"Do you know what people want more than anything? They want to be missed. They want to be missed the day they don't show up. They want to be missed when they're gone"
About this Quote
People do not merely want attention; they want evidence that their presence matters. To be missed is proof of contribution, of having created a change in the room, the team, the community. It points past applause toward significance. Seth Godin often argues that the real work is about service and connection, and the idea of being missed fits his broader call to become indispensable: to show up so consistently and generously that your absence is palpable.
The emphasis on the day you do not show up speaks to rhythm and reliability. Trust is built in cadence. When you keep your promises and bring your best repeatedly, you become part of the fabric others rely on. That is different from being popular. Popularity can be replaced; usefulness, empathy, and leadership are harder to substitute. Being missed when you are gone extends the idea to legacy. It is the human wish to have left a dent, to have invested in people and projects that continue to bear your fingerprints.
From a marketing lens, it is a litmus test: if your product or service disappeared tomorrow, who would care? The answer reveals whether you serve a tribe or just occupy shelf space. Brands that are missed do not lean on lock-in; they earn preference through meaning, identity, and consistent delivery. The same is true for creative work. Make something so specific, so generous, that it would be a loss not to have it.
There is also a quiet challenge embedded here: do the emotional labor that helps others feel seen, so they, too, are missed. Notice the teammate who shows up early. Thank the contributor whose work you depend on. Being missed is reciprocal; we cultivate it by missing others out loud. Beyond metrics and vanity, the deepest motivation is to matter. Showing up with care, over time, is how that happens.
The emphasis on the day you do not show up speaks to rhythm and reliability. Trust is built in cadence. When you keep your promises and bring your best repeatedly, you become part of the fabric others rely on. That is different from being popular. Popularity can be replaced; usefulness, empathy, and leadership are harder to substitute. Being missed when you are gone extends the idea to legacy. It is the human wish to have left a dent, to have invested in people and projects that continue to bear your fingerprints.
From a marketing lens, it is a litmus test: if your product or service disappeared tomorrow, who would care? The answer reveals whether you serve a tribe or just occupy shelf space. Brands that are missed do not lean on lock-in; they earn preference through meaning, identity, and consistent delivery. The same is true for creative work. Make something so specific, so generous, that it would be a loss not to have it.
There is also a quiet challenge embedded here: do the emotional labor that helps others feel seen, so they, too, are missed. Notice the teammate who shows up early. Thank the contributor whose work you depend on. Being missed is reciprocal; we cultivate it by missing others out loud. Beyond metrics and vanity, the deepest motivation is to matter. Showing up with care, over time, is how that happens.
Quote Details
| Topic | Friendship |
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