Become known well

Instead of well known

To be well known, or to be known well, that is the question.

It’s more than just quibbling over semantics. It’s worth pondering.

Is it just me or have you also noticed society’s windowless van pulling up to offer you a piece of ever-so-tempting candy they call fame?

Advise that creep to keep their candy and get lost. It’s a trap. There is a better way.

Society has perfected its persuasive pitch to convince you to strive towards becoming well known (AKA famous). Just take a look at who they glorify. Actors, athletes, musicians and the occasional eccentric entrepreneur. But they are glorified for all the wrong reasons like their gigantic ego and massive net worth. Yet, I would argue that these are the last people you want to snap a selfie with.

There was an infectious operating system programmed into your mind the day you were born. I’ve got the Norton antivirus to combat it.

Let me explain.

You and I have been brainwashed to believe that once you are well known then you will have all the fame, money and power which means you’ll have made it, right?

Not so fast my friend.

Just because Cristiano Ronaldo is recognizable to billions, doesn’t mean they care about him. They care about his persona enough to try to get a selfie so they can boost their own status a bit. But what if he lost it all? How many of his “loyal” followers would be there by his side? Not many. Possibly none.

Being well known is not all its cracked up to be.

The antivirus

So what is this becoming known well business all about?

To become known well means it is preferable to have an intimate group of individuals who truly care about who you are, what you do, and where you’re going. And more importantly, want to help you on your journey. Becoming known well is the antithesis to becoming well known.

In other words, to be known well is to have an engaged audience of like-minded folks who are your super supporters. Like the die-hard fans who traveled to Qatar to be cheering on their teams in the 2022 World Cup. They are irrationally supportive of you and your work. They are your real fans. This was first mentioned back in 2008 by Kevin Kelly in his now world famous essay 1000 True Fans.

To be well known is to have a passive group of dissimilar folks who follow you simply because you are famous. Like the fair weather fans who only show up to support the team when they are doing well. Not to point any fingers…..Atlanta Hawks fans. (I have the right to call them out because I used to work for the team and because I’m one of the dozen or so die-hard fans who has been following them since childhood. I remember the 13 win season back in 2004).

So what?

Is it easy to become known well? Hell no.

You have to build a rock solid reputation by showing up day after day and providing massive value to others without expecting anything in return. Do this for long enough and you will start to become known well. The get-famous-quick-schemers need not apply.

The beauty in the difficulty of becoming known well is that it naturally filters out those who aren’t committed and therefore don’t deserve it. The common thread among the best of the known well fraternity is the commitment to being useful to others for a freaking long time. A few examples that come to my mind are: Tim Ferriss, Derek Sivers, and Seth Godin. The funny thing is that they have amassed a huge following of die-hard fans which makes them known well and well known simultaneously.

But I would still argue that the well known life is not worth living while the known well life is worth living. What say you?

To be well known, or to be known well, that is the question.

(Shoutout to Shaan Puri from the My First Million pod for first implanting this idea into my mind.)

---

Thank you to Elizabeth E., Daniela B. and Chris C. for the editing.