On Seth Godin and Delivering Great Work
Introduction
Seth Godin architects his life around being consistent. He runs an exceptional blog that he posts on every day and is the go-to resource for marketing. He delivers great work. His books impact lives. His consulting solutions solve large problems.
Seth has a gift, but it’s a gift born out of consistency and not just natural ability. For example, in Tim Ferriss’s Podcast, Seth spoke to Tim about how he pushed out so many New York Times bestsellers.
When Seth had his first hit, Permission Marketing, he wondered if this book was his magnum opus and if he could deliver any more better work after it. Seth, however, is a creative writer and he didn’t stop writing. His focus is on consistency and here’s just a few more best sellers he’s pushed out in the last two decades:
Every single one of these books are practical and they add value. Seth Godin is locked in on delivering his best work because it’s who he is.
So how can we deliver our best work?
Here are a few simple tips to prime your body and mind for executing on your ideas.
Your Environment is Everything
Stephen King put it best in his memoir, On Writing, when he laid out the setting for a competent writer to become good. You should avoid loud areas and, if anything, shut the door to your room. Oh, and make sure you’re far away from your phone.
Stephen King’s old writing setup.
This simple act of reducing distraction and creating a set location is priming your environment. Athletes practice on fields and in gymnasiums. Vocalists go to studios. Everyone has their ideal space where their most creative work is made.
If you’d like to learn more about priming your environment, James Clear’s book “Atomic Habits” is an indelible resource, as well.
Who Inspires You Determines Who You Are
Sancho Panza in the famous book, Don Quixote, said it best:
“Tell me your company, and I will tell you what you are”
The people you surround yourself with have a direct impact on your ability to deliver great work. If you’re a feature film writer and you hang out with humans that don’t read, there will be no one to discuss your work with. The same goes for being a pro golfer if you live in Antarctica. Every other competitor that can help you grow is down in Florida. Why even bother?
The simplest way to get better is to hang out with people that are also thriving in your field. They’ll challenge you to deliver your best product and you’ll be surrounded by great ideas.
Find your people. It’s as easy as going on LinkedIn or Facebook Groups and typing in what interests you.
Final Thoughts
Delivering great work is a process that takes time and a lot of focused effort. Creative thought doesn’t just happen in a vacuum, however. You need to surround yourself with people that push you and fill your environment with the tools necessary to succeed.
