Chapter 3: Bestselling author Seth Godin on the stories you tell yourself

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Apr 30, 2018

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INSIGHT

Publishing Was Built For Bookstores

Seth Godin argues the book industry is built for bookstores, not readers, and that model is collapsing.
Once bookstores vanish, publishing will churn faster and books won't function as they used to.

INSIGHT

Long Tail Brought Choice, Not Shared Culture

The long tail opened access to obscure works but depends on a surviving short head to fund discovery.
Amazon exposed niche books but churn and fragmentation reduce shared cultural conversation.

ADVICE

Blurb With Integrity, Not Hype

Write blurbs if the author needs validation, but don't expect them to move many buyers.
Read every book you blurb and only endorse works you actually stand behind.

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I flew down to New York to uncover and discuss the most formative books of the one and only Seth Godin (@ThisIsSethsBlog) from his Hastings-On-Hudson studio.

Seth is the bestselling author of Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes and many more books and is known as one of the world's biggest thinkers in communities such as TED and the Direct Marketing Association. This year he is being inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame. And did I mention he writes one of the most popular blogs in the world?

In this interview we discuss where Seth sees publishing going and his thoughts on the changes we're seeing in how people read and spend time. Seth shares his opinions on blurbs, acknowledgments, and his unique perspective on work-life balance. He also gives insights into how we can change our own world by changing the narrative inside our heads.

And that's just a taste. I sat in Seth's studio transfixed, mesmerized, and hypnotized by one of the world's best brains.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Big thank you to the kind, generous, and indispensable ... Seth Godin.

What you'll learn:

What strange lesson did Seth learn when he gave away 3000 of his own books?
How and why does Seth think the publishing industry is a mess?
How does Amazon and the "long tail" change the game?
What counterintuitive benefit does Seth see in book blurbs?
How do we change our world by changing the story we're telling ourselves?
How do you build trust?
What is "post-religious positive business-oriented evangelism?" (And who started it?)
What framework does Seth use to decide which "lines of business" he monetizes?
Which of Seth's books did The Tipping Point inspire?
What happened to Seth on a grounded United Airlines flight which prompted one his most remarkable insights into human nature? (And what is that insight?)
How did Seth discover his ultimate mission ... and what is it?
Why does Seth think work/life balance is a lie?

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You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/3