If you’ve started (or are about to start) your founder journey, here’s what I want you to know: you’re in a race. A race against competitors, a race against complacency, and most of all, a race against average. Because in the digital world of 2025, half-measures simply won’t cut it. You can’t just do what you did yesterday, but better. That’s safe, and safe means forgettable.
I’ve faced this myself, with Nomad Foundr and beyond: working late nights, rebooting strategy, asking “how can I stand out?” If you’re wondering the same, you’re not alone, and that’s the good news. Because once you accept the urgency, you’re in the zone where real growth happens.
So here’s the deal: this article is your blueprint for being remarkable. Not just in your eyes, but in the eyes of your audience. Not just doing something loud, but doing something valuable enough that others will remark about it. If you’re ready to cross that threshold, keep reading.
What “remarkable” really means
Let’s align on what we’re talking about. “Remarkable” doesn’t mean “attention-seeking stunt.” It means “so truly worth remarking about.”
- According to vocabulary.com, something remarkable is “unusual, exceptional… worthy of notice.”
- In business terms, one article on “remarkable businesses” says they “strive to delight customers by exceeding expectations.”
- In the world of marketing, Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable (by Seth Godin) hammered it home: the only sure way to fail is to be boring.
In short: being remarkable means you’re not just present, you’re distinct. You’re not just visible, you’re memorable for the right reasons.
Why most founders don’t hit remarkability
Before I walk you through how to become remarkable, a quick reality check: many founders stall in the “good” category and never break out. Here’s why:
- They treat growth like incremental improvement. Doing “yesterday + 5%” is safe, but safe doesn’t move the needle.
- They aim to please everyone. Instead of serving a focused set of customers, they scatter. But when you try to appeal to all, you resonate with none.
- They confuse being noticed with being useful. Flashy wins attention, but value wins trust and longevity.
- They rest after one win. Being remarkable once is good. Remaining remarkable is the hard part.
- They play by the manual. If your product or messaging can be plagiarised or found in a “Dummies” book, you’re already in the “average lane.”
Sound familiar? If so, good, it means you’re seeing what most people don’t and that gives you a chance.
My “Remarkability Framework” for Founders
Here’s a simple, actionable framework I use with my clients at Nomad Foundr. If you apply these steps, you’ll shift from “just another founder” into “founder people talk about.”
Step 1: Acknowledge urgent change
- Recognise: “What worked yesterday will not work tomorrow.”
- Commit: Set a concrete decision point. (E.g., “This week I’ll reimagine our value proposition.”)
- Realise: Half-measures = average. Your action must be radical enough to matter.
Step 2: Define your “audience remark”
Ask: “Am I going to make someone say something about this?”
If not, then you’re probably staying in the safe zone.
Find the one thing that makes someone pick up the phone or type into chat: “Hey, you should check this out.”
Step 3: Pick an edge and own it
Remarkable lives on the edge: the fastest, the deepest, the simplest, the hardest.
- You might be “the easiest way for first-time founders to get their first $10K MRR.”
- You might be “the most under-resourced founder accelerator for non-tech domains.” Edge means you don’t try to be everything. You try to dominate something. Research backs this: brands that clearly articulate unique differentiators are more likely to stand out.
Step 4: Accept (and ignore) the skeptics
Most people won’t get what you’re building. Many will dismiss your focus or say “why not just do X like them?” Good. That means you’re doing something real. Those who matter will speak up, share, buy, subscribe.
Step 5: Iterate relentlessly
Remember: Being remarkable once isn’t enough. Trends shift, attention moves. If you rest on your laurels, someone more ruthless will pass you. Go back to Step 2 every 6-12 months. Refresh. Reinvent.
Real-World Illustrations
Example A: Airbnb (friends-to-founders story)
When Airbnb launched, they didn’t just rent rooms, they made the experience of “living like a local in a stranger’s home” remarkable. They weren’t just another hotel-alternative, they set a whole new edge. Over time they iterated (experiences, luxury tiers) and stayed remarkable.
Example B: Nomad Foundr (my own)
When I launched Nomad Foundr, I accepted that the “online course market” is crowded. So I focused on first-time founders and structured around “$0?$100K ARR” and “$100K?$5M ARR” journeys. That edge: founder-grounded, practical, no fluff. I didn’t aim to serve all; I aimed to serve those who will apply, scale and tell others.
Example C: Niche SaaS brand
A micro-SaaS might choose “fastest setup under 10 minutes for content creators” as its edge. Instead of competing with general tool XYZ, they go narrow and go deep. That’s what pushes from good to notable.
The “NRG” Toolkit: Use This Tonight
Before you sleep tomorrow, spend 30 minutes and run through this questionnaire. It’s simple but effective.
- N: New urgency
- What would happen if we did nothing this quarter?
- What one thing must change to avoid that outcome?
- R: Remark line
- What exactly would someone say after using our product/offering once?
- Write that line down (e.g., “I didn’t think a founder course could be this direct.”)
- G: Growth-edge statement
- Where are we operating? (Generalist or edge?)
- What is our edge sentence (“We are the ___ for ___”).
- How do we deliberately stick out? (Speed? Complexity? Rarity? Price? Simplicity?)
Do this weekly for the next month and you’ll start seeing gaps between what you say and what you deliver. That’s where your remarkability lives.
Key Takeaways
- Being remarkable is not about being flashy, it’s about being unignorable for the right audience.
- Average is the enemy for founders. You need urgent change, clarity of edge, and readiness to iterate.
- You’ll not please everyone, and that’s ok. Focus on those who will spread the word.
- Build your remarkability, repeat it, protect it.
- Use the “NRG Toolkit” tonight to sprint your shift toward standing out.
Conclusion
If you’re in the founder trenches right now, wondering whether what you’re doing will matter, this is your wake-up call. You may feel the weight of the market, the noise, the infinite options. Good. That means opportunity. Because most founders will sit down in the boat and float. But you? You’re going to row. And you’re going to steer toward the edge.
Here’s your CTA: pick one thing this week that moves you from safe to bold. Publish it. Ask real feedback. See what people say. Then do it again.
Because at Nomad Foundr, we believe first-time founders shouldn’t just start, they should stand out. And existing businesses shouldn’t just grow, they should become category leaders. If you’re ready to build remarkable, you’re in the right place.
Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I & Nomad Foundr can help you:
1. Join The Newbie Founder Newsletter: A weekly 5-minute read to help you break through mental blocks, blind spots, and skill gaps. Plus every month you’ll also get a new hands-on email mini-course to grow your business and audience, delivered straight to your inbox.
2. The Nomad Foundr Resources Vault: Access thousands of curated tools, templates, blueprints, mini-courses, and services designed to save you months of trial and error. Get the All-Access Pass to unlock the entire vault to accelerate your journey.
3. Join the First-Time Founders Program: Our 90-day flagship course with 3,000+ founders. Get the frameworks, skills, and hands-on guidance to turn your knowledge into a real business. Step by step, you’ll ideate, validate, build, launch, and land your first 1,000 customers. By the end, you’ll have launched your business and started growing your audience.
