Such a great book and great timing too. This was my 11th Godin read and I remain a big fan.
“Shipping, because it doesn’t count if you don’t share it. Such a great book and great timing too. This was my 11th Godin read and I remain a big fan.
“Shipping, because it doesn’t count if you don’t share it. Creative, because you’re not a cog in the system. You’re a creator, a problem solver, a generous leader who is making things better by producing a new way forward. Work, because it’s not a hobby. You might not get paid for it, not today, but you approach it as a professional. The muse is not the point, excuses are avoided, and the work is why you are here.”
“In fact, determination is precisely what’s needed to write poetry or create art. Determination of the will opens the door for us to trust ourselves enough to actually find the words.”
“Creativity is a choice, it’s not a bolt of lightning from somewhere else.”...more
Honest and raw, I knew almost nothing about Chang before I jumped in. Engaging and interesting, this one was a pleasant surprise.
“The paradox for theHonest and raw, I knew almost nothing about Chang before I jumped in. Engaging and interesting, this one was a pleasant surprise.
“The paradox for the workaholic is that rock bottom is the top of whatever profession they’re in.”
“When I started Momofuku, I killed the version of me that didn’t want to stick his neck out or take chances. Even in its larval stages, when it was more theory than restaurant, Momofuku was about carving out some form of identity for myself. It would be my way of rejecting what the tea leaves said about me. Work made me a different person. Work saved my life.”...more
My 10th Seth Godin book. He is fantastic at short little books that pack a powerful punch. I can see “Quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers.”
My 10th Seth Godin book. He is fantastic at short little books that pack a powerful punch. I can see myself revisiting this one, especially as it is so brief.
Knowing when to quit is an important skill. Hang in there when the payoff is great, but even winners throw in the towel from time to time.
“Persistent people are able to visualize the idea of light at the end of the tunnel when others can't see it.”...more
Good reminder of the basic fundamentals of time management.
“The people who get nothing done often work a great deal harder. In the first place, they uGood reminder of the basic fundamentals of time management.
“The people who get nothing done often work a great deal harder. In the first place, they underestimate the time for any one task. They always expect that everything will go right. Yet, as every executive knows, nothing ever goes right. The unexpected always happens—the unexpected is indeed the only thing one can confidently expect.”
“If there is any one 'secret' of effectiveness, it is concentration. Effective executives do first things first and they do one thing at a time.”
“The oft-repeated quip, 'I’m sorry to write you a long letter, as I did not have time to write a short one,' could be applied to meetings: 'I’m sorry to imprison you in this long meeting, as I did not have time to prepare a short one.'”
"Effectiveness is not a 'subject,' but a self-discipline."
“Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”
Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = RADICAL DIFFERENCE
Great quick read, especially if you l“Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”
Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = RADICAL DIFFERENCE
Great quick read, especially if you like these kinds of books. Reminded me of James Clear's Atomic Habits, but snappier, and less focused on process—more on the why.
Very quotable, can see myself revisiting this one.
“If you want to have more, you have to become more. Success is not something you pursue. What you pursue will elude you; it can be like trying to chase butterflies. Success is something you attract by the person you become.”
“There is a point in every race when a rider encounters his real opponent and understands that it's himself. In my most painful moments on the bike, I am at my most curious, and I wonder each and every time how I will respond. Will I discover my innermost weakness, or will I seek out my innermost strength?" — Lance Armstrong...more
Didn't quite know what to expect going into this, but had always felt McChrystal had a solid head on his shoulders.
This book was a nice mix of adaptinDidn't quite know what to expect going into this, but had always felt McChrystal had a solid head on his shoulders.
This book was a nice mix of adapting protocol to meet circumstances in life, business, technology, and of course, all against the backdrop of war.
If you enjoy military history, don't expect *too* much here other than snippets that help elaborate his case for constant adaptation. The themes worked well together however, and were woven through complementarily.
Great book for business leaders and entrepreneurs. ...more
My 8th Seth Godin book, and I like him more with each book!
Excellent stuff here, reminded me of Steven Pressfield's Do the Work and The War of Art. VMy 8th Seth Godin book, and I like him more with each book!
Excellent stuff here, reminded me of Steven Pressfield's Do the Work and The War of Art. Very encouraging for getting over yourself and putting your work "out there."
“It’s what we wrestle with every single day. The intersection of comfort, danger, and safety. The balancing act between vulnerability and shame. The opportunity (or the risk) to do art. The willingness to take responsibility for caring enough to make a difference and to have a point of view.”
Lots of highlights in this one, would revisit for a pick-me-up. Quick and impactful. ...more
Deleted Facebook and Facebook messenger off my phone thanks to this book!
Hard not to feel guilty over phone use after reading, probably because I knowDeleted Facebook and Facebook messenger off my phone thanks to this book!
Hard not to feel guilty over phone use after reading, probably because I know I waste too much time on it.
Would read this one again to help ingrain the importance of living the minimally digital life.
“The tycoons of social media have to stop pretending that they’re friendly nerd gods building a better world and admit they’re just tobacco farmers in T-shirts selling an addictive product to children. Because, let’s face it, checking your 'likes' is the new smoking.”
***UPDATE***
It's been almost 2 months since I deleted FB and FB Messenger off my phone. Still loving it, and checking it less and less in general.
This book has remained top of mind since I read it, and keeps popping up in my life. If you're interested in a good discussion around Newport's books and ideas, Rich Roll interviewed Cal on his podcast and its an excellent episode.
"No longer need anyone ever be bored. Alone with one’s thoughts. Or simply present with one’s self.
The result is a global epidemic of distraction. A fomenting of loneliness and isolation. And a degradation of our humanity.
The solution isn’t Ludditism. Instead it’s agency. We need not be victims of technology. We have the power to liberate ourselves from the tether of digital dependency. And the freedom it creates isn’t just the salve to what ails us, it’s the gateway to that which we seek most. Meaning. True human connection. And a reconnection with our innate humanity.
Indeed, there is no substitute for real relationships. Boredom is useful. And focus is the new superpower." (RRP Episode 447)
Newport is the Marie Kondo of digital tidiness.
Solitude is essential for creating new ideas, solitude as in the freedom from input from other minds.
"Many people mistakenly associate [solitude] with physical separation—requiring, perhaps, that you hike to a remote cabin miles from another human being. This flawed definition introduces a standard of isolation that can be impractical for most to satisfy on any sort of regular basis. As Kethledge and Erwin explain, however, solitude is about what’s happening in your brain, not the environment around you. Accordingly, they define it to be a subjective state in which your mind is free from input from other minds." — Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism
Newport doesn't have to convince me, I'm a big fan of my personal time. Cal's call to Spend More Time Alone makes me think of Virginia Wolf's A Room of One's Own.
Really, I'll accept any theories that justify my proclivity for reading ... alone.
Godin is the man! My 8th Godin book, this one was surprisingly good, and as always, right on point.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in careeGodin is the man! My 8th Godin book, this one was surprisingly good, and as always, right on point.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in career development. This one might get a second round, excellent reminders.
“The only purpose of starting is to finish, and while the projects we do are never really finished, they must ship. Shipping means hitting the publish button on your blog, showing a presentation to the sales team, answering the phone, selling the muffins, sending out your references. Shipping is the collision between your work and the outside world.”...more
Extremely basic, and mostly common sense at this point, Purple Cow was surely more essential when it was first published in 2003. Tod~ Marketing 101 ~
Extremely basic, and mostly common sense at this point, Purple Cow was surely more essential when it was first published in 2003. Today, it's a decent reminder to stand out from the crowd, and recommended reading for anyone unfamiliar with marketing, or looking for a refresher.
I've officially drunk the Seth Godin kool-aid: this was my 7th Godin book and definitely not my last. (I liked Tribes, This Is Marketing, and The Big Moo more.) He knows his stuff, and is exceptionally masterful at approachable, bite sized marketing tips—making this 160 page book worth a visit.
“In your career, even more than for a brand, being safe is risky. The path to lifetime job security is to be remarkable.”
~ You're either remarkable or invisible. Make your choice. ~...more
“Marketing, too many people forget, is not an end unto itself. It is simply getting customers. And by the transitive property, anything that gets customers is marketing.”
"Growth-hacking is more of a mindset than a tool kit."
tl;dr: Marketing is a slippery fish that is constantly evolving. Try to keep up, or get left behind....more
***June 2019, 1st Reread: Just as excellent as the first time around. Working on implementing many of the principles. Will probably read this again.*****June 2019, 1st Reread: Just as excellent as the first time around. Working on implementing many of the principles. Will probably read this again.***
Want to improve your story? This book is for you.
Sometime you read things when you need to hear it. As an entrepreneur, and a writer, it can be easy to get lost in the narrative. Your story can be easily convoluted and needs to be simplified for maximum effectiveness.
I will definitely read this book again. There are many actionable steps throughout that I want to revisit and work on. From simplifying your website, to establishing a simple tagline, this book has excellent advice.
Most Important Points:
- Sell the problem you solve, not the product.
- Don't be the hero, be the guide.
One of my best reads of 2019 so far.
*** Edit *** It's been a couple weeks, and I can't stop thinking about this book and recommending it to people.
Further Notes:
"What stories teach us is that people’s internal desire to resolve a frustration is a greater motivator than their desire to solve an external problem." ____________________
"As an experiment, let’s see if you can cut half the words out of your website. Can you replace some of your text with images? Can you reduce whole paragraphs into three or four bullet points? Can you summarize sentences into bite-sized soundbites? If so, make those changes soon. The rule is this: the fewer words you use, the more likely it is that people will read them."...more
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