Failing & Creating: Seth Speaks (on The Tim Ferriss Show) 1 of 3

I spend a lot of time driving these days, which means I'm constantly on the lookout for great new podcasts to listen to. The Tim Ferriss Show has quickly made it to the top of my list, and at the top of that "top of the list" is his interview with Seth Godin.

There's so much in this marathon conversation that before I'd even finished listening, I knew I'd have to listen again. And take notes.

The interview bounced around from topic to topic and circled back several times. I organized these notes into the three categories that resonated most with me: Failing and Creating, Not Writing, and Change-Making and Writing. Have a listen for yourself, though, and you'll probably find five other topics I could have included in these notes.

Failing and Creating

"My job is to do something that might not work." —Seth Godin

Godin doesn't present this statement as an elevator speech (29:10), but I can't wait to try it out in that context. He says he's prouder of his failures than his successes, because at least they demonstrated that he tried. His goal isn't to get good ideas; it's to get bad ones. Because once you get those, some good ideas will turn up in their midst. (37:00-ish)

When you're creating something entirely new, there's no benchmark; you can't quantify the thing you're doing. But these are the most important things to try: "Our soul is filled by the things that have never been done." (59:00)

And of course it's scary. People always feel fear, and that fear never goes away (50:00). But he offers good news from a Buddhist philosopher: "We are falling with nothing to hold onto and nothing to slow us down. The good news is, there's no ground to land on." (1:20:00-ish)

"Clear the decks so all that's left is you and the muse—you and the fear, you and the change you want to make in the world." (59:00)

Check back tomorrow for "Not Writing."