The Group of 33

Seth Godin decided to do something remarkable.

He thought, "Why not publish a book written by 33 people that doesn't make a dime of profit?"

Why not?

The result is The Big Moo, an anthology of 72 short, pithy essays covering everything from a list comparing big companies vs. startups, to a lesson on leadership learned in a redwood forest, to what a Colorado roofer did right, to what a local print shop did wrong.

The chapters bounce around all those topics and more, but all relate to the core show more idea of being remarkable. Godin defines remarkable, in business or personal life, as doing something not good, and not perfect, but that stands out, that causes people to start talking, "remarking" about it. In other words, not only do you have to stand out (as he wrote about in a previous book The Purple Cow), but you have to do something really out of the ordinary, remarkable, a.k.a. "The Big Moo." He says that the real challenge before us is to do something truly remarkable with our work and our lives. The Big Moo doesn't pretend to be a step by step guide to guaranteed remarkability, but instead is a freewheeling brainstorming session to whet your appetite and spark your creativity toward creating your own remarkable life.

The book itself is the prime example of doing the remarkable. The editor, Seth Godin, approached 32 people, some famous like Tom Peters and Guy Kawasaki, and others famous only to the people they have impacted. He asked them to contribute material to the book for free, with the agreement that all the book's profits go to charity. On top of that, all the material is anonymous, so that you're not sure who wrote which chapter. Remarkable.

How I received the book is an example of the ripple effect of remarkability that Godin is aiming for. My copy came from Glen Tullman, the CEO of Allscripts. When his company read the book, they asked the question, "What can we do remarkable?" The result of asking that question is a new collaborative initiative that Allscripts has launched that will provide the ability for every physician in America to use electronic prescription prescribing completely FREE, which is absolutely unheard of. Now that's remarkable.

The Big Moo is a quick and fun read, sure to give you some good food for thought for your own remarkable life. show less

Essays from 33 business gurus about how to stand out and be remarkable. The contributions are short - you won't find in-depth thinking here. But the messages about the importance of thinking big, failing early, and refusing to settle are, at the least, good reminders for people who want to make an impact.

One of my favorites selections offered juggling as a metaphor for work. Beginning jugglers spend a lot of time rushing around trying to catch the balls, but experienced jugglers will tell show more you that it is the throwing that is most important. If you throw effectively, catching will be easy. Rushing around chasing balls sounds a lot like what I do at work most days. The idea that I might be able to stop that by setting some priorities and focusing on the important isn't new to me. But the juggling metaphor made it fresh.

I listened to this on audio, and it worked pretty well that way. It would also be a good book just to dip into from time to time. show less

The concept of the book is simple and is repeatedly stated. The author makes a big deal out of the fact he is not making money off of sales of the book. The book has a valuable concept but it could have been explained in a few paragraphs. The excess begins to be annoying and comes across as hype. I would not pay anything for his book, so his profit is appropriate.

Seth Godin is a marketing genius. But, you don't need me to tell U that! The book helped me. As a type-A cardiothoracic Rn going into the arts and writing my book, I had a hard time trying not to be perfect and allowing myself to just be for full expression and truth. Mr.Godin's book addressed the syndrome I was going through...seeking perfection.
http://adriennezurub.typepad.com