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Tim FerrissTim Ferriss

Seth Godin Interview (Full Episode) | The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast)

Seth Godin (@thisissethsblog) is the author of 17 bestselling books that have been translated into more than 35 languages. He writes about the way ideas spread, marketing, strategic quitting, leadership, and — most of all — challenging the status quo in all areas. His books include Linchpin, Tribes, The Dip, Purple Cow, and What to Do When it’s Your Turn (and it’s Always Your Turn). Seth has founded several companies, including Yoyodyne and Squidoo. His blog (which you can find by typing “Seth” into Google) is one of the most popular in the world. In 2013, Godin was inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. Recently, Godin turned the book publishing world on its ear by launching a series of four books via Kickstarter. The campaign reached its goal in just three hours and became the most successful book project in Kickstarter history. In this episode, we cover dozens of topics and stories, including some he’s never discussed publicly before. Enjoy! Intro [00:00] How Seth prepares coffee and vodka [5:05] The story behind the most impressive cookbook collection [9:37] Seth’s most recommended cookbooks and methods [11:32] On railing against various industrial complexes [15:07] How Seth consumes media [18:07] Seth’s rules for speaking engagements [20:42] How to navigate big transitions in life [28:07] On the decision to publish a daily blog [31:24] Seth’s writing process [33:07] Seth’s top business decisions [38:44] Discerning between good and bad ideas [42:44] Maybe you shouldn't become an entrepreneur [48:30] How Seth processes email [51:44] Categorically saying no to specific distractions [57:32] Why everyone should blog every day [1:01:42] What Seth is happy he said no to [1:04:49] The story of money [1:06:38] When you hear the word "successful," who first comes to mind? [1:09:49] What Seth has changed his mind about [1:10:40] What Seth believes that most people would find crazy [1:11:52] Most gifted books [1:12:24] A favorite purchase of $100 or less [1:24:34] Eating habits and morning rituals [1:30:34] The value of having an office [1:32:37] What would Seth do to educate children [1:34:22] Practices for overwhelmed parents [1:37:34] Seth’s current projects [1:38:52] Who helps tell Seth when he is wrong [1:43:32] What advice would you give to your 30-year-old self [1:45:49] How Seth gets over periods of discomfort [1:47:29] Seth’s meditation process [1:49:47] Seth's billboard [1:53:01] Seth on commencement speeches [1:53:02] Asks or requests of you, the listener [1:54:58] The almond cookies [1:56:38] Connect with Seth Godin: Like Seth Godin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sethgodin Follow Seth Godin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisissethsblog Follow Seth Godin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethgodin How Seth Godin Manages His Life — Rules, Principles, and Obsessions Show Notes: http://fourhourworkweek.com/2016/02/10/seth-godin/ SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/1dSzTkW About Tim Ferriss: Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded 200 million downloads and been selected for “Best of iTunes” three years running. Connect with Tim Ferriss: Visit the Tim Ferriss PODCAST: https://bit.ly/2rYjUBr Visit the Tim Ferriss BLOG: http://bit.ly/17jDHw3 Like Tim Ferriss on FACEBOOK: http://on.fb.me/1avYUxq Follow Tim Ferriss on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/17d94TE Follow Tim Ferriss on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2IfH37J Follow Tim Ferriss on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2IfH37J

Tim FerrisshostSeth Godinguest
Feb 18, 20162h 2mWatch on YouTube ↗

Summaries, chapters, transcripts, and FAQs on this page are made by uListen, not YouTube.

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Seth Godin on Saying No, Fear, Audiobooks, Money, and Making Change

  1. Godin describes his quirky personal pursuits, from roasting coffee beans he doesn't drink and infusing vodka to collecting cookbooks, building a handmade stereo system, and obsessing over bean-to-bar chocolate.
  2. He explains how he protects his mission by limiting speaking engagements, skipping Twitter, meetings, investing, and pitches, and turning down a billion dollars in stock options and TV offers.
  3. On entrepreneurship, he distinguishes freelancers from entrepreneurs, urges selling something people already want, and says the real obstacle to starting is fear rather than lack of talent.
  4. He lays out his views on education and the altMBA, arguing that kids should learn to lead and solve interesting problems, and that social pressure and projects beat free online courses.
  5. He shares a list of audiobooks he returns to repeatedly, plus views on money as a story, daily blogging as a practice, and the value of failure.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Rules for saying no protect your mission.

Godin limits speaking to about 30 a year, charges more for distant locations, and doesn't invest, take pitches, or go to meetings; Ferriss agrees that saying no to all of something is easier than filtering the top 1%.

Start with something people already want to buy.

Godin tells the story of his friend Lynn, who sold 5 million decks of cards after moving from toy companies to book publishers, and argues it's better to push a business downhill than uphill.

Fear, not lack of qualification, blocks entrepreneurs.

Godin says entrepreneurial block, like writer's block, comes from fear, and people must decide whether they care enough to dance with a fear that never goes away.

Write badly to get to good ideas.

Godin dismisses writers' rituals and says the answer to a bad writing day is to keep writing poorly until it's not bad anymore, since people with many good ideas have even more bad ones.

Money is a story you choose.

Using a $10 bill example, Godin argues value depends on mutual belief, and after meeting basic needs people should decide how much more money they want and what they'll trade for it; he turned down a billion dollars in stock options at a startup.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

So the goal isn't to get good ideas, the goal is to get bad ideas, 'cause once you get enough bad ideas, then some good ones have to show up.

— Seth Godin

People get entrepreneurial block for only one reason. It is not because they are not qualified. It is not because they are not passionate. It is because they are afraid.

— Seth Godin

Social media wasn't invented to make you better. It was invented to make the companies money.

— Seth Godin

We don't need folks like that to go from 90 words per minute to 105 words per minute when they type. It's not a factor. What we need is for them to type something that's worth reading.

— Seth Godin

You are more powerful than you think you are. Act accordingly.

— Seth Godin

Daily blogging as a practiceSaying no to protect your missionFreelancer vs. entrepreneurFear and resistanceAudiobooks as a repeatable practiceMoney as a storyEducation and the altMBA

High quality AI-generated summary created from speaker-labeled transcript.

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