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The Mel Robbins PodcastThe Mel Robbins Podcast

How to Build a Life That Matters & Get What You Want Starting Today

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — Today’s episode is going to change the way you think about your life. If you keep telling yourself you want to: - go after something bigger - start something new - speak up - take a chance - or finally do the thing you know you’re meant to do in life… but you “just can’t seem to find the time,” or “make it happen,” this is the conversation you need to hear right now. Seth Godin is going to call you out in the kindest, clearest, most liberating way. Seth is one of Mel’s most beloved business mentors. He’s written more than 20 bestselling books, his ideas have influenced millions of people around the world, and he’s widely considered the godfather of modern marketing. But this episode is not about marketing. It’s about the life you want to live, and why you keep putting it off with busyness, scrolling, excuses like, “I’ll do it when…” Seth is going to teach you how to stop procrastinating and start moving forward, even if you’re scared, even if you’re tired, even if you don’t feel ready. Once you hear what Seth says about resistance, you’re going to feel a fire in your belly to make you take action. You’ll learn: -The one word that is keeping you stuck and the one word that will help you move forward -How to stop waiting for permission and pick yourself -The small, simple way to start that actually works, even when you’re overwhelmed -How to stop getting trapped by fear and what other people think -How perfectionism keeps you safe, but also keeps you stuck By the end of this conversation, you’re going to feel capable, and you’re going to want to take action immediately. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-377/ Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Meet the Guest 04:12 How to Make Your Life Better 09:46 How to Solve Any Problem: Get Unstuck, Find Solutions, Take Your Power Back 18:52 Learn to Bet on Yourself: How to Take Control of Your Life 22:18 Stop Hiding: How to Unlock Your Potential 31:59 How to Stop Making Excuses and Finally Follow Through 36:09 Tiny Steps, Big Results: Build Momentum When You Have Zero Motivation 38:46 The Art of Letting Go: Stop Holding On to What’s Holding You Back 46:00 How to Be More Magnetic: Influence, Confidence, and Persuasion Skills 48:36 Why You Compare Yourself Constantly (and How to Break the Habit) 54:20 Perfectionism Is Holding You Back: How to Take Action Anyway 59:56 What Authenticity Really Means — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

Mel RobbinshostSeth Godinguest
Mar 12, 20261h 6mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Seth Godin on starting now, resisting fear, choosing yourself daily

  1. Seth Godin reframes personal growth as an intentional choice: if you can easily imagine making life worse, you can also choose actions that make it better.
  2. He distinguishes problems (solvable, though uncomfortable) from situations (unsolvable, requiring acceptance), and highlights how “but” versus “and” changes the story you tell yourself.
  3. Central themes include “Pick yourself,” creating and sharing work without waiting for permission, and using resistance as a compass that signals meaningful work.
  4. The conversation also tackles perfectionism, attachment to outcomes, comparison/status loops, and redefining “authenticity” as consistency and professionalism in service of others.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Start where you are—waiting is a choice that becomes a hiding place.

Godin argues “the only place to begin is where you are”; waiting to feel ready or be invited provides safety and excuses, but keeps you off the hook for doing the scary, meaningful thing.

Use resistance as a compass, not a stop sign.

Resistance is the self-protective behavior that appears when something matters; instead of trying to eliminate it, treat it as evidence you’re near important work and say “thank you” for the signal.

Separate problems from situations to reclaim agency.

Situations (physics, constraints, other people’s choices) must be accepted; problems have solutions you may not like. This framing prevents endless rumination and forces a decision: accept or act.

Replace “but” with “and” to hold complexity without excuses.

“But” often turns a hard reality into a veto (and an excuse). “And” allows two truths to coexist—e.g., “I’m improving my health, and my spouse doesn’t like it”—so you can address the relationship without abandoning growth.

“Pick yourself” by offering the work—don’t wait for permission or credentials.

Godin urges creators and changemakers to self-authorize: make the thing, share it with a small group (even free), learn from the response, and iterate—rather than waiting to be chosen by gatekeepers.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

“The only place to begin is where you are.”

— Seth Godin

“Pick yourself.”

— Seth Godin

“No one’s forcing you to not wait. You’re choosing to wait… Congratulations, you’ve built a perfect place to hide.”

— Seth Godin

“If you don’t feel resistance, it might not be important enough.”

— Seth Godin

“Here, I made this… (not) ‘and I need you to like it.’”

— Seth Godin

Resistance as a signal of important workProblems vs. situations (acceptance vs. solutions)“But” vs. “and” self-talk reframing“Pick yourself” and stop waiting for permissionSmallest viable audience and smallest viable artAttachment, generosity, and rejection fearPerfectionism and “merely ship it”Status loops, fear, and naming the motiveRemarkable work and intentional design (“Who’s it for? What’s it for?”)Authenticity vs. consistency; playing the “best version” roleAccountability through cohorts and community

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