From Start-Up to Grown-Up

#74: Seth Godin, Author and Marketing Strategist — showing up for yourself, creating conditions for your best work, and how to deal with massive rejection (Repost)

Aug 27, 2024

Seth Godin, an influential entrepreneur and best-selling author, discusses his journey from career challenges to significant life awakenings. He reflects on how a near-death experience reshaped his views on creativity and relationships. The conversation delves into seeking personal significance over conventional success, emphasizing empathy and authenticity in leadership. Seth also shares insights on embracing creativity, facing rejection, and the importance of feedback in fostering a supportive work culture.

48:57

Episode guests

Seth Godin

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Quick takeaways

Seth Godin emphasizes the importance of creating meaningful work environments where individuals feel respected and valued, fostering collaboration and growth.

He reflects on personal experiences, highlighting that life's urgency urges individuals to contribute significantly rather than seeking external validation.

Deep dives

The Journey of Becoming Seth Godin

Seth Godin reflects on the origins of his identity and career, emphasizing that he has always been 'Seth Godin.' His upbringing, highlighted by generous and community-oriented parents, taught him essential values that shaped his professional journey. Throughout his career, he has faced numerous rejections and challenges, ultimately learning that not everyone will recognize or appreciate his work. By releasing the need for external validation, he finds it easier to focus on creating meaningful contributions rather than seeking acknowledgement from others.

Intro

2min

Journey to Authenticity and Empathy

4min

Life's Urgency: A Near-Death Awakening

3min

Seeking Significance Beyond Success

15min

Embracing Creativity and Overcoming Rejection

3min

The Journey of a Stain Removal Book: Challenges and Creative Solutions

2min

Feedback as Growth: Crafting a Supportive Culture

18min

Embracing Failure and Defining Purpose in Entrepreneurship

2min

Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!).

By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world.

In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both.

Imagine a world where people work where they are respected, where the work - not the employee - is thoughtfully criticized, and where managers create the conditions for employees to do the best work of their lives.

Seth Godin does a deep dive on all of these and so much more in our conversation, sharing concepts from his brand new book The Song of Significance that reimagines what work and leadership can be.

Find out more about Seth | Website

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