Famous For What

We live in interesting times. Centuries after Gutenberg, we now have a toolkit that allows anyone with Internet connectivity to produce content for the masses. There are no barriers, and on balance, this is a very good thing. With a bit of effort and some hustle, you can get attention, and attention is important if you have something of value to offer.

The same tools that enable the communication of value also allow for the communication of things that lack value, things that instead only titillate. These tools are as powerful for the attention-seeker as they are for someone with a valuable contribution to make. And therein lies the difference: the value creator contributes something of value while the attention-seeker contributes something only designed to draw attention to themselves.

There is a difference between what Seth Godin does and what Kim Kardashian does. Only one of them is going to be remembered for what they have contributed. Seth is only famous because of his great contribution. Kardashian is famous only for her ability to do anything necessary to draw attention to herself.

For the creator, the question here is about your legacy. What do you want to be known for? What do you want your contribution to be? When people look back on the body of work you have created, how do you want them to be moved?