POPULARITY
We've well and truly kicked off season 7 in style as we welcome our first guest onto the show - IAAPA Board Chairman, Massimiliano Freddi. In this episode, Paul sits down with Massimiliano Freddi, the first Italian to ever hold the role of IAAPA Chairman in the association's 107-year history. From his early dream of running a theme park to founding Wonderwood and shaping Italy's unique attractions landscape, Massi shares how passion, storytelling, and a people-first mindset continue to drive his vision for the industry. Skip The Queue is back for Season 7 and we're announcing some big changes! Get ready for new hosts, a fresh new look, weekly content and find out where you can catch us live at events to be part of the action.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn, or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 24th September 2025. The winner will be contacted via LinkedIn or Bluesky. Show references: https://iaapa.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddi/Massimiliano Freddi a leading figure in the amusement and entertainment industry, has been appointed president of the steering committee of IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the leading international association for attractions and theme parks) for 2025. This is the first time since the foundation of the World Association of Attractions (1918) that this position has been entrusted to an Italian.The appointment underscores his extensive experience and significant contribution to the global industry. Freddi brings a wealth of experience gained at some of the industry's most prominent companies. His career began in marketing and press office for the Italian market at Disneyland Paris. He subsequently joined Leolandia.A visionary entrepreneur, in 2018, Massimiliano Freddi founded Wonderwood, an adventure and amusement park for all ages, of which he is currently CEO, in his hometown of Trarego Viggiona, in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola region on Lake Maggiore. This growing business has redeveloped several local facilities and provided employment to several young residents of the small towns in the area. His passion for the sector also extends to academia. Since 2016, he has been a member of the coaching staff of Seth Godin's Altmba and is a professor of marketing and experience design at IULM University in Milan. At the same university, where Italy's first course in theme park and attraction management was introduced, he teaches subjects such as consumer experience, marketing, and soft skills as an adjunct professor. Freddi was also one of the original founders of Parksmania, the first newspaper dedicated to amusement parks.Freddi will continue to bring his innovative vision and deep industry knowledge to the global association, helping shape the future of attractions internationally. Regarding Italy, he commented that he sees great potential and wants to help realise it. Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best visitor attractions and the people that work in them. I'm Paul Marden, along with my co-hosts Andy Povey and Sinead Kimberley, I spend my days working with ambitious attractions like theme parks, museums, galleries, and science centres to help them to attract more guests. Paul Marden: Today on Skip the Queue, I'm joined by someone who has been shaping the attractions industry in truly remarkable ways. Massimiliano Freddi is the first Italian ever to hold the role of chairman in IAAPA's 107-year history. A milestone that not only celebrates his career, but also shines a light on Italy's growing influence in the global attractions landscape. Massimiliano has worn many hats across his journey, from fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a Theme Park Managing Director at just 28, where he grew guest numbers from 300,000 to over 800,000, to founding his own destinations like Wonderwood on Lake Maggiore and Wonderwood Spina Verde, overlooking Lake Como. Along the way, he's pioneered inclusive and eco-conscious practices, championing the power of storytelling and shown how attractions can thrive by creating meaningful experiences for every guest.Paul Marden: Beyond his leadership roles, Massimiliano is also a Professor of Marketing and Experience Design at IULM University in Milan, where he's passionate about nurturing the next generation of talent in our sector. Often described as both a dreamer and a doer, he brings together vision and practicality in a way that continues to inspire operators around the world.Paul Marden: Massimilliano, welcome to the show. It really is a pleasure to have you with us. We always start Skip the Queue and the kickoff of season seven, no less, is going to be no different. We always start with an icebreaker question. And I'm thinking back to, we're just back off of our summer holidays, aren't we? For your perfect holiday, would it start with planes, trains or driving.Massimiliano Freddi: Oh, that's a beautiful question. By the way, congratulations because you've pronounced Massimiliano in a very correct way. So that's unusual. I have a complicated name. I know, I know.Massimiliano Freddi: Hey, I would say train. Train is really, really part of the way that I love to travel with. And unfortunately, too often it happens by car, which I like a little bit less. I get dizzy, you know, and stuff. Train is my ultimate, ultimate way to travel.Paul Marden: I did a sleeper train to Scotland a couple of years ago, and it was amazing. I absolutely loved it. And what's brilliant is there's more of those sleeper trains hitting Europe, aren't there now? So there really is very few excuses for us not to be holidaying with the start with some elegant sleeper train. My only disappointment was that there was no murder on the train, so I couldn't have an Agatha Christie style novel themed around my train journey, but uh, you know.Massimiliano Freddi: I mean, I mean, it could have been the Hogwarts Express, but apparently, it doesn't run every day, so.Paul Marden: That would be pretty cool as well. I've just come back from Edinburgh, actually, and we saw, you know, the viaduct where the train goes to Hogwarts, and completely unplanned, there was a steam train that went over the bridge whilst we were there. It was amazing.Massimiliano Freddi: Happy go lucky.Paul Marden: Yeah. So enough of my holidays. Let's kick off talking about you and IAAPA. What can international markets learn from attractions in Italy? Tell us a little bit about the attractions landscape over there in Italy at the moment.Massimiliano Freddi: Yes. So let's say that the attraction landscape is very similar, somehow, to how the restaurants or the retail landscape has always been, which means a lot of mom and pop stores. And I think that what people who travel to Italy love is to find something that is one of a kind that you can find only in Italy. I have a deep respect for Starbucks, but I'm always... questioning myself, you know, when somebody comes to Italy, do they really want to find Starbucks? Is this a real thing? So when it comes to parks and attractions, Italy has not faced a big concentration in players like it has happened in other countries. Of course, some big players are there. Parques Reunidos owns Mirabilandia, which is the second most important Italian park. And the most important Italian park is Gardaland, owned by Merlin Entertainment. Then we have a few other groups. Owning and operating some of the facilities, but let's say that, out of 250 parks between—or, you said, attractions— that's very correct now, if we talk about attractions, now the number is endless, because where is the border?Paul Marden: What is an attraction? Yeah, that's a big philosophical question.Massimiliano Freddi: Okay, okay, so let's say that, once upon a time, we used to count parks. So when we talk about parks, we have roughly 250 parks in Italy, and most of them are tiny, tiny, tiny, and they are independently owned. That's my case. I own and operate two parks right now, and I'm about to open, a third location that will be an indoor one this November. And so, yes, I think that what what others can learn from Italy i think is to keep this respect for your roots and to make sure that you don't make every attraction look like another one, but you kind of keep it, you know, different.Massimiliano Freddi: And so it's a matter of the mix of how people can have fun and get entertained. But it's really also about retail and about food and about shows and festivals and you name it, you know. So there are these places that we see on Instagram and immediately we say, oh, that's, I mean, when I see a picture of the Empire State Building or of the Tower Bridge. I know immediately where it belongs to. And so I think that, with attractions, we need to think in the future always about this. Guests coming to visit us, they want to have the ultimate experience and they want to have something that's different from anything they've done before. So this is the responsibility we have.Paul Marden: And a big one it is. Let's talk a little bit about the experience economy. And especially when we think about, you know, beyond the parks, there's this... massive ecosystem around the outside of different ways that people can enjoy themselves. What does that experience economy mean to you, especially in Italy?Massimiliano Freddi: The experience economy, first of all, it truly matters to me, the book. Because in 1999, it was once upon a time, it was really difficult to find literature and scientific literature on the leisure industry. And so I think that at that time, we thought that everybody could take inspiration from the attractions industry. And it has happened because right now. Yes, definitely. You know, food is experience and travel is experience and lodging is experience. You name it, you name it. You know, even there is also a funeral house in Italy, which has become very famous because they are really based on the experience they will give, you know, not to the people who passed away, unfortunately, you know, but the people remain. So I think that it's very hard now to find an industry that doesn't think, that we are in the experience economy and that everything should be experienced and experiential. And so I think that when I go back to my example, I think that we as attractions, we need to be even more wise in how we choose to present ourselves and what we cater to our guests.Massimiliano Freddi: Because of course, we need to raise the bar. So right now, we know that some access... And some services to our attractions have become better with technology. But still, we are, you know, long lines sometimes. And we feel we are paying too much for what we are getting back.Massimiliano Freddi: I would say that in the end, experience economy starts with people and ends with people. And so we need to be people-centric. And only like this, we can be truly experiential. I don't think that an experience is about technology. It's always, always about people.Paul Marden: Absolutely. I wonder as well, I'm always struck by this industry, how close we are, how we collaborate with one another. And really, the competition aren't the other parks or attractions. The competition is getting people out and doing something. There are so many things at home that could keep you at home, getting you out and about and visiting places and enjoying those experiences. I wonder whether collaboration is the answer to this.Massimiliano Freddi: I think you nailed it because it's crucial. Everybody who has not been working for this industry, when they enter the industry, because they might change jobs, everybody is so surprised that we collaborate so heavily. And I think that a key to this success has always been this big collaboration. I have almost always in my career been part of smaller facilities. And to me, IAAPA and the associations were, it's been crucial, you know, because you are alone. Very, very often your facility is in the middle of nowhere. No matter if you're part of a big group, because even big groups have facilities in the middle of nowhere, but for family-owned and operated attractions, that's almost the golden rule.Massimiliano Freddi: And so there are so many days in your life, in your career, in your profession, where you would benefit strongly from talking to somebody else who's been through something like you before and who's found a different solution and who can open up your eyes. So I think that's the beauty of our industries is getting together. Again, if we don't get together, how can we make people get together?Paul Marden: Yeah, I'm very excited about getting together because I've got my first IAAPA in Barcelona coming up. And I'm very excited about what this is going to be like.Massimiliano Freddi: Oh, you will be blown away.Paul Marden: I can't wait. I absolutely can't wait. Now, look. Someone has once described you as a dreamer and a doer. One of your dreams was to be managing director of a theme park. Where did that inspiration come from?Massimiliano Freddi: So it comes from a terrible childhood. And so it comes from the fact that, yeah, the world around me when I was a kid was not a positive world. And my family had a lot of troubles. And I'm an orphan from the side of my mother. I mean, I went through several things. And so I think that the attractions industry, to me, it really meant this place that's always happy and where grownups can really take great care of kids and kids at heart.Massimiliano Freddi: So I think that my passion came out of that. Now, dreaming and doing, of course, we all have as a big myth and as a reference, Walt Disney himself, and he was the guy who first said, 'Dreamers and doers' talking about, what enterprises, so his imagineers. I think that whenever I see something, I want to say something. Everybody who knows me knows pretty well. But it means that I love to see the world in a constant improvement. So, if I check in at a hotel and I see that there is something in there that, you know, it even doesn't impact me. But with a small step, they could make it better and fix it. I just share it and I share it, you know, wherever I am. And so I think that maybe this was a bit of my secret weapon because I got involved in several things. I think because I'm curious and maybe because I'm generous in sharing.Massimiliano Freddi: And I don't know if there is a secret there. There is just that in the moment in which you accept yourself the way you are and you acknowledge that you have some talents, and you don't have some others, and some skills you can get better, some others no way—okay. I could never never be an attorney, I could never do a lot of jobs on the planet, but now I know, at the age of 44, that I know what I'm good at, and even if I'm good at that, I want to constantly improve. So I think that maybe the support that I could bring to the table to the companies I've worked for, to the associations, to my own business, and so on, it's always been this obsession with constant improvement every day.Paul Marden: I think it takes a certain vulnerability, doesn't it? To spot something that you think can be improved and to offer a suggestion. And I think it's so valuable. I was at an attraction recently and I got the email at the end of the day, saying, 'How was it?' Please leave us a review. I went to click it and it didn't work. I knew the head of marketing, so I just pinged him off a quick email that just said, 'Oh, I had such a brilliant time but I couldn't leave you a review. I wanted to give you a brilliant review, but I couldn't do it because it didn't work. And that led them to go and look at all of their outbound emails, and none of them were working properly. But you know, you could walk by and just leave that alone. But I can't do it. However, it is sometimes does make you feel really awkward, couldn't you? But when I get great services in a restaurant, when somebody looks after me while at an attraction, I want to tell them how good it was, and if I can see something they can do better, I want to tell them what they could do.Massimiliano Freddi: Totally, totally. And I'm so much on the same page. I was about to say that it's equally important to call people out when they're doing well.Paul Marden: Yeah.Massimiliano Freddi: So to make sure that they are aware. And sometimes, you know, to say there was one day where I travelled during a bank holiday, and I arrived at the entire bank holiday, and I arrived to the airport, and I decided I wanted to thank each and every employee that I would meet because they were there that day. I mean. We got used that Sundays are no longer Sundays, but the bank holidays, these are the moments in which you spend time with your family and with your kids and so on. And if you're there and you're working, I mean, it's good that somebody sees you and tells you, 'Hey, thank you because you're working even today, you know?' And you can tell how everybody gets surprised. So I think that we learn so much more by positive reinforcement.Massimiliano Freddi: And so how important it is also to tell attractions, facilities, managers, CEOs. I mean, CEOs, they are so used to just getting... I can't use swear words. Yes, you can. Under those kind of storms, you know, all the time, all the time. And so when a CEO does something good, come on, let's tell her.Paul Marden: Yeah, it's a really lonely job. And all you get is... is the spankings and the tellings off. Isn't it? So when they get it right, they definitely need a pat on the back because they're not going to get it. They're not going to get it. So I can't believe this. At the age of 28, you made your dream come true and you were managing director of a theme park in Italy for Minitalia, which became Leolandia, in this role you took guest numbers from 300, 000 guests a year to over 800,000.Paul Marden: Tell us that story. How do you so dramatically increase footfall at the attraction?Massimiliano Freddi: I don't think it was me. I think it was a great teamwork because it's a great teamwork, you know, and you can grow this much. If your operation is working very well, if your safety is right on spot, if the park is clean, you know, and so on. I can tell you one thing that when we were at the basic level, so at the very beginning, of course, we couldn't afford to buy big attractions or too heavily themed. And we needed really, I remember that the first Halloween, we had a 10K budget, 10,000 euro budget for a whole month of Halloween. Okay, so we would go to the do-it-yourself stores and buy brooms and build everything. I mean, that was a magical moment because it created the capability of the team to envision that, if you want, you can do with the things you have. And of course, with a huge budget, you can do fantastic things.Massimiliano Freddi: But sometimes, you know, this helps. So in that moment... TripAdvisor was a true success still. We're talking about 20 years ago. So TripAdvisor was kind of the reference. That's even before Google Maps and all that. So I remember that I did an analysis and I understood that every restaurant or park who had over 4. 5 out of 5 was growing. And having 4 out of 5 was not enough. Now we call it NPS, we call it a different way. But there, in this practical way, so I remember this moment with my team saying, 'Hey, we need to be obsessed with getting five stars.' And this is the point. So what can we do? First of all, we can have the cleanest toilets on earth. Let's make sure that the smell is good, they are super clean, and so on. Because people, that's a level of service. Of course, this is not a driver of visit, but this is a driver of satisfaction. And in the same way, let's start to work with better suppliers when it comes to food and beverage.Massimiliano Freddi: Let's start to make things more comfortable. So I think that this was the first thing. The second aspect, again, it's very much linked to IAAPA because I think that attending the show every year and knowing the people. At that time, Jakob Wahl, he used to be one of the employees of IAAPA in Brussels. I don't think he was a manager at the time yet. He was in charge of keeping relationships with members. So I reached out to him. We are the same age. I reached out to him and I said, 'Hey, I would love to visit a few facilities in other countries because I need to get fresh ideas.' It was a very delicate moment. We came out of two bad seasons due to bad weather. Because then you know, you don't go from here to here as a straight line, but always as this roller coaster. And in a moment you think, 'Oh, I made it.' There's a dip.Paul Marden: Yeah.Massimiliano Freddi: You can never sleep. And so he put me in contact with several facilities. I visited some in Belgium, in the Netherlands, and in the UK. And in the UK, I visited this, at that time, small park still called Paulton's Park. You might know that. I remember it was a weekday with bad weather and the parking lot was packed. And I was like, 'How comes?' Kids are not at school today. What is the point? I enter the park. The park is, yeah, not so crowded. So I really suspect that they are, you know, keeping the people all shut down together in a place. I don't know. I don't know what the point was. And then I enter the Peppa Pig's World.Massimiliano Freddi: And it blows my mind. And again, what blows my mind is that it didn't have any huge attraction. But it had that feeling. And people were just so happy. It was magic. Little kids there with their families, a lot of strollers all over the place, traffic jams due to strollers. And so I came back and I said, 'Hey, we need to get Peppa Pig.' And I remember that the team was like, 'It can't happen.' It has happened. In the end, we were the second park in the world after Paulton's Park to get Peppa. And that reshaped the entire strategy of the park we had at that time, turning it into what we wanted to achieve, is to become the best park for the kids under the age of 10 in Southern Europe. And best means really the best, rated from the bottom of the heart. And so this is what has happened. So I think that, you know, before Leolandia, I had worked for Disneyland Paris and I'm a big Disney fan. So that was kind of the school I had attended and I just had to apply. The theory that I've learned, I had to apply it, and I had a fantastic team and the resources to do that.Paul Marden: Amazing. Now, fast forward to 2018, and you've taken the step from MD to founder and founded Wonderwood on Lake Maggiore. Now, let's test my Italian. You've also founded Wonderwood Spina Verde. Massimiliano Freddi: I'm speechless. I can't correct anything.Paul Marden: Wonderful. Overlooking Lake Como, both of which, by the way, were... So I've been to Maggiore and Lake Como for my honeymoon. So a beautiful, beautiful place. And you've put two parks there. How has that been?Massimiliano Freddi: It has been crazy. So I remember that the first year, and I mean, we created the company at the end of 2018. We've opened our gates in the summer of 2019. Now, if we all remember what has happened at the beginning of 2020.Paul Marden: Yeah.Massimiliano Freddi: Okay, so perfect timing. Now, I can tell you that the first season, every day, I would literally cry, but for real.Massimilliano Freddi: I was exhausted. My husband was exhausted. We thought that this was a nightmare, the worst possible nightmare. And if somebody had knocked on my door and asked me, 'Hey, could I just take it over?' I don't give you a penny. I will just take home the loans. I would have said yes. And that's because, of course, every project is over budget. Of course. No matter. No matter.Massimiliano Freddi: And when it's a family company and you don't have the money because you've contracted several loans and so on, it makes it super, super difficult. So in that moment, my call for action was because the possibility of Lake Maggiore was in the town where I spent every summer as a kid. So it was a love story. And I wanted to give back to the community. I wanted to do something in the nature that would inspire kids to hike more. To become more active and just not only to stay in front of a screen, but to do something different. So that came out of this kind of dream. And so it was a nightmare. It was a nightmare at the very beginning. Then COVID hit and we were very lucky, of course, because we didn't lose anyone from our families and friends. So I am very thankful for that. And at the same time, it gave us the possibility to stop for a second, rewind, and refine our strategy.Massimiliano Freddi: Because we had just closed the park in, I mean, the week before Christmas, and we were supposed to reopen in less than three months, but we were exhausted. So I'm telling this story because usually it's so nice to tell that the triumphs, you know, and say, 'Hey, it's been fantastic.' Yeah, we nailed it. We had, no, we made 200 mistakes.Massimiliano Freddi: And we paid for all the mistakes. So I think that in that moment, yeah, we were struggling at the beginning. We were reflecting in the middle part. And then three years ago, two to three years ago, I woke up one morning and I understood that I really loved what I was doing. And it had changed. It had changed. And seeing so many families happy and so many people visiting and seeing... How many young professionals or students started to work with us and then you see them leaping? I think that this is the most beautiful thing on earth. It's very empowering. So right now I'm in this situation where I am so grateful for this entire six years, even if they started in a way that was very, very heavy. But, you know, the Latins used to say 'per aspera ad astra.' It means... 'towards the stars through the asperities.' And so we need to go through that thing, that tunnel.Paul Marden: Absolutely. Now, as if founding your own parks wasn't enough, you also mix your time as a professor at the university. I can hear from what you were talking about, about bringing the young professionals into the park, that there's an element to you of apprenticeship almost, of teaching that next cohort of people that are going to come and take over the world.Paul Marden: How exciting is that for you to be able to mix that in at the university?Massimiliano Freddi: It's fantastic. It's fantastic. And again, it came out of passion. It came out. I didn't do a PhD after my university. My career wasn't supposed to be the academic one. And I didn't trust I would be able to do that. And then I got called for a lecture, then two lectures, and three lectures. And then, right now, I have several courses at university.Massimiliano Freddi: There's a point. The point is that, if we meet between our age of 14, 14, 15, until our 25, and if we narrow it down, it's between maybe 16 and 22, this is the moment in which it's more important to meet some mentors. And most of us don't meet mentors. They meet nice people around them, giving them very nice advice based on their experience and not seeing the talents they have in front of them. And in several cases, we are scared. We think that we are not enough. And so I really think that it's such a huge privilege for me to be able to be at university and to meet so many hundreds of students every year and to try to make my small impact so that, first of all, they can believe in themselves and they can believe that the world can be a better place, even if right now it's kind of a tough moment. But from tough moments, again, we can learn things.Massimiliano Freddi: Even at IAAPA, one of the things that I really am passionate more about is what are the spaces we can create for young professionals and students. So I want to give two very short examples. The IAAPA Foundation has evolved a lot over the last few years. We were able to collect so many more donations.Massimiliano Freddi: And now, this year, it will be a record-breaking year when it comes to scholarships to which students can apply in universities around the globe. So I think that's... But to me and to all of us in the board of the IAAPA Foundation, that's like the starting point. We are here celebrating because it's a big achievement and then we look each other in the eyes and say, 'Okay, now what's next?' Now, how can we make sure that the impact is even bigger? And if we go on the side of IAAPA, I think we are very... We pay a lot of attention to make sure that the membership fees are very low for the people entering. The word of leisure. Just a few weeks ago, it got launched on the IAAPA job board that whoever has a company and wants to post an internship, that's free to post. So that, you know, there could be thousands of internships available for students.Massimiliano Freddi: Of course, as a big association, we are used to talk to members and maybe older members because we visit facilities and we visit manufacturers and we need to deal with safety and stuff. But students and young professionals are not on the back of my head. They are like near and dear to my heart. And so my real question is: when this year ends in a couple of months, how can I dedicate myself even more to contribute to young people? Because I think that they are making a change. They will make a change. And we are learning so much from them because the work we are leaving you and me right now. I have bad news. It's no longer our world. We don't have the code to decode that. So we don't have the keys. We can just support people that are better than us and make sure that they can live, that they can teach, that they can learn. That's a bit of what I see.Paul Marden: I completely agree with you. I think it's interesting because you talk about what you're giving, but you're also getting something back. This is not entirely altruistic, is it? The support that you're giving for these young people and early career professionals, you're getting something back, enriching yourself and learning new things from them.Massimiliano Freddi: Always, always. And I think that, you know, I don't always teach. Market leisure marketing and stuff— you know, I teach marketing at a at a Master's Degree in Management of Beauty and Wellness, total different industry, you know, food and wine. As I was telling, but what I bring home every time is how much young people need to feel seen and, and this is truly important because if we create for them not a safe zone, because of course we want them to get messy. We want them to take risks, but they need to feel safe as humans and they need to feel safe as seen. And so I appreciate a lot this because then the energy that I... And you know, when we talk about IAAPA, we have so many ambassadors that have been contributing to the IAAPA trade shows and events all over the globe. We have young people joining the committees.Massimiliano Freddi: Right now, there are a few, more than a few young professional task forces around the globe that are really helping us, old people, to understand what they need. So I think that we are at the very beginning. And if I could say a dream out loud, I wish that IAAPA in five or ten years, maybe in five years, can multiply the number of young engaged people in the association by 100. 10 is not enough. 20 is by 100. We need to make an impact. And I think we want to make an impact. So hopefully.Paul Marden: Well, there's an ambition for you. And I think every... worthwhile project— every it always starts with that kind of ambitious goal— at the very beginning of it you need to be driven by that hundred times impact not the 10 times impact we we always like to finish our interviews with a book recommendation, fiction, non-fiction, industry-related or not, give us a view uh into your reading habits, okay, so can I mention more than one book? You bankrupt me because I always offer the book recommendation as a prize for people, but you can have more than one.Massimiliano Freddi: Okay. Okay. Thank you because I'm a big reader. So the first author that I would love to mention is J. K. Rowling because Harry Potter is not just a story of a kid or of magic, but it's a story of a woman who was a bit desperate. And then... She followed what she was feeling. She allowed her emotions to flow. And she has created a masterpiece. And she has impacted us all, you know, no matter business-related, non-business-related, and so on. So I think that, to read again, the first Harry Potter book, it's very important because it brings us back to some reason why, you know, and to some things. The second book that I would love to mention is a book written by Seth Godin. I have had the privilege to work for Seth for several years.Paul Marden: Really?Massimiliano Freddi: And yeah, he's an amazing guy. He's an amazing guy. And come on, he's such a generous person and he's amazing.Massimiliano Freddi: I don't have any other words that's amazing. He wrote a book maybe 10 years ago, 15 years ago called Linchpin. And Linchpin is not his most famous book, but it's the book that changed my life because it really nudges you. In a gentle and not so gentle way sometimes. No, I'm saying in a gentle way. It nudges you to don't set for what you have, but to see your inner talents and to innovate and to be creative, be generous, and so on. So, Linchpin to me is the book that changed it all for me. So, I think that everybody, young, less young, everybody should read once in a lifetime.Paul Marden: I feel like I need to go and read this because that is one Seth Godin book I have not read. So there we go. Listeners, if you would like a copy of Linchpin, then the first person that heads over to LinkedIn and reposts our show notice and says, 'I want Massimiliano's book' and can spell Massimiliano correctly, will have a copy of the book sent to them. We've got IAAPA Europe taking place next week in Barcelona.Paul Marden: And we have a very special Skip the Queue announcement. We are going to be hitting the show floor on a daily basis. We are going to go live for daily episodes of Skip the Queue from the show floor. We're going to be talking to operators about what their challenges are like. Finding out what new supplier announcements are coming out. And the Skip the Queue team is going to be feverishly working away. We'll be recording during the day and Steve and Wenalyn will be editing and producing through the night, ready to post the show the following morning. So I'm very excited about that.Massimiliano Freddi: And I think we are super excited to have you guys on the trade show floor. And I recommend... Of course, visiting it, making the most out of it, and don't underestimate the fantastic education sessions that take place. There is a strong lineup of speakers that will impact the way that the industry will be in a few years. So, great opportunity.Paul Marden: How's that for a trailer? That sounds amazing. Massimilliano, it really has been a pleasure to talk to you.Massimiliano Freddi: Thank you so much, Paul, for me as well. And see you in Barcelona.Paul Marden: Yes, how exciting. Looking forward to it.Paul Marden: Remember, if you'd like a copy of today's book, head over to LinkedIn and repost our show notice saying, 'I want a copy of Massimiliano's book.' If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your podcasting platform. It really helps people to find the show. If you didn't enjoy it, or you've got ideas about how we could improve the show, then let us know at hello@skipthequeue.fm. My thanks to Massimiliano and his team at IAAPA for their help with this episode. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, the digital agency that creates amazing websites for ambitious visitor attractions. This episode was written by Emily Burrows, produced by Wenalyn Dionaldo and edited by Steve Folland. To Skip the Queue team, also includes Sami Entwistle, Sinead Kimberley, Claire Furnival, and Andy Povey. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report
In this episode of Creative OnPurpose Live, Scott explores the heart of meaningful creative work—where art meets audience, and every act of creation becomes an opportunity to serve with intention and integrity. Drawing on insights from Seth Godin's altMBA, a 30-year career as a professional musician, and his Purpose-Driven Prosperity Model, Scott unpacks how to elevate your everyday creativity into art that resonates and endures.What You'll Hear in This Episode:* How defining creativity as “bringing forth the new” sets the stage for purposeful expression* Why sharing your work publicly—and with a specific audience in mind—transforms it into true art* The soundcheck metaphor: what vetting your sound—and your collaborators—reveals about respect for your craft and your audience* The pitfalls of “volume over value” and how dialing down invites listeners to lean in and connect* Attention to detail: from setup to delivery, every choice reflects your professionalism and empathy* Translating musician-learned principles into business: caring for collaborators, clients, and community with equal rigor* Applying the Purpose-Driven Prosperity Model to align your strengths, values, and ideal lifestyle for sustainable successReady to Go Deeper?Subscribe to the Purpose-Driven Prosperity Model: Join Scott each week for more conversations on building a business—and a life—you love. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit creativeonpurpose.substack.com/subscribe
Seth Godin is a true visionary thinker and renaissance man. He is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work, and his books have been translated into 38 languages. Godin also writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world at seths.blog, and two of his TED talks are among the most popular of all time. Seth is a serial entrepreneur—the founder of the altMBA, the social media pioneer Squidoo, and Yoyodyne, one of the first internet companies. Seth joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to discuss the rise of AI, the need for education disruption, and his new book, The Song of Significance. This episode of the Elevate Podcast is sponsored by: Shopify: shopify.com/elevate Indeed: indeed.com/elevate Framer: framer.com BambooHR: bamboohr.com/freedemo IDEO U: ideou.com/elevate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ian Orekondy is the Director of Media, Analytics & Innovation at Method1, where he applies data-driven strategies and behavioral science to optimize media planning and brand impact for clients like PepsiCo, Gap, and Merck . Joining Method1 in early 2024, Ian has nearly two decades of experience across media, analytics, product, and ad-tech leadership roles Before Method1, Ian founded PranifyRx, an AI-powered ad data platform focused on pharmaceutical marketing, and held senior product and leadership positions at AdComplyRx, Good Apple, United Business Media, and Rosetta . He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from SUNY Buffalo and earned an altMBA certificate from Seth Godin signalhire.com.Ian's cross-functional expertise in connecting technology, analytics, and creative strategy makes him a key driver of innovative, measurable campaigns in a privacy-first world.
Legendary Seth Godin, bestselling author of Linchpin, Purple Cow, The Dip, Tribes, and The Practice on wrestling with creative resistance, getting past self-doubt, and how to build a resilient creative practice that thrives—even in an age of AIWe talk about:Why writing isn't about talent—but about creating the conditions for skillWhy “Do you like it?” is the wrong question to askAnd how to build a resilient creative practice that thrives—even in an age of AIHow to keep going when there's no map and no promise of success*About Seth GodinSeth Godin is the author of 21 bestselling books that have reshaped the way people think about marketing, leadership, and creative work. His books have been translated into 39 languages and include Linchpin, Purple Cow, The Dip, Tribes, and The Practice. He's also the founder of altMBA, the Carbon Almanac, and multiple pioneering ventures in the online business world. Seth writes one of the most popular blogs in the world and continues to inspire millions of creators to make and ship work that matters.*Resources and Links:
Wes Kao is an executive coach, advisor, and instructor, best known for her newsletter on high-impact communication, and for co-founding course platform Maven and the AltMBA with Seth Godin. Across her career, Wes has helped leaders communicate with clarity and conviction, whether it's rallying a team, pitching investors, or influencing stakeholders. In this episode, Wes and Brett unpack how founders can be more persuasive, why playing to your strengths is critical, and how everyone can raise their own standards. --- In today's episode, we discuss: Wes' “personality-message fit” framework Why charisma is misunderstood How anyone can improve their communication What being told you need to “be more strategic” actually means and much more… --- Referenced: AltMBA: https://altmba.com/ Maven: https://maven.com/ Seth Godin: https://www.sethgodin.com/ Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/ --- Where to find Wes: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weskao --- Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson --- Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast --- Timestamps: (1:54) Charisma is misunderstood (4:44) What underpins authenticity? (13:53) Clarity in communication (16:02) Start with your ideal outcome (22:05) The role of power dynamics (26:39) Should you work on weaknesses? (29:02) Effective self-reflection (32:13) Role-strength fit (37:39) What do you resent? (39:17) “Be more strategic” (45:20) Stack ranking (51:45) How AltMBA started (60:04) Defining your craft
Wes Kao is an entrepreneur, coach, and advisor. She co-founded the live learning platform Maven, backed by First Round and a16z. Before Maven, Wes co-created the altMBA with best-selling author Seth Godin. Today, Wes teaches a popular course on executive communication and influence. Through her course and one-on-one coaching, she's helped thousands of operators, founders, and product leaders master the art of influence through clear, compelling communication. Known for her surgical writing style and no-BS frameworks, Wes returns to the pod to deliver a tactical master class on becoming a sharper, more persuasive communicator—at work, in meetings, and across your career.What you'll learn:1. The #1 communication mistake leaders make—and Wes's proven fix to instantly gain buy-in2. Wes's MOO (Most Obvious Objection) framework to consistently anticipate and overcome pushback in meetings3. How to master concise communication—including Wes's tactical approach for brevity without losing meaning4. The art of executive presence: actionable strategies for conveying confidence and clarity, even under pressure5. The “sales, then logistics” framework—and why your ideas keep getting ignored without it6. The power of “signposting”—and why executives skim your docs without it7. Exactly how to give feedback that works—Wes's “strategy, not self-expression” principle to drive behavior change without friction8. Practical ways to instantly improve your writing, emails, and Slack messages—simple techniques Wes teaches executives9. Managing up like a pro: Wes's clear, practical advice on earning trust, building credibility, and aligning with senior leaders10. Career accelerators: specific habits and tactics from Wes for growing your influence, advancing your career, and standing out11. Real-world communication examples—Wes breaks down real scenarios she's solved, providing step-by-step solutions you can copy today—Brought to you by:• WorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUs• Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security• Coda—The all-in-one collaborative workspace—Where to find Wes Kao:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weskao/• Website: https://www.weskao.com/• Maven course: https://maven.com/wes-kao/executive-communication-influence—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Wes Kao(05:34) Working with Wes(06:58) The importance of communication(10:44) Sales before logistics(18:20) Being concise(24:31) Books to help you become a better writer(27:30) Signposting and formatting(32:05) How to develop and practice your communication skills(40:41) Slack communication(42:23) Confidence in communication(50:17) The MOO framework(54:00) Staying calm in high-stakes conversations(57:36) Which tactic to start with(58:53) Effective tactics for managing up(01:04:53) Giving constructive feedback: strategy, not self-expression(01:09:39) Delegating effectively while maintaining high standards(01:16:36) The swipe file: collecting inspiration for better communication(01:19:59) Leveraging AI for better communication(01:22:01) Lightning round—Referenced:• Persuasive communication and managing up | Wes Kao (Maven, Seth Godin, Section4): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/persuasive-communication-wes-kao• Making Meta | Andrew ‘Boz' Bosworth (CTO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/making-meta-andrew-boz-bosworth-cto• Communication is the job: https://boz.com/articles/communication-is-the-job• Maven: https://maven.com/• Sales, not logistics: https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/sales-not-logistics• How to be more concise: https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/how-to-be-concise• Signposting: How to reduce cognitive load for your reader: https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/sign-posting-how-to-reduce-cognitive• Airbnb's Vlad Loktev on embracing chaos, inquiry over advocacy, poking the bear, and “impact, impact, impact” (Partner at Index Ventures, Airbnb GM/VP Product): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/impact-impact-impact-vlad-loktev• Tone and words: Use accurate language: https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/tone-and-words-use-accurate-language• Quote by Joan Didion: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/264509-i-don-t-know-what-i-think-until-i-write-it• Strategy, not self-expression: How to decide what to say when giving feedback: https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/strategy-not-self-expression• Tobi Lütke's leadership playbook: Playing infinite games, operating from first principles, and maximizing human potential (founder and CEO of Shopify): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/tobi-lutkes-leadership-playbook• The CEDAF framework: Delegating gets easier when you get better at explaining your ideas: https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/delegating-and-explaining• Swipe file: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swipe_file• Apple Notes: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notes/id1110145109• Claude: https://claude.ai/new• ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/• Arianna Huffington's phone bed charging station (Oak): https://www.amazon.com/Arianna-Huffingtons-Phone-Charging-Station/dp/B079C5DBF4?th=1• The Harlan Coben Collection on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/81180221• Oral-B Pro 1000 rechargeable electric toothbrush: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UKM9CO/• The Best Electric Toothbrush: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-electric-toothbrush/• Glengarry Glen Ross on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Glengarry-Glen-Ross-James-Foley/dp/B002NN5F7A• 1,000,000: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/1000000—Recommended books:• On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction: https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Well-Classic-Guide-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548/• Stein on Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies: https://www.amazon.com/Stein-Writing-Successful-Techniques-Strategies/dp/0312254210/• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft: https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Memoir-Craft-Stephen-King/dp/1982159375• Several Short Sentences About Writing: https://www.amazon.com/Several-Short-Sentences-About-Writing/dp/0307279413/• High Output Management: https://www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove/dp/0679762884• Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Brain-Work-Revised-Updated/dp/0063003155/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
Seth Godin has published over 20 bestselling books that have been translated into nearly 40 languages. He's the founder of the altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, which have been taken by more than 60,000 people. He hosts a podcast, also called Akimbo, and has 5 TED Talks. Seth joins Google to talk about his book, “The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams.” The book contemplates all things work: why it is the way it is, why it's gotten so bad, and what all of us–especially leaders–can do to make it better. Originally published in June 2023. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.
To get started with unlimited stock media downloads at one set price, head to https://storyblocks.com/CalumJohnsonGet 50% off Jotform's Annual Plan when you use this link: https://jotform.ai/future_toolsOur Merch drops soon! Be 1 of 50 to get EXCLUSIVE ACCESS: https://bit.ly/StayDelusional2 Follow Us!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calumjohnson1?igsh=MTdzbHI1b3c1b2dmag== Twitter https://x.com/calum_johnson9?s=21 Seth Godin https://www.instagram.com/sethgodin?igsh=aXR5am5sZWVvbW54 Watch our episode with Chris Do on How To Build A $1M Personal Brand: https://youtu.be/U6jNABV8jb4?si=XHL3GF43JwNZGY3g00:00 Intro02:00 The real meaning of marketing05:41 Stop making average C**p!10:25 How to get your idea to spread 14:12 How to choose the right product to launch18:09 Why we struggle to share our story with customers26:40 The RIGHT way to pick an audience for your product 30:02 The framework to find your target audience 37:15 How to make people feel connected to your story 42:09 Authenticity is a LIE! (Don't Do It)45:10 How to convert your customers to True Fans 54:55 Start small and grow big! About the video Today's guest is Seth Godin, aka the Godfather of Marketing—a bestselling author of 18+ books, founder of altMBA, and a Hall of Fame marketer with one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world. In today's episode, he shares the 5 steps of marketing anyone can apply to build a successful business
Seth Godin is a bestselling author, teacher, and marketing pioneer known for inspiring people to think differentlyand make an impact. He's written 20 books translated into nearly 40 languages, including The Song of Significance, The Practice, and This Is Marketing. He founded the altMBA and Akimbo workshops, helping thousands level up through transformative learning experiences. He's in multiplemarketing halls of fame and continues to inspire through his daily blog.
Stand Out With Seth Godin - Blossom Your Awesome Podcast Episode 291Seth Godin joins us on this episode of the show. Seth Godin is a renowned marketing pioneer, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. Known for revolutionizing modern marketing thought, he's written over 20 books including "Purple Cow," "This Is Marketing," and "Linchpin." As the founder of altMBA and The Marketing Seminar, Godin advocates for creating remarkable products and ideas that spread naturally. His daily blog, one of the most popular in the world, has been running continuously since 2002. Through his work, he challenges conventional thinking about marketing, leadership, and creating meaningful change in the digital age.SummaryIn this engaging conversation, Seth Godin shares insights on marketing, creativity, and the importance of humility and empathy. He discusses his journey as a teacher and marketer, emphasizing the need for resilience and the value of learning from failures. Godin critiques the current state of marketing, advocating for genuine connections over noise. He introduces his new venture, GoodBids.org, aimed at revolutionizing charity auctions, and addresses pressing issues like climate change. Throughout, he encourages listeners to define their own success and to challenge the status quo.TakeawaysCreating the conditions for success is essential.Humility comes from recognizing the role of luck in success.Boredom can drive creativity and innovation.Great ideas often come from constraints and boundaries.Marketing should be about empathy and genuine connection.Failures are crucial for personal and professional growth.Mentorship is overrated; look for heroes instead.Empathy is key in teaching and marketing.Technology is a tool; understanding it is vital.Challenge the status quo to make a meaningful impact.TitlesSeth Godin: The King of MarketingNavigating the Noise of Modern MarketingSound Bites"I'm easily bored.""Don't listen to tips.""Go make a ruckus."To see more of my work - checkout my substack here. Or sign up for my weekly newsletter here.
From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2021. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. Seth Godin is the founder of the now independent altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, online seminars that have transformed the work of thousands of people. He's also founded several companies, including Yoyodyne and Squidoo. He has written 20 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 35 languages. Sandeep Ramchandani is a global thought leader in the web services business and through his (almost two decade long) experience in the space. Today he serves as the CEO of Radix, an internet domain registry which offers fresh new domain endings like .store, .online, .tech and .fun. Today, over 5 million domains from Radix are in use, primarily by small business users. Radix is currently the global leader in the New Registry space with over 25% market share. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. The purpose of work is to have life, not the other way around. 2. Be very picky in choosing who you want to work with. 3. The most effective stories are not about you, they are about your customers. Your idea can win you up to $30,000 & a chance to be on TV! Enter for your chance to win today - Ideato.Store Sponsors HubSpot Stop spreading yourself thin, and start making major moves with HubSpot. Visit Hubspot.com/marketers to learn more Airbnb If you've got an extended trip coming up and need a little help hosting while you're away, hire a co-host to do the work for you. Find a co-host at Airbnb.com/host ThriveTime Show Attend the world's highest rated business growth workshop taught personally by Clay Clark and NOW featuring Rich Dad Poor Dad Author Robert Kiyosaki and Eric Trump at ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire
From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2021. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. Seth Godin is the founder of the now independent altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, online seminars that have transformed the work of thousands of people. He's also founded several companies, including Yoyodyne and Squidoo. He has written 20 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 35 languages. Sandeep Ramchandani is a global thought leader in the web services business and through his (almost two decade long) experience in the space. Today he serves as the CEO of Radix, an internet domain registry which offers fresh new domain endings like .store, .online, .tech and .fun. Today, over 5 million domains from Radix are in use, primarily by small business users. Radix is currently the global leader in the New Registry space with over 25% market share. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. The purpose of work is to have life, not the other way around. 2. Be very picky in choosing who you want to work with. 3. The most effective stories are not about you, they are about your customers. Your idea can win you up to $30,000 & a chance to be on TV! Enter for your chance to win today - Ideato.Store Sponsors HubSpot Stop spreading yourself thin, and start making major moves with HubSpot. Visit Hubspot.com/marketers to learn more Airbnb If you've got an extended trip coming up and need a little help hosting while you're away, hire a co-host to do the work for you. Find a co-host at Airbnb.com/host ThriveTime Show Attend the world's highest rated business growth workshop taught personally by Clay Clark and NOW featuring Rich Dad Poor Dad Author Robert Kiyosaki and Eric Trump at ThrivetimeShow.com/eofire
What does it take to build a brand that's both authentic and impactful? In this episode, I sit down with marketing legend Seth Godin for an unforgettable conversation about identity in marketing and beyond. We explore the power of personal branding, the ethical dilemmas marketers face today, and why authenticity is the key to building genuine connections. From unpacking cultural phenomena like the Swifties to examining how identity shapes consumer behavior, Seth offers profound insights that challenge traditional marketing practices and inspire a more thoughtful, human-centered approach.But our discussion doesn't stop at marketing. Seth and I dive into leadership, community building, and even the lessons we can learn as parents trying to instill core values in our kids. We tackle the balance between authenticity and consistency, the challenges of leading with integrity, and the transformative potential of meaningful connections in a digital age.Whether you're a marketer, a leader, or someone seeking to make an impact, this episode is packed with insights to help you rethink how you show up in the world.About Seth:A serial entrepreneur, Seth Godin has a degree in computer science and philosophy from Tufts University, and an MBA from Stanford Business School. He runs the altMBA, a global business-thinking workshop, and founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne. In 2013, Godin was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame, and in May 2018 he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame too. Connect with Seth:Website: https://www.sethgodin.com/Social links: https://seths.blog/socialmedia/Connect with Veronica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.
As we come to the end of the year, it's a time where many of us are reflective on what happened in the past year and what we hope for in the new year. Studies show that 1 out of 4 people quit their New Year's resolution within the first week of setting them. And most people quit before the end of January. So to help you make better decisions and stay consistent with your goals, we chat with Michelle Florendo, a decision engineer and coach for Type-A professionals. Michelle has a BS in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Michelle uses a blend of decision engineering, design thinking, and lean startup principles to help her clients map their path forward. She has led workshops at various conferences and has guest-taught on career decision making in Stanford's famous Design Your Life course. She served on the inaugural coaching team for Seth Godin's altMBA, was a founding member of the Forbes Coaches Council, was a Senior Coach for Management Leadership for Tomorrow. She teaches a decision making course for Stanford Continuing Studies and hosts the podcast, Ask A Decision Engineer. In this episode, we dive deep into: How the intersectionality of our identities, such as being a woman and being Asian, impact our career decisions. The 3 part framework to making any decision, so that you don't feel overwhelmed. Why you always have the power to make a decision, even if you feel like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. How to consistently make good decisions using not just logic but also your emotions as guidance. Want to connect with us? Connect with Michelle at www.michelleflorendo.com or www.askadecisionengineer.com. Follow Samorn on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samornselim/. Get a copy of Samorn's book, “Belonging: Self Love Lessons From A Workaholic Depressed Insomniac Lawyer” at https://tinyurl.com/2dk5hr2f. Get weekly career tips by signing up for our advice column at www.careerunicorns.com. Schedule a free 30-minute build your dream career consult by sending a message at www.careerunicorns.com.
Welcome to episode #960 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. It's not every day you get to sit down with someone who has shaped your professional life in such a profound way. I've known Seth Godin for nearly two decades. While I wouldn't say we're the kind of friends who text each other about weekend plans, there's a kinship that comes from two people who respect the craft of ideas, the power of language, and the art of making things better for others. Over the years, Seth has been a generous mentor - not in a formal sense, but in the way his words, books, and insights have seeped into the cracks of my thinking, slowly but surely changing how I approach my own work. Seth's latest book, This Is Strategy - Make Better Plans (Create a Strategy to Elevate Your Career, Community & Life), feels like a culmination of his ethos. If you've read his work before, you know his magic lies in making the complicated feel clear, the overwhelming feel doable, and the intimidating feel… well, fun. This book is no different. It's a map, not just for businesses trying to navigate a tricky economy or professionals angling for that next promotion, but for anyone looking to build something meaningful - whether it's a company, a community, or a life. And here's the thing: Seth doesn't just teach strategy; he lives it. From the outside, it might seem like his career has been one unbroken string of successes - best-selling books, a groundbreaking blog, iconic projects like The Marketing Seminar and altMBA. But what he really teaches us, and what I've seen firsthand, is that strategy is about persistence, adaptability, and the willingness to say, “I made this,” even when you're not sure how it will land. In this conversation, we went deep into not just the mechanics of strategy but the mindset behind it. Seth has this uncanny ability to get you to question your assumptions while making you feel like you're capable of anything. It's a rare kind of mentoring, and I think you'll feel it too when you listen to this episode. So, if you're someone who's wrestling with what's next - whether it's a project, a career move, or just a better way to spend your days - I hope you'll carve out some time for this one. Seth has this way of reminding you that strategy isn't about being clever; it's about being clear. And clarity? That's something we could all use more of. Enjoy the conversation... Running time: 1:03:00. Hello from beautiful Montreal. Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts. Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Six Pixels of Separation. Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook. Check out ThinkersOne. or you can connect on LinkedIn. ...or on Twitter. Here is my conversation with Seth Godin. This Is Strategy - Make Better Plans (Create a Strategy to Elevate Your Career, Community & Life). Seth's Blog. All things Seth. Follow Seth on X. Follow Seth on Instagram. Follow Seth on LinkedIn. This week's music: David Usher 'St. Lawrence River'. Chapters: (00:00) - The Journey of Influence. (02:59) - Navigating Public Speaking. (06:09) - The Impact of AI on Culture. (08:47) - Understanding Intimacy in the Digital Age. (11:59) - The Essence of Strategy. (14:50) - The Role of Story in Strategy. (17:56) - Status and Affiliation in Marketing. (20:55) - The Philosophy of Strategy. (23:59) - Empathy and Systems Change. (27:06) - The Power of Nostalgia. (29:59) - The Future of Work and Culture. (33:00) - The Role of News in Our Lives, (36:11) - Recommendations and Reflections.
Are you burdened and overwhelmed by stuff? T.K. Coleman joins Dawn and encourages us to start with the story! When we unpack the story we find that is where the emotional declutter lives. IN THIS EPISODE: 0:00 Intro :52 - Why do we sometimes feel bad after decluttering? 6:10 - You have permission to get rid of things as slowly as you need! 8:57 - Decluttering is not one size fits all 9:34 - The story of the cork 13:50 - The correlation between our internal and emotional clutter 21:00 - T.K.'s entrance into minimalism 24:02(GEM) - The t-shirt example 28:30 How telling the story helps ABOUT THE T.K. Coleman T.K. Coleman has been an educator and entrepreneur for the past twenty years. He is a co-founder of the Praxis apprenticeship program, a former head coach for Seth Godin's altMBA, and the former Education Director for the Foundation for Economic Education. Combining his experience in entrepreneurship, finance, philosophy, and theater, he delivers compelling workshops on entrepreneurship, creativity, and economic thinking to HS and College students around the country. In July 2022 T.K. joined The Minimalists Podcast as their new Co-host and is excited to help people declutter the habits and ideas that hold them back from the life they truly want. LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialtkcoleman/ T.K.'s book, Emotional Clutter: https://www.theminimalists.com/emotionalclutter/ the minimalists: https://www.theminimalists.com/ Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn
Learning Leader Show Key Takeaways Check out the episode pageRead the full notes @ podcastnotes.orgThe Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com My books: Welcome to Management - https://amzn.to/3XWyZAH The Pursuit of Excellence - https://amzn.to/4eX9vtP The Score That Matters - https://amzn.to/3zPub7Z 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! Notes: "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. 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?
Seth Godin led 300 volunteers across 40 countries to build The Carbon Almanac, a comprehensive almanac on climate change. All these people worked hard for free not because of an efficient assembly-line structure, but because of Seth's human-centric approach to work. He offered them dignity, fostered a sense of agency, and created the right environment for people to connect with meaningful work. In this episode, Seth explains why traditional work models are leading us on a “race to the bottom.” He also shares how to build high-trust teams that foster creativity and lead with significance. In this episode, Hala and Seth will discuss: - Why work isn't working anymore - Industrial Capitalism vs. Market Capitalism - How to rise by racing to the top - Why turnover is a good thing - How to create a culture of significance - What jobs will be taken away by AI - The four kinds of work - Why high-trust, high-stakes work is the future - Creating real agency and dignity at work - Why you can't treat people like a resource - And other topics… Seth Godin is one of the top marketers of our generation. He is a renowned author of dozens of international bestsellers. Seth has founded several successful companies, including Yoyodyne, which he sold to Yahoo for $30 million. He also founded the altMBA, an online leadership workshop, The Carbon Almanac, a project focused on climate change, and Squidoo, one of the internet's early popular community platforms. In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame in May 2018. Connect with Seth: Seth's Website: https://www.sethgodin.com/ Seth's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethgodin/ Seth's Twitter: https://x.com/ThisIsSethsBlog Seth's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethgodin/ Sponsored By: Teachable - Claim your free month of their Pro paid plan at https://teachable.com/ with code PROFITING Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host Fundrise - Add the Fundrise Flagship Fund to your portfolio in minutes at https://fundrise.com/PROFITING Mint Mobile - To get a new 3-month premium wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to https://mintmobile.com/profiting Working Genius - Get 20% off the $25 Working Genius assessment at https://www.workinggenius.com/ with code PROFITING at checkout Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://youngandprofiting.co/shopify Indeed - Get a $75 job credit at https://indeed.com/profiting Resources Mentioned: Seth's Book, The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams: https://www.amazon.com/Song-Significance-New-Manifesto-Teams/dp/0593715543/ The Carbon Almanac: https://thecarbonalmanac.org/ LinkedIn Secrets Masterclass, Have Job Security For Life: Use code ‘podcast' for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course. Top Tools and Products of the Month: https://youngandprofiting.com/deals/ More About Young and Profiting Download Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com Get Sponsorship Deals - youngandprofiting.com/sponsorships Leave a Review - ratethispodcast.com/yap Watch Videos - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting Follow Hala Taha LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@yapwithhala Twitter - twitter.com/yapwithhala Learn more about YAP Media's Services - yapmedia.io/
Today, I have the immense privilege of walking with one of the most influential thinkers, authors and teachers of our time, Seth Godin. Seth is the author of 21 best-selling books that have transformed how we think about marketing, leadership, and the power of creative work. His books have been translated into over 35 languages, helping readers across the globe learn to challenge the status quo and make a lasting impact. In addition to his writing, Seth is the founder of several successful businesses, including the groundbreaking altMBA, an online workshop that has revolutionized the way people learn to lead and create meaningful change. He also invented email marketing, so we can thank him for that. Above all, Seth is a teacher. He's taught at some of the most renowned business schools, founded one of the most successful online learning platforms, and spends his time sharing wisdom on everything from business strategy to life philosophy. In this episode, Seth shares his insights from his new book, This is Strategy, on how to embrace systems, time, empathy, and games to create change—not just for business, but in any aspect of life. As Seth says in the intro to the book, this is for someone who wants to make things better—which I know is all of us. -- Big thanks to our partners at Brooks Running. For over a century, Brooks has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity with how humans move. It drives their every decision and every innovation. Because they believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. And we're all moving towards something. It could be the top of a mountain, a first-ever 5K, or peace of mind after a stressful day. So… let's run there. With gear and experiences specifically designed to take you to that place. Whether it's a headspace, a feeling, a finish line, a cure for Parkinson's, more ethical treatment of animals, or even a stormy day on the New York City Aqueduct. Let's run there. Head to BrooksRunning.com to learn more. -- Also big thanks to our partners at Lifeway Foods. Lifeway is more than just a company that makes delicious, probiotic-rich kefir—it's a forward-thinking brand committed to improving the health and well-being of people around the world. Many of you are well familiar with Lifeway Kefir. But in case you're not, Kefir Kefir is an ancient healing superfood from the Caucasus Mountains that has provided microbiome support for over 2,000 years. The villagers who consumed it often lived past 100 years of age and attributed their longevity to their consumption of kefir. It's like a tart and tangy cultured milk smoothie that's packed with probiotics and bioavailable nutrients like high-quality protein, calcium, and Vitamin D to help you feel your best inside and out. Lifeway's commitment to making a positive impact is part of their DNA. Their CEO, Julie Smolyansky, is someone who I think embodies the spirit of what Seth talks about in this interview. She has a deep passion for social causes, from advocating for wellness to tackling issues like the maternal healthcare, hunger and social justice. Julie was also one of the first people to take a chance on Charity Miles, after we met at SXSW over ten years ago. It's safe to say that we wouldn't be where we are today without their support. So huge thanks to Julie and Lifeway for being such an important part of the Charity Miles story.
Even with hard work and careful planning, many businesses still struggle because they don't fully understand strategy or the systems at play in a complex world. Bothered by this common issue, Seth Godin wrote his latest book, This is Strategy, to help entrepreneurs and leaders make smarter, more strategic decisions. In this episode, Seth breaks down the four threads of strategy: time, games, empathy, and systems. He also shares practical advice to help entrepreneurs see and even change the systems that affect their success. In this episode, Hala and Seth will discuss: - What strategy is and is not - How to know if your strategy is working - The problem with focusing on tactics - Why working harder isn't enough - Spotting hidden systems affecting your business - The four pillars of strategy - Real-world examples of successful strategies - How Airbnb used timing to scale - Adapting when systems change - And other topics… Seth Godin is a well-known marketer, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of many books, including his latest, This is Strategy. His books have been translated into nearly 40 languages and have helped millions rethink marketing, business, and leadership. Seth has founded several successful companies, like Yoyodyne, which he sold to Yahoo for $30 million. He also founded Squidoo, one of the internet's early popular community platforms. In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame in May 2018. He created the altMBA, an online leadership workshop, and The Carbon Almanac, a project focused on climate change. Connect with Seth: Seth's Website: https://www.sethgodin.com/ Seth's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethgodin/ Seth's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethgodin/ Sponsored By: Teachable - Claim your free month of their Pro paid plan at https://teachable.com/ with code PROFITING Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host Fundrise - Add the Fundrise Flagship Fund to your portfolio in minutes at https://fundrise.com/PROFITING Mint Mobile - To get a new 3-month premium wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, go to https://mintmobile.com/profiting Working Genius - Get 20% off the $25 Working Genius assessment at https://www.workinggenius.com/ with code PROFITING at checkout Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://youngandprofiting.co/shopify Indeed - Get a $75 job credit at https://indeed.com/profiting Resources Mentioned: Seth's Book, This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans: https://www.amazon.com/This-Strategy-Make-Better-Plans/dp/B0D47T8S7N LinkedIn Secrets Masterclass, Have Job Security For Life: Use code ‘podcast' for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course. Top Tools and Products of the Month: https://youngandprofiting.com/deals/ More About Young and Profiting Download Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com Get Sponsorship Deals - youngandprofiting.com/sponsorships Leave a Review - ratethispodcast.com/yap Watch Videos - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting Follow Hala Taha LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@yapwithhala Twitter - twitter.com/yapwithhala Learn more about YAP Media's Services - yapmedia.io/
How do you develop a winning strategy that will help you achieve results with lasting impact?In today's changing world, it can often feel like you're spinning your wheels when it comes to trying to figure out what process will effectively help you reach your goals. Systems can be outdated, or worse, they rely on quick fix approaches that embrace short-term thinking. The key to success is identifying what the right steps are with the right reasons for doing them.I'm excited to welcome Seth Godin to the show today. Seth is a visionary in the world of marketing and strategic thinking who has revolutionized the way millions of people around the world think about work. He's the former VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo!, and founder of both the altMBA and the pioneering startup Yoyodyne. Seth is the author of more than twenty international bestselling books, and he's here to discuss his latest, This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans.A strategy starts by understanding what change you want to make and identifying the indicators that will tell you if you're on the right path. But more importantly, you have to be confident and calm enough to embrace the small changes that will lead to the systemic shifts you're seeking to make. Listen in as Seth shares his approach in strategic thinking that will challenge you to think bigger, act bolder, and truly prioritize the things that matter./ / / Are you ready to take the next step on your brain optimization journey? / / /Choose your own adventure. Below are the best places to start:>>> Free Kwik Brain Starter Pack>>> Discover Your Unique KWIK BRAIN C.O.D.E To Activate Your Genius>>> Explore My Top Brain Health Supplements for Focus, Memory, and EnergyTake your first step by choosing one of the options above, and you will find everything you need to ignite your brilliant brain and unlock your exceptional life, allowing you to achieve and surpass all of your personal and professional goals.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Seth Godin shares insightful stories and perspectives to help us think strategically and create meaningful change in a complex world. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The mindset that makes you indispensable 2) Why to embrace that you're an impostor 3) Three questions to ask with every project Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1004 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT SETH — Seth Godin is the author of 22 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 35 languages. He's also the founder of the altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, online seminars that have transformed the work of thousands of people. He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything. You might be familiar with his books Linchpin, Tribes, The Dip and Purple Cow. His book, This Is Marketing, was an instant bestseller around the world. The newest book, The Practice, is out at the end of 2020 and is already a bestseller. His newest project is leading a worldwide group of volunteers creating The Carbon Almanac. In addition to his writing and speaking, 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. His podcast is in the top 1% of all podcasts worldwide. In 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame. More than 20,000 people have taken the powerful Akimbo workshops he founded, including thealtMBA and The Marketing Seminar. • Book: This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans (website) • Book: The Practice: Shipping Creative Work • Website: Seths.blog — RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield • Book: Dune by Frank Herbert — THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • LinkedIn Jobs. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/beawesome • Lingoda. Visit try.lingoda.com/Awesome and save up to 20% off your sign up fee! Plus, get an extra $25 off with the code AWESOME • Jenni Kayne. Use the code AWESOME15 to get 15% off your order!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com My books: Welcome to Management - https://amzn.to/3XWyZAH The Pursuit of Excellence - https://amzn.to/4eX9vtP The Score That Matters - https://amzn.to/3zPub7Z 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! Notes: "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. 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?
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1414: Seth Godin challenges the notion of labeling front-line workers as the bottom of the organization, advocating instead for treating them as the foundation. He argues that employees thrive with respect, engagement, and a sense of control, and he outlines steps for leaders to foster a non-cynical, committed, and respectful workplace that ultimately benefits everyone. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://seths.blog/2016/11/its-not-the-bottom-its-the-foundation/ Quotes to ponder: "Imagine that throughout your career you were paid as little as legally possible, the last to be hired and the first to be laid off. Why is it surprising to bosses, then, that some workers respond to this arrangement by doing as little work as possible?" "People actually want to do a good job. They want to be proud of their work, they appreciate being engaged, they thrive when they have some measure of control over their day." "Step 1: A commitment, from the top, that this place is going to be different. The commitment is open-ended. It involves leading and showing up and keeping promises, for months and years into the future." Episode references: AltMBA: https://altmba.com/ The Power of Now: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Now-Guide-Spiritual-Enlightenment/dp/1577314808 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1414: Seth Godin challenges the notion of labeling front-line workers as the bottom of the organization, advocating instead for treating them as the foundation. He argues that employees thrive with respect, engagement, and a sense of control, and he outlines steps for leaders to foster a non-cynical, committed, and respectful workplace that ultimately benefits everyone. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://seths.blog/2016/11/its-not-the-bottom-its-the-foundation/ Quotes to ponder: "Imagine that throughout your career you were paid as little as legally possible, the last to be hired and the first to be laid off. Why is it surprising to bosses, then, that some workers respond to this arrangement by doing as little work as possible?" "People actually want to do a good job. They want to be proud of their work, they appreciate being engaged, they thrive when they have some measure of control over their day." "Step 1: A commitment, from the top, that this place is going to be different. The commitment is open-ended. It involves leading and showing up and keeping promises, for months and years into the future." Episode references: AltMBA: https://altmba.com/ The Power of Now: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Now-Guide-Spiritual-Enlightenment/dp/1577314808 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Seth Godin is a true visionary thinker and renaissance man. He is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work, and his books have been translated into 38 languages. Godin also writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world at seths.blog, and two of his TED talks are among the most popular of all time. Seth is a serial entrepreneur—the founder of the altMBA, the social media pioneer Squidoo, and Yoyodyne, one of the first internet companies. On this classic episode, Seth joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to discuss the rise of AI, the need for education disruption, and his new book, The Song of Significance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Industrial capitalism has treated workers like marionettes breaking down work into discreet, disconnected, repeatable actions. It loves uniformity and people who do what they're told. Seth Godin's new book, The Song of Significance, challenges us to break free of these limiting mental models, many of which are still baked into how we work.Seth Godin is an author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert whose past clients include AOL, Microsoft, Penguin, and Random House. His 20 bestselling books, Ted Talks, personal blog, and altMBA program have empowered millions of professionals to drive meaningful change at work.In this episode, Dart and Seth discuss:- The Song of Significance- Choosing and creating jobs of value instead of production- Eliminating drudgery from work- How the industrial revolution shaped work, education, and society- The power of small connections and communities in marketing- False proxies in the hiring process- The hiring method that lowers turnover and increases productivity- Criticizing work instead of the worker- And other topics…Seth Godin is a highly influential author, entrepreneur, and marketing expert whose achievements have transformed how we think about business and personal development. His company, Yoyodyne, created the first ethical commercial email and was later sold to Yahoo!, where Seth became the VP of Direct Marketing. He later founded several other successful companies, working with clients such as AOL, Microsoft, Penguin, and Random House.Seth has written 20 bestselling books translated into more than 35 languages, including Permission Marketing, Purple Cow, and, most recently, The Song of Significance. His TED Talks and personal blog have amassed millions of views, and his online workshop, altMBA, has empowered thousands of professionals to drive meaningful change in their industries. He is also the founding editor of The Carbon Almanac, a global almanac on climate created by hundreds of volunteers from over 40 countries.Resources Mentioned:The Song of Significance, by Seth Godin: https://www.amazon.com/Song-Significance-New-Manifesto-Teams/dp/0593715543The Ministry for the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson: https://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Future-Kim-Stanley-Robinson/dp/0316300136The Carbon Almanac, by Seth Godin and The Carbon Almanac Network: https://www.amazon.com/Carbon-Almanac-Its-Not-Late/dp/B09XBYL7J3 Connect with Seth:Blog: https://seths.blog/AI Bot: https://seths.blog/bot/Seth's latest book: https://seths.blog/song/
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1374: Our time is valuable, yet we often spend it without intention. Seth Godin explains how focusing on true productivity, rather than mere busyness, can help us create more value in our personal and professional lives. By measuring our outputs, prioritizing high-impact tasks, and continuously improving our skills, we can ensure that our efforts lead to meaningful results. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://seths.blog/2018/07/busyness/ Quotes to ponder: "Busy is not your job. Busy doesn't get you what you seek. Busy isn't the point. Value creation is." "The best way to improve productivity is to measure it." "You only get today once. Your team does too. How will you spend it?" Episode references: AltMBA: https://altmba.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1374: Our time is valuable, yet we often spend it without intention. Seth Godin explains how focusing on true productivity, rather than mere busyness, can help us create more value in our personal and professional lives. By measuring our outputs, prioritizing high-impact tasks, and continuously improving our skills, we can ensure that our efforts lead to meaningful results. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://seths.blog/2018/07/busyness/ Quotes to ponder: "Busy is not your job. Busy doesn't get you what you seek. Busy isn't the point. Value creation is." "The best way to improve productivity is to measure it." "You only get today once. Your team does too. How will you spend it?" Episode references: AltMBA: https://altmba.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep. 235 Is instant success holding you back from true mastery? Kipp, Kieran, and guest, Wes Kao (co-founder of Maven and altMBA), dive into the lessons learned from Seth Godin about embracing the craft, overcoming fear of failure, and achieving true success through strategic thinking. Learn more on why perfecting your skills requires deliberate effort, the crucial difference between strategy and strategic thinking, and how constructive feedback can transform teams. This episode breaks down how high standards, strong leadership, and hands-on experience are the key drivers of high performance and long-term success. Mentions Grab HubSpot's free AI-Powered Customer Platform and watch your business grow https://clickhubspot.com/cmt Wes Kao https://www.weskao.com/ Seth Godin https://seths.blog/ Maven https://maven.com/ altMBA https://altmba.com/ Resource [Free] Steal our favorite AI Prompts featured on the show! Grab them here: https://clickhubspot.com/aip We're on Social Media! Follow us for everyday marketing wisdom straight to your feed YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGtXqPiNV8YC0GMUzY-EUFg Twitter: https://twitter.com/matgpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matgpod Join our community https://landing.connect.com/matg Thank you for tuning into Marketing Against The Grain! Don't forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Apple Podcasts (so you never miss an episode)! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-against-the-grain/id1616700934 If you love this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review https://link.chtbl.com/h9_sjBKH and share your favorite episodes with friends. We really appreciate your support. Host Links: Kipp Bodnar, https://twitter.com/kippbodnar Kieran Flanagan, https://twitter.com/searchbrat ‘Marketing Against The Grain' is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Produced by Darren Clarke.
SummaryIn this episode of our podcast, "How to Raise from a16z and Sequoia Capital? with Wes Kao (Founder of Maven & altMBA)," we dive deep into the world of startups, education, and personal branding with our guest Wes Kao, a renowned founder and entrepreneur. We also explore the topics of leadership, entrepreneurship, and fundraising. Wes emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and leveraging one's strengths when starting a company. She also highlights the value of credibility indicators in fundraising and the need to find the right fit with investors. The conversation provides insights into the process of pitching to venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz. In this conversation, Wes Kao shares insights on fundraising, building a personal brand, and the challenges of scaling as a founder. Finally, Wes talks about her approach to writing newsletters and the importance of thinking deeply about the topics you write about.Takeaways1.Self-awareness and leveraging one's strengths are crucial when starting a company.2.Credibility indicators, such as fundraising from well-known venture capital firms, can provide a boost in the ecosystem.3.Leadership is learnable, and there are different ways to be a leader.Entrepreneurship can be learned, but it's important to have a point of view and an unfair advantage.4.The fundraising process should focus on finding the best fit with investors who can support the company's growth. Credibility and experience are crucial in fundraising, and first-time founders should not compare themselves to veteran founders.5.Creating a sense of inevitability in your storytelling can instill confidence in investors and de-risk your venture.6.Marketplaces like Maven differ from publishers like Reforge in the cohort-based learning space.7.Consistently sharing your ideas and insights online can unlock various opportunities and help build a personal brand.8.Writing newsletters requires deep thinking and a focus on providing valuable insights and frameworks.Chapters00:00 Trailer02:00 Who is Wes Kao05:50 Lessons from Seth Godin08:55 Shipping Fast Is Important16:20 Why Wes Kao Pickup Education Sector20:42 Can leaders and enterpreuners are by birth24:40 Unfair Advantage27:00 Fundraising and the Importance of Credibility41:51 Building a Personal Brand (Complete Guide)48:00 The Art of Writing Newsletters54:15 Ritual56:35 ConclusionConnect with Mudassir
This week on Beyond the Thesis With Papa PhD, I am bringing you a listener favorite about the imposter phenomenon in academia and beyond – my Season 4 conversation with Marc Reid, PhD, author of You Are Not a Fraud - A Scientist's Guide to the Imposter Phenomenon.Imposter feelings are ubiquitous in graduate school and throughout your career, especially after pivots into a new position or a new space.Marc has put a lot of thought into this question and I am super grateful he could come on the show and share his experience dealing with imposter feelings in his own life as a young researcher and what drove him to write a book on the subject.Also, I'd love to get to know you better! If you have 2 minutes, please fill out the Papa PhD listener survey by clicking on this link. Donate to the show and Support this podcast.Marc was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland.He completed his Masters and Carnegie Trust-sponsored PhD in Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde. Marc was then a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Edinburgh. During that time, he was inducted into the SciFinder Future Leaders in Chemistry programme.Marc's independent academic career has been fuelled by prestigious Leverhulme Trust and UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships. He has held lecturing positions at the University of Bristol and the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship. In 2021, Marc completed the altMBA.His research interests include physical organic chemistry, computer vision, virtual reality, process safety, and the Imposter Phenomenon.He lives with his wife, two kids, and border terrier in 'sunny' Glasgow. Thank you, Marc Reid! If you enjoyed this conversation with Marc, let him know by clicking the link below and leaving him a message on LinkedIn:Send Marc Reid a thank you message on Twitter!Click here to share your key take-away from this interview with David! This episode's resources: Marc Reid | LinkedinMarc Reid | FacebookYou Are Not a Fraud | Get Marc's bookMarc's list of failures wouldn't fit on a short biography (see: https://www.dr-marc-reid.com/cv-of-failures). Leave a review on Podchaser ! Support the show ! You might also like the following episodes: Martha Boeglin – Unlocking Your Thesis Writing Super Powers Anushka Khasnobish – The Power of Mentorship During a Career Pivot Terence Milstead – A Roadmap to Pivoting Into the Private Sector Natalia Bielczyk – Figuring Out Where You Fit in the Job Market as a PhDAs always, if you find value in Papa PhD and in the content I bring you every week and if you're not a nerd like me and don't want to delve into Podcast 2.0, click on one of the buttons below and send some of that value back to me by becoming a supporter on Patreon or by buying me a coffee :) Support the show on Patreon ! Or buy me a coffee :) Get the Papa PhD Career Readiness Tool kit !
#166: Seth Godin returns and lends his thoughts on corporate consolidation's threat to democracy and to our right to find, grow, and sell organic food. He also talks about the path forward and some ways to inspire effective action.Seth appears in our annual virtual symposium, which is available for instant access here:https://realorganicproject.org/symposium-2024/Seth Godin has been a force across the internet and the book shelf for decades, with 21 worldwide bestsellers and a spot earned in the American Marketing Association's Marketing Hall of Fame (2018). A successful entrepreneur, he has also made a name for himself though his altMBA course and daily blog posts. https://www.sethgodin.com/To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:https://realorganicproject.org/seth-godin-no-society-thrives-with-monopolies-episode-one-hundred-sixty-sixThe Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:https://www.realorganicproject.org/farmsWe believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000 Real Friends:https://www.realorganicproject.org/real-organic-friends/To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/The Real Organic Project Certification deadline for 2024 is 04/15/2024. Please visit RealOrganicProject.com/Apply to guarantee a 2024 visit and inspection!
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1282: In Seth Godin's exploration of whether one should work for free, he delves into the nuances of professional labor, distinguishing between activities driven by personal joy versus those committed to with professional rigor, risk, and promise. Godin argues for the strategic choice of unpaid work when it leverages exposure, trust, and positive change, critiquing simplistic equations of value and urging a nuanced understanding of when free work can amplify one's reach and reputation. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://seths.blog/2013/02/should-you-work-for-free/ Quotes to ponder: "Work is what you do as a professional, when you make a promise that involves rigor and labor (physical and emotional) and risk." "The more generous you are with your ideas, and the more they spread, the more likely it is your perceived value goes up." "If you're busy doing free work because it's a good way to hide from the difficult job of getting paid for your work, stop." Episode references: AltMBA: https://altmba.com/ Seth's TED Talks: https://www.ted.com/search?q=seth%20godin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On the Schmooze Podcast: Leadership | Strategic Networking | Relationship Building
Two decades ago, Business Week said today's guest “may be the ultimate entrepreneur for the Information Age,” because he's as focused on spreading ideas as the ideas themselves. He is a world-renowned speaker and author of 18 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 35 languages. Entrepreneur said his blog was “one of the most-loved marketing blogs on the internet.” He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting leadership, and most of all, changing everything. Some of his most well-known books include “Linchpin,” “Tribes,” “The Dip,” and “Purple Cow.” At the time of this interview, his latest book was “This Is Marketing.” He has founded several companies including Yoyodyne and Squidoo – and he is the founder of altMBA and The Marketing Seminar, online workshops that have transformed the work of thousands of people. In recognition of his ability to create and spread powerful ideas, he was inducted into the American Marketing Association's Marketing Hall of Fame. Please join me in welcoming Seth Godin. Dive into an insightful conversation with Seth Godin as he shares wisdom on leadership, marketing, and the power of spreading ideas to create positive change in the world. In this episode, we discuss: ⭐ Seth emphasizes the importance of earning trust in leadership, discerning who genuinely aligns with your vision and those who don't. ⭐ Learn from his journey as he shares insights on accepting failure, discovering his leadership strengths, and the essence of true marketing that brings about meaningful change. ⭐ Gain valuable perspectives on education, parenting, and future skills as Seth discusses how schools cultivate compliance and the role of parents in nurturing essential skills in children. ⭐ Explore his marketing philosophy centered around clarity of purpose, understanding the audience's needs, and maintaining an abundance mindset focused on giving rather than receiving. Listen to this episode with Seth Godin for a marketing masterclass that'll leave you feeling like you've hit the jackpot of ideas! Links Seth Godin on Twitter and LinkedIn www. sethgodin.com www.seth.blog Seth's podcast: Akimbo Sonder – n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. Watch 2-minute video from “Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.” Books mentioned in this episode: “Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences” by Robbie Samuels “This is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See” by Seth Godin Seth's written nearly 20 books. You'll find them all, including “Linchpin,” “Tribes,” “The Dip,” “Purple Cow” at his Amazon Author Page. On the Schmooze is a podcast that features interviews with talented professionals who have overcome challenges to achieve success. I ask probing questions, and guests share untold stories about their leadership journey and how they built and sustained their professional network. Subscribing (or following) and leaving a rating and review wherever you are listening helps this podcast be discovered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Good decision-making is not about omniscience or clairvoyance—it's more about resilience, according to today's guest, decision engineer Michelle Florendo. “Decision-making is harder than ever before, and it's not your fault,” Michelle says. “People feel like they ‘should just know' how to decide.” More About Michelle: Michelle Florendo is a decision engineer and executive coach who is passionate about teaching people how to make decisions with less stress and more clarity, from the small, consistent microdecisions over time that governs how you show up as a leader to the big macrodecisions you make about what direction to take next in business or life. Over the past decade, she has shown hundreds of driven professionals how to use the principles of decision science to grow their impact and fulfillment. She served on the inaugural coaching team for Seth Godin's altMBA, was a founding member of the Forbes Coaches Council, and helps train new coaches as a Faculty Coach at Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute. Michelle helped redesign the decision-making module in Stanford's famous Designing Your Life course and has taught courses on decision making for Stanford Continuing Studies, and hosts the podcast Ask a Decision Engineer.
Seth Godin is one of the most influential writers and thinkers of our time. He is the author of twenty-one international bestsellers, and his work has been translated into over thirty-nine languages. In this conversation with Seth, we discuss his latest books, The Song of Significance and The Practice, and how we might find the courage to make and share creative work. We also talk about the importance of prioritizing process over outcome, dealing with resistance, how creatives can measure success and why Seth believes that authenticity is a trap. *ABOUT SETH GODINSeth Godin is the author of 19 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work and have been translated into 39 languages – among them Unleashing the Ideavirus, Permission Marketing, Purple Cow, Tribes, The Dip, Linchpin, Poke the Box, and All Marketers Are Liars. He writes the most popular marketing blog in the world and speaks to audiences worldwide. He is the founder of the altMBA, the founder and former CEO of Squidoo.com, the former VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo!, and the founder of the pioneering online startup Yoyodyne.*RESOURCES & LINKSThe Song of Significance by Seth Godin The Practice by Seth Godin altMBAHow to Decide by Annie Duke The War of Art by Steven Pressfield The Carbon AlmanacElizabeth Gilbert on Hobby, Job, Career & VocationA History of Rock Music in 500 Songspurple.space For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.com
Ship it. 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar: A Year Of Doing Work That Matters by Seth Godin About the Calendar: Start your day with a motivating message from entrepreneur, bestselling author, and popular speaker Seth Godin. Be informed, inspired, and challenged with this new daily calendar. The 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar features over 300 of Seth's specially selected and edited entries distilled from his popular blog on topics such as the world's worst boss, making better tacos, the trap of listening to feedback, and "I wish I had more data." Features include: 4.5"x 4.5" page size Easel backer for desk or tabletop display Printed on FSC-certified paper with soy-based ink Tear-off pages Back of pages are blank for notes or shopping lists Day/Date reference on each page Combined weekend pages Official major world holidays and observances Reflections on work and life from entrepreneur, bestselling author, and speaker Seth Godin About Seth Godin: Seth Godin is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, speaker, and most of all, a teacher. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world where he posts every single day (which you can find by typing “seth” into Google), he has written 21 best-selling books in nearly 40 languages, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing (featured on episode 200 of The Marketing Book Podcast), was an instant bestseller worldwide. His latest books are The Song of Significance and The Practice, both bestsellers. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!). He's in the Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Fame, the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame and, just recently, the plain old no-modifier Marketing Hall of Fame. Which is pretty cool. He is probably the only person in all three. In 2015, he created the altMBA, a 31-day online leadership workshop that now has 5,000 alumni in more than 75 countries. More than 60,000 people have taken his online courses, including The Marketing Seminar, and courses found on LinkedIn Learning and Udemy. And interesting fact, he has taught hundreds of people how to juggle! Click here for this episode's website page with the links mentioned during the interview... https://www.salesartillery.com/marketing-book-podcast/ship-it-seth-godin
Margo Aaron of That Seems Important talks about the courage it takes to be happy Episode 2932: The Courage it Takes to Be Happy by Margo Aaron of That Seems Important on How to Be Truly Happy Margo Aaron is a proud graduate of Emory University, Columbia University and altMBA where she won the prestigious Walker Award. In 2017 she founded The Arena, the first virtual coworking space for solopreneurs. She's a regular contributor to Inc and lives in Jersey City as a Daywalker. The original post is located here: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/personal-growth/the-courage-it-takes-to-be-happy/ Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com Interested in advertising on the show? Visit https://www.advertisecast.com/OptimalLivingDaily Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Seth Godin is a true visionary thinker and renaissance man. He is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work, and his books have been translated into 38 languages. Godin also writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world at seths.blog, and two of his TED talks are among the most popular of all time. Seth is a serial entrepreneur—the founder of the altMBA, the social media pioneer Squidoo, and Yoyodyne, one of the first internet companies. Seth joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to discuss the rise of AI, the need for education disruption, and his new book, The Song of Significance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Margo Aaron of That Seems Important talks about what lies underneath worry Episode 1903: What Lies Underneath Worry by Margo Aaron of That Seems Important on How We Project Our Feelings Onto Others Margo Aaron is a proud graduate of Emory University, Columbia University and altMBA where she won the prestigious Walker Award. In 2017 she founded The Arena, the first virtual coworking space for solopreneurs. She's a regular contributor to Inc and lives in Jersey City as a Daywalker. The original posts are located here: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/personal-growth/what-lies-underneath-worry/ Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com Interested in advertising on the show? Visit https://www.advertisecast.com/OptimalRelationshipsDailyMarriageParenting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Margo Aaron of That Seems Important talks about being honest with yourself Episode 2812: Psychological Honesty: The Road To Self-Actualization by Margo Aaron of That Seems Important Margo Aaron is a proud graduate of Emory University, Columbia University and altMBA where she won the prestigious Walker Award. In 2017 she founded The Arena, the first virtual coworking space for solopreneurs. She's a regular contributor to Inc and lives in Jersey City as a Daywalker. The original post is located here: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/psychology/psychological-honesty-self-actualization/ Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com Interested in advertising on the show? Visit https://www.advertisecast.com/OptimalLivingDaily Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Seth Godin: The Song of Significance Seth Godin is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work. His books have been translated into 38 languages. Seth writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world, and two of his TED talks are among the most popular of all time. He is the founder of the altMBA, the social media pioneer Squidoo, and Yoyodyne, one of the first internet companies. His blog is at seths.blog and his newest book is The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams*. Seth says that the foundation of all real skills is the confidence and permission to talk to each another. No place is that more apparent than in our meetings. On this episode, Seth returns to help us move towards meetings of significance. Key Points The song of significance is about work that matters, being part of something bigger than each one of us, and doing things we're proud of. Many organizations and leaders hold meetings, but they are often reports and lectures. Meetings of significance are conversations. Despite knowing the critical important of conversations, we tend to resist them in our roles. Our work is to begin those conversations. Start with agreement on what a meeting is how we do work that matters through it. The problem is rarely with Zoom. The problem is how you show up to facilitate the meeting. Create the culture you need to serve people well by setting the tone for it. You have more power than you think. Resources Mentioned The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams* by Seth Godin Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Five Steps to Hold People Accountable, with Jonathan Raymond (episode 306) The Way to Have Conversations That Matter, with Celeste Headlee (episode 344) How to Lead Meetings That Get Results, with Mamie Kanfer Stewart (episode 358) How to Use Power Responsibly, with Vanessa Bohns (episode 551) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.
Traditional work methods are no longer effective in the American workforce. Because of the pandemic, the surge in remote work, and economic instability, employees are feeling unmotivated and constrained creatively. To solve this problem, thought leader and best-selling author Seth Godin is on the search for significance. In this episode, Seth is back on YAP to discuss key topics from his newest book, The Song of Significance: A Manifesto for Teams and the People Who Lead Them. Seth will share why industrialism is currently leading us on a “race to the bottom,” the reason why humans are not a “resource,” and how to make change happen as a significant team and leader in 2023. Seth Godin is one of the top marketers of our generation. He is the founder of the altMBA, Squidoo, and Yoyodyne, one of the first internet companies. Seth Godin is a renowned author of dozens of international bestsellers. He writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world, and two of his TED talks are amongst the most popular of all time. In this episode, Hala and Seth will discuss: - Why work isn't working anymore - Industrial Capitalism vs. Market Capitalism - New measures of productivity - What do the best jobs have in common? - Creating a culture of significance - What Seth learned from his project The Carbon Almonac - What jobs will be taken away by AI - Why we need high trust and high stakes work - How to avoid false proxies - And other topics… Seth Godin is an author, entrepreneur, and most of all, a teacher. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 bestselling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It's Your Turn (And It's Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in several countries around the world. In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world. Resources Mentioned: Seth's Website: https://www.sethgodin.com/ Seth's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethgodin/ Seth's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThisIsSethsBlog?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Seth's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethgodin/ Seth's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sethgodin/ Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/akimbo-a-podcast-from-seth-godin/id1345042626 Seth's book The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams: https://www.amazon.com/Song-Significance-New-Manifesto-Teams-ebook/dp/B0BSPJ567T The Carbon Almanac: https://thecarbonalmanac.org/ LinkedIn Secrets Masterclass, Have Job Security For Life: Use code ‘podcast' for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course. Sponsored By: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at youngandprofiting.co/shopify More About Young and Profiting Download Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new/ Get Sponsorship Deals - youngandprofiting.com/sponsorships Leave a Review - ratethispodcast.com/yap Watch Videos - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting Follow Hala Taha LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@yapwithhala Twitter - twitter.com/yapwithhala Learn more about YAP Media Agency Services - yapmedia.io/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Margo Aaron of That Seems Important talks offers a plea for personal growth Episode 2774: A Plea by Margo Aaron Margo Aaron is a proud graduate of Emory University, Columbia University and altMBA where she won the prestigious Walker Award. In 2017 she founded The Arena, the first virtual coworking space for solopreneurs. She's a regular contributor to Inc and lives in Jersey City as a Daywalker. The original post is located here: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/personal-growth/a-plea/ Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com Interested in advertising on the show? Visit https://www.advertisecast.com/OptimalLivingDaily Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brought to you by AeroPress 3-in-1 coffee press for delicious brews, Allbirds incredibly comfortable shoes, and Shopify global commerce platform providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business. Seth Godin is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work. His books have been translated into 38 languages and Seth's books include Tribes, Purple Cow, Linchpin, The Dip, and This Is Marketing. Seth writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world, and two of his TED Talks are among the most popular of all time. He is the founder of the altMBA; the social media pioneer Squidoo; and Yoyodyne, one of the first internet companies.His new book is The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams. Please enjoy!This episode is brought to you by AeroPress! If you haven't tried coffee made with an AeroPress, you're in for a treat. With more than 45,000 five-star reviews and customers in more than 60 countries, it might be the highest-rated coffee maker on the planet. This press uses a patented 3-in-1 technology that combines the best of several brew methods into one, easy-to-use, very portable device. Because it combines the best of 3 methods, you get a cup that is full bodied like a French press, smooth and complex like when using the pour-over method and rich in flavor like espresso.As I wrote in The 4-Hour Chef: “This is now, bar none, my favorite brewing method." And now they have a new Crystal Clear version—sleek enough for display and tough enough for the road. Pick one up at AeroPress.com/Tim for less than $50.*This episode is also brought to you by Allbirds! Allbirds are incredibly comfortable shoes, sustainably made, with design rooted in simplicity. I've been wearing Allbirds for the last several months, and I've been alternating between two pairs. I started with the Tree Runners (in marine blue, if you're curious), and now I'm wearing the Tree Dashers, and the Tree Dashers are my current “daily driver.” I stick with the blue hues, and the Dashers are in buoyant blue. The color pops, and I've received a ton of compliments.The Tree Dasher is an everyday running and walking shoe that's also great for light workouts. It's super comfortable, and I've been testing it on long walks in Austin and New Zealand on both trails and pavement. Find your perfect pair at Allbirds.com today and use code TIM for free socks with a purchase of $48 or more. Just add a pair of socks to your shopping cart and apply code TIM to make the pair free.*This episode is also brought to you by Shopify! Shopify is one of my favorite platforms and one of my favorite companies. Shopify is designed for anyone to sell anywhere, giving entrepreneurs the resources once reserved for big business. In no time flat, you can have a great-looking online store that brings your ideas to life, and you can have the tools to manage your day-to-day and drive sales. No coding or design experience required.Go to shopify.com/Tim to sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period. It's a great deal for a great service, so I encourage you to check it out. Take your business to the next level today by visiting shopify.com/Tim.*[05:42] The changes of aging.[10:07] How Seth gets over momentary lapses of optimism.[16:13] The Carbon Almanac.[18:40] Addressing 21st-century nihilism.[26:23] Finding significance and making a difference.[35:34] The boss and the bees.[44:47] Ethically reclaiming meaning from work in the Quaker surveillance state.[51:50] Seth's impression of my efforts over the years.[56:21] Circumnavigating false proxies.[1:02:17] Employee retention.[1:05:54] Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play.[1:08:07] Zig Ziglar.[1:12:12] Seth's early career life.[1:13:45] Seth's current career life.[1:17:01] The 140-year-old piano.[1:19:35] Meetings.[1:24:04] Page 19 thinking.[1:27:37] Soliciting useful writing feedback.[1:31:36] Parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Margo Aaron of That Seems Important talks about important life questions to ask yourself regularly Episode 2741: Why is This Fun? And Other Important Life Questions You Should Ask Yourself Regularly by Margo Aaron Margo Aaron is a proud graduate of Emory University, Columbia University and altMBA where she won the prestigious Walker Award. In 2017 she founded The Arena, the first virtual coworking space for solopreneurs. She's a regular contributor to Inc and lives in Jersey City as a Daywalker. The original posts are located here: https://www.thatseemsimportant.com/philosophy/why-is-this-fun-and-other-important-life-questions-you-should-ask-yourself-regularly/ Visit Me Online at OLDPodcast.com Interested in advertising on the show? Visit https://www.advertisecast.com/OptimalLivingDaily Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, Theragun percussive muscle therapy devices, and Shopify global commerce platform providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business. Seth Godin (@ThisIsSethsBlog) is the author of 19 international bestsellers translated into more than 35 languages, including Tribes, Purple Cow, Linchpin, The Dip, and This Is Marketing. He writes daily at Seths.blog, which is one of the most popular blogs in the world. He's also the founder of the altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, online seminars that have transformed the work of thousands of people. He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership, and most of all, changing everything. He is also the author of The Practice: Shipping Creative Work.In this episode, we explore many topics, including:The value of hacksThe magic of HamiltonWhat learning to juggle and cultivating creativity have in commonThe myth of qualityWhat Seth means by “Don't steal the revelation.”Focusing on generosity instead of anxietyChoosing the ruleset of your own game of lifeHow Joni Mitchell eschewed the safety of the sinecureWhat you would do if you knew you would fail?Please enjoy!This episode was originally published in 2020: https://tim.blog/2020/10/26/seth-godin-the-practice/*This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system. Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That's up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.*This episode is also brought to you by Shopify! Shopify is one of my favorite platforms and one of my favorite companies. Shopify is a platform designed for anyone to sell anywhere, giving entrepreneurs the resources once reserved for big business. In no time flat, you can have a great looking online store that brings your ideas to life, and you can have the tools to manage your day-to-day and drive sales. No coding or design experience required.More than a store, Shopify grows with you, and they never stop innovating, providing more and more tools to make your business better and your life easier. Go to Shopify.com/tim for a FREE trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features.*This episode is also brought to you by Theragun! Theragun is my go-to solution for recovery and restoration. It's a famous, handheld percussive therapy device that releases your deepest muscle tension. I own two Theraguns, and my girlfriend and I use them every day after workouts and before bed. The all-new Gen 4 Theragun is easy to use and has a proprietary brushless motor that's surprisingly quiet—about as quiet as an electric toothbrush.Go to Therabody.com/Tim right now and get your Gen 4 Theragun today, starting at only $179.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.