#088: Seth Godin — The Practice of Making & Shipping Work That Matters, Marketing, Creative Courage, The Resistance, Finding Purpose, Building Community
Dec 23, 2023
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Seth Godin, one of the most influential writers and thinkers, discusses finding courage in creating and sharing creative work, prioritizing process over outcome, dealing with resistance and negative emotions, building communities of practice, the impact of AI on writing, and finding purpose in one's work.
Consistent practice is essential for success in creative work, prioritizing the process over the outcome leads to meaningful results.
Building a supportive and generous community is crucial for writers to create and share meaningful work.
Identifying and serving a specific audience is key in creative work, focusing on a smallest viable audience allows for deeper connections and impact.
Deep dives
The Power of Consistent Practice and the Importance of Process Over Outcome
Seth Godin, renowned author and thinker, discusses his latest books, The Song of Significance and The Practice, highlighting the importance of consistent practice in creative work. He emphasizes prioritizing the process over the outcome and suggests that engaging in consistent practice is the best way to succeed in creative pursuits. He also delves into topics such as resistance, how creatives can measure success, and the trap of authenticity. Seth encourages writers to focus on their craft, create value for their audience, and find their smallest viable audience.
The Influence of Seth Godin's Philosophy in the London Writers' Salon Community
The hosts of the London Writers' Salon podcast express their admiration for Seth Godin and how his philosophy of serving a community and shipping work strongly influenced the foundation of their writing community. They highlight the importance of building a successful and sustainable writing career and the significance of finding the courage to create and share creative work. They emphasize the power of a supportive, generous community and the impact it has on writers' abilities to produce meaningful work.
The Journey of Becoming a Writer and Overcoming Fear and Resistance
Seth Godin shares his origin story of becoming a writer and the challenges he faced, including initially believing he didn't know how to write. He emphasizes that being an author requires having a point of view, being willing to make a change, and persistently practicing the craft. Seth also discusses the presence of resistance in creative work and how writers can overcome fear and imposter syndrome by embracing the practice of writing and focusing on process rather than perfection.
The Importance of Finding and Serving a Specific Audience
Seth Godin emphasizes the significance of identifying and serving a specific audience in creative work. He suggests that writers should aim to attract the people who believe in their work, want what they offer, or share the same dreams and fears. Seth advises writers to avoid seeking validation from everyone or appealing to a broad demographic, as true connection and impact come from understanding and serving a specific psychographic. By focusing on a smallest viable audience, writers can create work that resonates deeply with those who are most likely to benefit from it.
Navigating the Shifts and Challenges in the Writing Landscape, Including AI
Seth Godin discusses the evolution of the writing landscape in an era of AI and technological advancements. He asserts that AI can replace mediocre writers and urges writers to focus on honing their skills and producing high-quality work. Seth believes that embracing AI as a tool, such as using it for editing and feedback, can enhance the writing process. He encourages writers to embrace change, not fear it, and avoid pursuing projects that can be done more effectively by AI. By focusing on valuable and meaningful writing, writers can navigate the shifts in the industry and continue to create impactful and authentic work.
Seth Godin is one of the most influential writers and thinkers of our time. He is the author of twenty-one international bestsellers, and his work has been translated into over thirty-nine languages. In this conversation with Seth, we discuss his latest books, The Song of Significance andThe Practice, and how we might find the courage to make and share creative work. We also talk about the importance of prioritizing process over outcome, dealing with resistance, how creatives can measure success and why Seth believes that authenticity is a trap.
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ABOUT SETH GODIN
Seth Godin is the author of 19 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work and have been translated into 39 languages – among them Unleashing the Ideavirus, Permission Marketing, Purple Cow, Tribes, The Dip, Linchpin, Poke the Box, and All Marketers Are Liars. He writes the most popular marketing blog in the world and speaks to audiences worldwide. He is the founder of the altMBA, the founder and former CEO of Squidoo.com, the former VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo!, and the founder of the pioneering online startup Yoyodyne.