The biggest takeaway for anyone seeking to write is this: don't go looking for the way other authors do their work. You won't find many who are consistent enough to copy, and there are enough variations in approach that it's obvious that it's not like hitting home runs or swinging a golf club. There isn't a standard approach, there's only what works for you (and what doesn't).
Seth GodinOur cultural instinct is to wait to get pickedNo one is going to pick you. Pick yourself.
Seth GodinGreat innovations, powerful interactions and real art are often produced by someone in a state of wonder. Looking around with stars in your eyes and amazement at the tools that are available to you can inspire generosity and creativity and connection
Seth GodinThe enemy of creativity... is fear. We're all born creative, it takes a little while to become afraid. A surprising insight: an enemy of fear is creativity. Acting in a creative way generates action, and action persuades the fear to lighten up.
Seth GodinArt is a personal act of courage, something one human does that creates change in another.
Seth GodinWhen we think of design, we usually imagine things that are chosen because they are designed. Vases or comic books or architecture... It turns out, though, that most of what we make or design is actually aimed at a public that is there for something else. The design is important, but the design is not the point. Call it "public design"... Public design is for individuals who have to fill out our tax form, interact with our website or check into our hotel room despite the way it's designed, not because of it.
Seth GodinDo you know what people want more than anything? They want to be missed. They want to be missed the day they don't show up. They want to be missed when they're gone.
Seth GodinPositive thinking doesn't guarantee results, all it offers is something better than negative thinking.
Seth GodinMy blogging life is basically goalless. I like the zen nature of that, and paradoxically, it improves results.
Seth GodinIf failure is not an option, neither is success. Innovation is just repeated failure till you come up with something that works.
Seth GodinWe know what you want to accomplish... The real question is, 'what are you willing to push through the dip for?' What are you willing to stand up for, bleed for, commit to and generally be unreasonable about? Because that's what's going to actually get done.
Seth GodinNo one has ever built a statue to a critic, it's true. On the other hand, it's only the people with statues that get pooped on by birds flying by.
Seth GodinJust saying yes because you can't bear the short-term pain of saying no is not going to help you do the work.
Seth GodinNormal is fading away. Governments and industries and schools like normal, because it's easier, it scales and it's profitable. But people don't like it - we want to be who we are, not who some marketer tells us to be.
Seth GodinThe edge is a great place to be. Inside the box is too dark. Outside the box, there's no leverage. But on the edge of the box, you can get things done!
Seth GodinThe best creative solutions don't come from finding good answers to the questions that are presented... They come from inventing new questions!
Seth GodinThe world doesn't owe you a living, but just when you needed it, a door was opened for you to make a difference.
Seth GodinThe reason you might choose to embrace the artist within you now is that this is the path to (cue the ironic music) security.
Seth GodinYou can't fool all the people, not even most of the time. And people, once unfooled, talk about the experience.
Seth GodinIf your project or organization depends on knowing things that other people don't know (but could find out if they wanted to), your days are probably numbered. Ask a travel agent The alternative, while difficult, is obvious. Provide enough non-commodity service and customization that it doesn't matter if the ideas spread. In fact, it will help you when they do.
Seth GodinThe reason social media is so difficult for most organizations: It’s a process, not an event.
Seth GodinEveryone has a comfort zone. Worth considering: How hard (and how often) are you willing to work to get out of it? You can turn that into a habit if you choose.
Seth GodinMost of the time, creative entrepreneurs lose interest long before their marketing message loses its power.
Seth GodinLaptop computers dramatically increased the time people spend doing work. (The internet dramatically decreased it, so we're even).
Seth GodinIf you believe that a given situation should make you unhappy, then it will, and the unhappiness will then reinforce the condition.
Seth GodinPeople don't believe what you tell them. They rarely believe what you show them. They often believe what their friends tell them. They always believe what they tell themselves.
Seth GodinI think "creativity" is better described as failing repeatedly until you get something right.
Seth GodinWithout people pushing against your quest to do something worth talking about, it's unlikely to be worth the journey. Persist.
Seth Godin