3+ thoughts from Seth Godin

The force of attraction works only if you believe in it. For example, one of my favourite newsletters (Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review) always manages to hit me right on-spot. Feeling down? “Be kind to yourself today” is now in your inbox. Career wonders? “Don’t follow your passion”. (After some time I wonder is it the egg or the chicken – am I really experiencing these issues or I feel them as a result of the title I receive?) Another favourite newsletter I follow is the Seth’s Blog. I love them both because they are short and sweet – practical and philosophical. Agreeble and provocative.

I have bookmarked and piled up in my Chrome Browser lots of editions in order to one day – write a blog post. Unfortnately, I had a revelation – the magnitute of your thoughts, experiences and feelings depends more or less on your current state of mind. Its like a painting with super bright colours that fade away with days passing by and some good night sleeps. Time changes everything.

Who is Seth?

Seth Godin is one of the most prominent marketing gurus – no matter whether you agree with his theses or not, he is an entrepreneur, opinion leader, teacher and professional who have strongly influenced the world or marketing still to date. I strongly recommend his book “This is marketing”, especially if you are a junior marketer.

I got addicted to his blog mainly due to my work as a strategic marketer. I often caught myself lost in tactics and operational tasks, his thoughts helped me stay focused on the mission of the business and ask the long-term questions. Some of his blogs are thoughts on the stories of the day – pandemic, politics, ecology. Others are ever-green content on leadership, mindfullness and the meaning of life. After reading it for years I can say there is one topic that rule them all – big ideas. What are they, how do you spread them, what’s their significance?

I have hand-picked a few examples of his daily posts to share with you and added some personal interpretation. They are concentrated on topics that stood the test of time, or at least the test according to my standards.

1. “A simple missing word”

Entrepreneurs are thought to embrace the “growth-mindset” (as opposed to “fixed-mindset”). Only then they can meet all challenges with beginners mind, curiosity and open for opportunities, rather than feel discouraged with not knowing, with not having all the answers. I believe in the power of words that can cause action – sometimes it’s that easy – just adding a 3-letter word.

2. “Confusing identity with strategy”

The question of identity has occupied my box of questions “not answered, yet“. Identity is a common topic because it’s not black-and-white – it’s hard to define it, it raises more questions. I came to the realization that sticking to your identity is neither bad, nor good – we play with it, according to our needs. Sometimes it’s an obstacle and not a positive booster, other times it’s safe heaven, not a limitation.

I have to change to stay the same. Willem de Kooning

3. “The only one who has heard all of it”

One of the rules in marketing is “Do what works, not what you like”. For example, even if you are sick of the visual material you use in your ads, as you have seen it for ages, if it works – you stick to it. I have always had problems with this statement – I have mistaken it with the opposite of inspiration, experimentation, creativity. I am afraid of boring content —> I am afraid of being or becoming boring. I suppose it’s more connected with my own demons like self-doubt or a it’s just a cognitive bias. I try to repeat to myself that the most selfish thing I can do is to hold ideas and knowlegde – and I am not saying this in a pompous, the point is to change perspective – to get out of your head and contribute, what might be of interest or help to others. You never know how you can affect people (let’s hope in a positive way).

4. “Zooming in – The magic of looking more closely”

WOW effect___loading. It’s about zooming, but not Zoom.

I will call it the onion effect – imagine an onion. Yes, an onion. You start peeling and at first you don’t feel anything. You continue peeling off and your eyes start burning. First slowly, but then at some point while you are still peeling you are already crying like crazy.

The effect I want to describe (if it’s not 100% clear from my comparison) is that picture gets clear, if you pay attention and if you dedicate enough time and effort to get to the core. Knowledge builds up, experiences get stronger, passion is born if you make the space to explore further. Usually, we give up digging, sometimes because it’s hard to face the unfamiliar or nasty things we might find, and other times, because it’s the just the easier choice to make.

(I also recommend: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values )

You are the consumer

Just like changing your posture affects your mood and words inspire action, the books and movies you engage with, the people you surround yourself with influence your perceptions. The ideas you take in from the outside world and everyday environment soak in deep into the skin, just like the water in a sponge.

Be careful about the choices you make or better say – be mindful and aware about them.

Seth might help you a bit.

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Honorary mentions: 

That’s a good idea

Of course it’s a difficult problem

Getting the joke

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Back in 2016 I was overwhelmed of too many ideas and I was hardly saying “no”: some lessons about the curse of ideas in Betahaus Sofia guest blog post [BG]