be consistent with your values AND constantly seek ways of doing it differently. That is not a conflict, by the way. You can be different and be 100% in alignment with yourself.
Just as an example, when I wrote TPE, it was/is considered different. Few business books are written with that style (most are academic). So, the style can be considered different. At the same time, it is 100% who I am – consistent with my core values.
The final thought is this. Being different is easy and hard. It is easy, because it is simple to identify what different is (the opposite of what everyone else is doing). But it is also hard since you will stand out – people (haters) will attack you. You need to stick with your guns. If you do… you will win.
– Mike
I think that was so funny. I know he won’t get a gold medal for that but he sure made it for his big chance to win the $10,000 on America funniest videos. Being different is the new cool.
That is true. Very true.
Only two people are remembered the first and the last. everyone else is just mediocre
Correct-a-mundo.
A guy cannon-balled at my baptism and of the 25 people who were baptized along with me, HE is the only one I remember. He ruined the mood, was highly criticized and his parents were beyond anger, but yeah—he WAS remembered!
Yes… criticism is the cost for remarkable. Now, I am not saying that I would be thrilled with the behavior. If he was my son, I would freak. Really freak. But here is the reason… he is forcing others to have an experience, without them having a choice to “opt-out”.
I actually think it is good to offend others, since it is a sure sign you are being real. But those who are offended need to be given the “right” to choose to experience it or not. After all, they have the right to choose if they are offended or not.