Finding Meaning in Work

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The best job people ever had was not defined by the amount of money they were paid or the level of effort required. Instead, people felt their best job was when they accomplished more than they thought they could, were treated with respect, and felt proud of their work. Significance, optimism, and meaning in work come from making a change happen and being clear about the change and the people it impacts.

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!

This episode is brought to you by AeroPress! If you haven't tried coffee made with an AeroPress, you're in for a treat. With more than 45,000 five-star reviews and customers in more than 60 countries, it might be the highest-rated coffee maker on the planet. This press uses a patented 3-in-1 technology that combines the best of several brew methods into one, easy-to-use, very portable device. Because it combines the best of 3 methods, you get a cup that is full bodied like a French press, smooth and complex like when using the pour-over method and rich in flavor like espresso.

As I wrote in The 4-Hour Chef: “This is now, bar none, my favorite brewing method." And now, exclusively for you, get free shipping and 15% off the new Crystal Clear Aeropress at AeroPress.com/Tim.

This episode is also brought to you by Allbirds! Allbirds are incredibly comfortable shoes, sustainably made, with design rooted in simplicity. I’ve been wearing Allbirds for the last several months, and I’ve been alternating between two pairs. I started with the Tree Runners (in marine blue, if you’re curious), and now I’m wearing the Tree Dashers, and the Tree Dashers are my current “daily driver.” I stick with the blue hues, and the Dashers are in buoyant blue. The color pops, and I’ve received a ton of compliments.

The Tree Dasher is an everyday running and walking shoe that’s also great for light workouts. It’s super comfortable, and I’ve been testing it on long walks in Austin and New Zealand on both trails and pavement. Find your perfect pair at Allbirds.com today and use code TIM for free socks with a purchase of $48 or more. Just add a pair of socks to your shopping cart and apply code TIM to make the pair free.

This episode is also brought to you by Shopify! Shopify is one of my favorite platforms and one of my favorite companies. Shopify is designed for anyone to sell anywhere, giving entrepreneurs the resources once reserved for big business. In no time flat, you can have a great-looking online store that brings your ideas to life, and you can have the tools to manage your day-to-day and drive sales. No coding or design experience required.

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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.