Seth Godin is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work and art. They have been translated into 38 languages. His breakthrough books include Purple Cow, Tribes, The Dip, Linchpin, and his latest book is called This is Strategy. He writes one of the most popular daily blogs in the world and has given 5 TED talks. He is the founder of the altMBA, and the former VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo!

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The Learning Leader Show

  • “If you want word of mouth, you have to create something remarkable, and that means it’s worthy of remark.”
  • The elegant path is the most useful way forward. “My neighbor is a barefoot runner. He glides without apparent effort.” Elegance is simplicity, efficiency, and effectiveness.
  • Dorothy and Her Crew. How did Dorothy persuade the Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow to join her on the trip to see the Wizard? Did she make a case about how much she missed home? No. She created the conditions where the others could get what they wanted by joining her.
  • Seeing Strategy Clearly. Strategy is a flexible plan that guides us as we seek to create a change. It helps us make decisions over time while working within a system.
  • Low-Hanging Fruit Isn’t. It’s all been picked. The easy, direct, obvious paths are unlikely to get you the results you’re working so hard to obtain. In fact, these paths are probably a trap.
  • Seth, at one point, got 800 rejection letters. Have to keep going…
  • “I wouldn’t call Steve Ballmer a good leader.”
  • An example of Seth making a difference… He went to Kenya and talked with 60 people who started a book club based on his book Linchpin. “They decided to be leaders.”
  • Make decisions in the moment:
    • Examine the issue
    • Get feedback
    • Look for patterns
  • “Taste is knowing what the market wants before it knows it.”
  • Rick Rubin
    • Reality distortion field
    • Johnny Cash
    • “What do you think?”
  • “Objections are your friends.”
  • What are the commonalities among leaders with whom Seth has worked and who have sustained excellence? They are all different, but the one thing they have in common is they all have chosen to be leaders. And that means that they are here to make a change happen.
  • Management doesn’t just exist. It was invented. When you race to the bottom, You see people as resources, not as people.
  • Power of Honest Referrals: Honest and genuine referrals are incredibly powerful in marketing. Creating something so excellent that people naturally want to share it with their friends is more impactful than any contrived referral scheme.
  • Empathy in Leadership: Effective leaders possess empathy. Empathy enables leaders to understand the needs and intentions of their audience or team members genuinely. Seth points out that leadership isn’t about authority but about creating conditions where others can thrive.
  • The Importance of User-Centric Approach – Who’s It For and What’s It For: Good strategy answers two fundamental questions: “Who is it for?” and “What is it for?” Understanding the audience deeply and the specific change you aim to bring about is crucial for effective strategy.
  • Strategy vs. Tactics: Seth distinguishes between having a strategy and merely engaging in tactics. Strategy is about long-term plans and positioning, whereas tactics involve immediate actions and short-term goals. Most people lack true strategic thinking and instead focus on day-to-day tasks.
  • Questions That Lead To Strategies. 84 questions. They’ll force you to think through your strategy. By answering them, you’ll be better prepared to make a difference… And make a ruckus. Some of them: Who is this project for? What is my timeline? What systems would need to change for my project to succeed? Where will I cause tension? What resistance should I anticipate? Where is the empathy? What asset would transform my project? What can I learn from comparable projects? Is the change I’m making contagious? Can I make it easier for others to decide? How can I design for network effects? What are common objections I expect to encounter?
  • Apply to be in my Learning Leader Circle.
Resources:

More Learning:

Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon

Episode 216: Jim Collins — How To Go From Good To Great

Episode #300: AJ & Keith Hawk – How To Instill Work Ethic & Curiosity In Your Children

Episode #303:  General Stanley McChrystal – The New Definition Of Leadership

Time Stamps

01:06 – The Power of Remarkable Work

04:35 – Understanding Strategy & the Power of Becoming

06:19 – Building a Career with Strategy

08:44 – Turning Down Shark Tank

09:40 – Seth’s Advice to Gain Traction Early

12:05 – Seth’s “System” Early On

14:44 – Leadership Lessons from Dorothy (Wizard of Oz)

16:20 – Hiring Top Talent

21:01 – How to Get Clear on Your Strategy

25:14 – Reevaluating Success: The Case of Steve Ballmer

26:02 – The Elegance and Simplicity in Running and Leadership

29:56 – How To Know When You’re “In the Moment”

32:37 – The Role of Feedback: Cheerleaders and Coaches

36:48 – The Reality Distortion Field: Insights from Rick Rubin

40:01 – Shift Reality for Those You Lead

41:06 – Avoiding the Trap of Low-Hanging Fruit

44:07 – The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

46:39 – Seth’s Creative Process with Writing and Ideas

49:12 – Traits of Sustained Leadership Excellence