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I just finished listening to the masterful @debbiemillman interview the always wonderful @ThisIsSethsBlog.
Godin highlights some key takeaways from his newest book, The Practice (I’m definitely buying after hearing this).
Here are some of my main learnings…
Godin highlights some key takeaways from his newest book, The Practice (I’m definitely buying after hearing this).
Here are some of my main learnings…
1. “Streaks work, and streaks matter.”
Streaks eliminate the need for making a decision every day. We make the decision once and just need to consistently show up.
Reminds me of the community @dickiebush is creating with Ship 30 for 30.
Streaks eliminate the need for making a decision every day. We make the decision once and just need to consistently show up.
Reminds me of the community @dickiebush is creating with Ship 30 for 30.
2. Our internal dialogue has:
• a talker (critical, afraid, perfectionist)
• a listener (generous, thoughtful, soft at heart)
We need to trust ourselves enough to allow the listener to speak up and grab the reigns.
Fun fact: the book was originally titled Trust Yourself.
• a talker (critical, afraid, perfectionist)
• a listener (generous, thoughtful, soft at heart)
We need to trust ourselves enough to allow the listener to speak up and grab the reigns.
Fun fact: the book was originally titled Trust Yourself.
We need to trust ourselves to do the work, “without commentary, drama, reassurance,” and without being incentivized by the outcome.
All the world’s best creatives simply show up consistently and do the work.
All the world’s best creatives simply show up consistently and do the work.
3. The practice is agnostic of the outcome and must remain despite the outcome.
Once we are beholden to an outcome, we become afraid, limited, and unoriginal. In many ways, this is what it means to be a “hack”.
Once we are beholden to an outcome, we become afraid, limited, and unoriginal. In many ways, this is what it means to be a “hack”.
4. A hack is someone who knows what the customer wants, and intentionally gives it to them (for a fee).
Being a hack has its place, but creativity involves risk-taking, and daring to try something that may not work.
Being a hack has its place, but creativity involves risk-taking, and daring to try something that may not work.
5. If it doesn’t ship, it doesn’t count.
If the people you do the work for never get to see the work, it doesn’t count.
This reminds me of the old adage “Done is better than perfect.”
If the people you do the work for never get to see the work, it doesn’t count.
This reminds me of the old adage “Done is better than perfect.”
6. Reassurance is a trap. It will wreck your creative work.
Reassurance is someone else predicting the future on our behalf, and if they’re wrong, we feel resentful.
“Whatever happens, happens, but I’ll have your back either way.” is much more powerful.
Reassurance is someone else predicting the future on our behalf, and if they’re wrong, we feel resentful.
“Whatever happens, happens, but I’ll have your back either way.” is much more powerful.
Reassurance cripples us. Once we use it as a crutch, we need it to get past any friction.
What we need most is really intelligent criticism and for our loved ones to have our back, no matter what happens.
What we need most is really intelligent criticism and for our loved ones to have our back, no matter what happens.
7. Pick your clients, pick your future.
Better clients ask for better work. They challenge you.
We don’t get to better clients by having a bunch of mediocre clients and working our way up.
We must be the kind of creatives better clients want to hire.
Better clients ask for better work. They challenge you.
We don’t get to better clients by having a bunch of mediocre clients and working our way up.
We must be the kind of creatives better clients want to hire.
8. Some creative professionals don’t quit their day jobs.
They hedge their bets, de-risking other areas of their life to unleash their daring creativity where and when it matters most.
Very resonant of @AdamMGrant’s phenomenal book, Originals.
They hedge their bets, de-risking other areas of their life to unleash their daring creativity where and when it matters most.
Very resonant of @AdamMGrant’s phenomenal book, Originals.
9. If we keep showing up and working, something is bound to be good.
And we shouldn’t be afraid of people seeing our bad work. Only our highlights circulate.
Godin allows risks on his daily blog because he knows that if a piece doesn’t work, it simply won’t get shared.
And we shouldn’t be afraid of people seeing our bad work. Only our highlights circulate.
Godin allows risks on his daily blog because he knows that if a piece doesn’t work, it simply won’t get shared.
10. We don’t want authenticity, we want consistency. We want people to consistently be the best versions of themselves.
But what we want most is for people to have a humanity in how they choose to show up.
But what we want most is for people to have a humanity in how they choose to show up.
11. Millman chimes in with what I believe to be a major highlight of the episode…
“Don’t build a brand, build a reputation. Build a character.”
We should be more concerned with building a human-feeling reputation than a corporate-feeling brand.
“Don’t build a brand, build a reputation. Build a character.”
We should be more concerned with building a human-feeling reputation than a corporate-feeling brand.
For more thoughts on creativity, emotional intelligence, and things that fill us with wonder, please check out my weekly newsletter, Long Way Home 
. https://longwayhome.substack.com/welcome
. https://longwayhome.substack.com/welcome
And check out the interview on Soundcloud or your favourite podcast app. https://soundcloud.com/designmatters/seth-godin
