Seth Godin's Blog, page 301

What's expected vs. what's amazing

I visited a favorite restaurant last week, a place that, alas, I hadn't been to in months. The waiter remembered that I don't like cilantro. Unasked, she brought it up. Incredible. This was uncalled for, unnecessary and totally delightful.

Scott Adams writes about the cyborg tool that is coming momentarily, a device that will remember names, find connections, bring all sorts of external data to us the moment we meet someone. "Oh, Bob, sure, that's the guy who's friends with Tracy... and Tim...

Hunters and Farmers

50,000 years ago, civilization forked. Farming was invented and the way many people spent their time was changed forever.

Clearly, farming is a very different activity from hunting. Farmers spend time sweating the details, worrying about the weather, making smart choices about seeds and breeding and working hard to avoid a bad crop. Hunters, on the other hand, have long periods of distracted noticing interrupted by brief moments of frenzied panic.

It's not crazy to imagine that some people are...

Free inspiration and insight

The Lemonade movie is so professional, engaging and inspiring that you've probably already seen it. If not, here it is.

Todd Sattersten has written a free ebook about pricing that's well worth the time it takes to review. It will change the way you think about pricing.

Who will save us?

Who will save book publishing?

What will save the newspapers?

What means 'save'?

If by save you mean, "what will keep things just as they are?" then the answer is nothing will. It's over.

If by save you mean, "who will keep the jobs of the pressmen and the delivery guys and the squadrons of accountants and box makers and transshippers and bookstore buyers and assistant editors and coffee boys," then the answer is still nothing will. Not the Kindle, not the iPad, not an act of Congress.

We need to ...

Modern procrastination

The lizard brain adores a deadline that slips, an item that doesn't ship and most of all, busywork.

These represent safety, because if you don't challenge the status quo, you can't be made fun of, can't fail, can't be laughed at. And so the resistance looks for ways to appear busy while not actually doing anything.

I'd like to posit that for idea workers, misusing Twitter, Facebook and various forms of digital networking are the ultimate expression of procrastination. You can be busy, very...

Random rules for ideas worth spreading

If you've got an idea worth spreading, I hope you'll consider this random assortment of rules. Like all rules, some are made to be broken, but still...

You can name your idea anything you like, but a google-friendly name is always better than one that isn't.

Don't plan on appearing on a reality show as the best way to launch your idea.

Waiting for inspiration is another way of saying that you're stalling. You don't wait for inspiration, you command it to appear.

Don't poll your friends...

Upcoming events

I'm thrilled to invite you to a killer evening with the brilliant Steven Pressfield

(and me, it's a tag team) at Borders Columbus Circle in New York on Monday, February 8th at 7 pm.

It's free but space is pretty limited. First come, first served.

I'll be in Orange County on February 11th.

Utah on February 12th. No head shaving this trip, I promise.

I'll also be in Toronto on March 2nd. Say hi if you can.

Chicago, March 24th.

I'll be in Belgium on April 1st. I don't get to Belgium ever, so...

Ogori (and generosity)

PSFK writes about a cafe in Japan with a simple rule: you get what the person before you ordered (and paid for), and the next person gets what you ordered.

Take a few moments to think about that.

Would you go?

What would you order?

Is this an opportunity to give or an opportunity to take...

I think we have Ogori opportunities daily.

Strangers, Critics, Friends or Fans

The work you do when you spread the word or run an ad or invent a policy is likely aimed at one of these four groups.

Strangers are customers to be, but not yet

Critics are those that would speak ill of you, or need to be converted

Friends are those that might have given permission, or even buy now and then

Fans are members of your tribe, supporters and insiders

You already know the truth: can't please all these groups at once. And you also probably realize that each of us with...

Finding people who make a difference

Many months ago, I asked my readers to send me pictures of people who mattered, who made a difference--people they couldn't live without. The result of that shout out is now published on the inside cover of my new book.

If you didn't get your picture in on time, you can post it, along with a description, links, guest books and more at whoisthelinchpin.com. Even better, post someone else. It's a nice thing to do for someone who matters to you.

Celebrate the linchpins. We need more of them.