The Tim Ferriss Show

#672: Seth Godin — The Pursuit of Meaning, The Life-Changing Power of Choosing Your Attitude, Overcoming Rejection, Life Lessons from Zig Ziglar, and Committing to Making Positive Change

May 17, 2023

Seth Godin, author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work, discusses the pursuit of meaning, the power of attitude, overcoming rejection, life lessons from Zig Ziglar, and committing to positive change. Topics also include finding meaning in life, the work of Victor Frankel, AI spam, creating meaning, bees, remote work, solitary confinement, surveillance capitalism, building community, and promoting kindness.

01:38:39

Episode guests

Seth Godin

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Finding significance in our work allows us to connect with others and make a meaningful impact.

Engaging with others and working towards a common goal can provide a sense of belonging and purpose.

Focusing on the present moment and cherishing opportunities can bring fulfillment and optimism.

Creating conditions for employees to find meaning and purpose in their work leads to greater productivity and satisfaction.

Deep dives

The power of finding meaning and significance in work

Significance is key to finding meaning and optimism in our work. When we accomplish more than we thought we could, receive respect, and engage in work that we are proud of, we experience a sense of significance. This allows us to connect with others and make a meaningful impact. Rather than focusing on profit and the race to the bottom, we should prioritize building connections, personalizing our work, and making promises to our customers and employees that we can keep.

The importance of community and finding a sense of belonging

Finding a meaningful community, whether it's a community orchestra, an online group, or a charity, can provide a sense of belonging and purpose. By engaging with others and working together towards a common goal or cause, we can find fulfillment and improve the condition of our lives and the lives of others. The key is to connect with people and create conditions for them to find something to care about and succeed at.

Embracing the reality of mortality and the value of the present

Recognizing our mortality and the limited time we have on this earth can help us find value and purpose in the present moment. Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, we should focus on what we can do today to make a positive impact, find genuine connections, and build a meaningful life. Embracing the present and cherishing the opportunities we have can bring a sense of fulfillment and optimism.

Creating a culture of significance within organizations

To foster a culture of significance within organizations, leaders should focus on creating conditions for employees to find meaning and purpose in their work. This involves recognizing their contributions, providing opportunities for growth and personal development, and encouraging them to make promises and keep them. By emphasizing the human value of the work and treating employees with respect, organizations can inspire and engage their workforce, leading to greater productivity, satisfaction, and overall success.

The Importance of Proxies in Decision-Making

In this podcast episode, the speaker highlights how proxies play a significant role in our daily decision-making process. Whether it's choosing a ketchup or deciding which restaurant to dine in, we rely on proxies, such as labels or reviews, to make judgments. However, the speaker emphasizes that relying on false proxies can lead to social stratification, prejudice, and discriminatory hiring practices. The speaker advocates for a shift towards evaluating individuals based on their actual work and eliminating false proxies. One approach suggested is to work with individuals on a short project to assess their abilities and potential for success.

Retaining High Performers and Building Resilient Organizations

The podcast delves into the challenge of employee retention and offers insights on building a resilient organization. The speaker suggests that traditional company cultures focus on retaining employees by limiting their options, which often leads to dissatisfaction and stagnation. Instead, the speaker proposes creating an environment where employees are encouraged to update their LinkedIn profiles and actively search for better opportunities. The focus shifts from seeking retention to creating conditions that inspire and engage employees to stay based on the value of the work being done. The speaker also highlights the importance of permeability in organizations, allowing for turnover and encouraging employees to seek new opportunities.

Redefining Meetings and Harnessing the Power of Conversation

The podcast explores the drawbacks of traditional meetings and offers a new approach to communication within organizations. The speaker advocates for replacing meetings with conversations and asynchronous communication. By utilizing platforms like video and written communication, teams can collaborate effectively without wasting time in unproductive meetings. The focus is on providing valuable feedback and advice rather than using meetings as a means for authority and control. The speaker shares examples of organizations, such as Shopify, that have successfully adopted a distributed and asynchronous work model. The importance of embracing page 19 thinking, where individuals contribute and improve ideas, is also emphasized.

The Power of Meaning in Viktor Frankl's Work

03:24

==Finding Significance (aka making change happen) in work==

00:46

How to Retain High Performers

02:08

The Problem of False Proxies in Decision Making and Hiring

03:05

Introduction

4min

Reflections on Aging and Accepting Limitations

8min

Finding Meaning in Life and the Work of Victor Frankel

22min

AI spam, AeroPress sponsor, Creating Meaning, Bees, and Remote Work for Family Reasons

5min

The Song of Increase: Bees, Drowning, and Significance

6min

Solitary Confinement and Surveillance Capitalism

29min

Shared Purpose and Building Community

19min

Promoting Kindness, a Newsletter, and Two Sponsors

6min

Brought to you by AeroPress 3-in-1 coffee press for delicious brews, Allbirds incredibly comfortable shoes, and Shopify global commerce platform providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business.

Seth Godin is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work. His books have been translated into 38 languages and Seth’s books include Tribes, Purple Cow, Linchpin, The Dip, and This Is Marketing. Seth writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world, and two of his TED Talks are among the most popular of all time. He is the founder of the altMBA; the social media pioneer Squidoo; and Yoyodyne, one of the first internet companies.

His new book is The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams.

Please enjoy!

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[05:42] The changes of aging.

[10:07] How Seth gets over momentary lapses of optimism.

[16:13] The Carbon Almanac.

[18:40] Addressing 21st-century nihilism.

[26:23] Finding significance and making a difference.

[35:34] The boss and the bees.

[44:47] Ethically reclaiming meaning from work in the Quaker surveillance state.

[51:50] Seth’s impression of my efforts over the years.

[56:21] Circumnavigating false proxies.

[1:02:17] Employee retention.

[1:05:54] Let’s Get Real or Let’s Not Play.

[1:08:07] Zig Ziglar.