The Visual8

“In essence, when we say something is “important,” we are indicating that it demands our attention and consideration due to its impact or worth”
–Google Gemini 2.5 (June 29, 2025)

Google Gemini defines “importance” with five features: significance; value; priority; consequence; and necessity.

Significance is a measure derived from subjectivity.

Value suggests that we care about it.

Priority infers that someone prefers that one thing happens ahead of another.

Consequence implies we know about the effect of one thing or another.

Necessity is the ultimate consequence.

Please note the role of PERCEPTION in each of these claims.

In other words, it’s hard to remove ourselves from “importance.” Someone has to think it or feel it.

For example, when a black hole eats a solar system, is it important? What about the ones we don’t know about. Or is it just another day in the journal of the universe?

Raised for importance.

Elders told us to pay attention to what’s important. “This is important, it will be on the test.”

They were signalling that certain events or information would have far greater significance on our lives. And that by keeping these things in mind, we would sidestep misfortune. Or better still, step into fortune.

As we got older, the shift went from things to people. It wasn’t what we know, it was who we know.

Someone who could influence an outcome for our benefit.

Look at those considered important in our culture.

Socially, people who accrue financial capital or political influence are important. Their decisions change what is feasible or immediate for the rest of us.

This person can open a door and get you a better job. More salary offers new choices.

Or this other person can lend you money for a car. Transportation affords more freedom.

Academics, government officials, captains of industry, movie stars, and athletes are also important. Choices they make reveal new insights, establish policies, create wealth, or become the icons of success.

We give them our ATTENTION because of the felt impact of our lives.

However Important Ones are not always larger-than-life.

What happens if we cannot shift the course of history like a billionaire or senior government official? Can we be as important?

Yes. It’s called being a parent. Or a coach. Or a teacher. Or any number of roles which uplift others. You are important to those you benefit.

Importance is a function of what we perceive and what we value.

Joey Chestnut has categorically eaten more hot dogs faster than any other in recorded history. Is Joey important? To those who care about such novelty, yes. To a majority, they may not be so certain.

We seek becoming important.

Seth Godin’s book, The Song of Significance: a New Manifesto for Teams (2023) does a beautiful job to capture this desire. We want to work on work that is meaningful.

Daniel Pink wrote about this in his book, Drive: the Surprising Truth about What Motivates (2011). Pink explains one of the four job satisfiers is “alignment of purpose.” We want our purpose to match that of the institution where we work.

Both point towards intrinsic needs of belonging and connection. But they may also indicate a fundamental motivation to be USEFUL.

To “pull your own weight” at a minimum. To make a lasting difference more likely.

The artist whose work is still be discussed long after they die.

The fragility of importance.

It is a power move to focus on the needs of others. And in doing so we become important to them.

This creates an identify of importance that we carry around to many places. Sometimes over-carry it.

Remember your indignation at the DMV. Fours hours into the heat of the day and you still haven’t seen the clerk. You may think its about an inefficient process, but you may really be feeling something different.

Your interior voice screams “I am more than a number. I demand some level of respect!”

You may not ask “don’t they know who I AM? !”because you realize that they don’t. But secretly, you wished they did.

Having a meltdown, even a silent one, only gives your importance away.

When is the time to be unimportant?

Billy Joel waved to tens of thousands of fans at Madison Square Garden for years. After each performance, he would get in a car and “just be another schmuck on the freeway.”

He went from the most important person in a Manhattan stadium to an unimportant one on the Long Island Expressway.

It’s not surprising for celebrities to hide behind sunglasses at the grocery store. No one deserves to know about what they put into their basket.

So when is your moment to vanish?

To disappear into the wallpaper. To put aside the trophies. To intentionally become unimportant.

It is responsible to develop the ego as a young adult. To explore what you are truly capable of. To build the resume.

It is mature to shift out of this hedonic mode to focus on others. To enable others to explore what are truly capable of. To build the eulogy.

Give it to get it.

If you desire to be honored for the sacrifice, the commitment, the accomplishment, then find it in someone else.

Thank the IRS clerk for her service in the way that we recognize the service of the military.

Compliment the cheerful laugh of the notary who officiated the document signing.

Recognize the administrative assistant for his effort to push through uncertainty.

What will it cost you to shift your attention to THEIR significance. To THEIR value and effect on the outcome?

If you desire to be important. Make everyone else feel important.