I was listening to the interview with Seth Godin at the Mel Robbins Podcast. I have a lot of respect for Seth. Here are my top 10 key takeaways from this podcast.
1. Pick yourself instead of waiting for permission
Stop waiting for an invitation, a publisher, or a boss to authorize your ideas. If you want to create something, make it, share it, and say, “Here, I made this”. For example, if you want to write a book, turn it into a PDF and email it to 20 people to see if it spreads.
2. Replace the word “but” with “and”
When processing challenges, swap “but” for “and”. For example, instead of saying, “I’m making positive changes, *but* my spouse doesn’t like it” (which makes the spouse an excuse to stop), say, “I’m making positive changes, *and* my spouse doesn’t like it.” This holds space for both realities and empowers you to figure out how to address the challenge.
3. Categorize your obstacles as “situations” or “problems”
Assess what is holding you back. If it is a “situation” (something you cannot change or control, like the laws of physics or someone else’s choices), let yourself off the hook and accept it. If it is a “problem,” recognize that it has a solution—even if that solution requires uncomfortable action, like a difficult conversation or sticking to a budget.
4. Accept that important work comes with resistance and “tiredness”
Stop expecting meaningful changes to be easy. If you don’t feel resistance, the task might not be important enough. When you take on a big goal, tell yourself, “I’m going to do this, *and* I’m going to get tired,” knowing that you need to be able to handle both the forward motion and the exhaustion that comes with it.
5. Define “Who is it for?” and “What is it for?”
Before you put effort into a project or post on social media, answer two specific questions: Exactly who is this for, and what is its purpose? If you cannot identify who benefits and what the impact should be, you are just hiding or floundering.
6. Start with the “smallest viable audience” and the “smallest piece of art”
Instead of getting paralyzed by massive goals, shrink them down to the smallest actionable unit . If you want to revamp your workplace but lack authority, start a lunch book club with five coworkers [13]. If you are dreaming of nursing school, volunteer at a senior home for two hours a week to start changing lives immediately.
7. Call out your own status-seeking behavior out loud
When you find yourself chasing things to keep up with others (like an expensive vacation or a kitchen remodel), pause and explicitly name what you are doing. Say out loud, “I am doing this because I am afraid,” or “I am doing this to buy status.” Naming the behavior exposes how ridiculous it is and helps you break out of the exhausting cycle of trying to fit in.
8. Stop being a perfectionist and “merely ship it”
Perfectionism is not a tool to make things better; it is an excuse to keep you from sharing your work. Instead of striving for zero defects, figure out the baseline requirements your work needs to meet (the “spec”). The minute your work meets that spec, “merely ship it” and move on to the next thing.
9. Consistently play the role of the best version of yourself
Stop using “authenticity” as an excuse to be cranky or act out. Instead, ask yourself, “If I was playing the role of the best version of me, what would that be like?”
. By intentionally choosing to show up consistently as your highest self, you will eventually grow into that person.
10. Build an accountability cohort
Do not try to make big life changes in isolation. Find a small group—one to five people—to act as a cohort. Talk to them about your goals, hold each other accountable, tell each other the truth, and challenge one another to become the best versions of yourselves.
