Episode

#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
listen on Spotify
2:04:12
Published: Wed Feb 10 2016
Description

I expected this episode to be amazing, and Seth 10x'd expectations. He's incredible. Seth Godin (@thisissethsblog) is the author of 17 bestselling books that have been translated into more than 35 languages. He writes about the way ideas spread, marketing, strategic quitting, leadership, and--most of all--challenging the status quo in all areas. His books include Linchpin, Tribes, The Dip, Purple Cow, and What to do When it's Your Turn (And it's Always Your Turn). 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. In 2013, Godin was inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. Recently, Godin turned the book publishing world on its ear by launching a series of four books via Kickstarter. The campaign reached its goal in just three hours and became the most successful book project in Kickstarter history. In this episode, we cover dozens of topics and stories, including some he's never discussed publicly before. Here's a small sample: A list of the audiobooks he listens to repeatedly, some once per month His morning routine, breakfast, dietary habits, and email processing Meditative practices Why he's fixated on and mastered coffee and vodka, despite the fact that he consumes neither Suggestions for going from "wantrepreneur" to entrepreneur How to determine if you're better off a "freelancer" or "entrepreneur," and the differences in his mind Why he has the most impressive cookbook collection our mutual chef friends have ever seen His rules for saying "no" to opportunities, how he thinks about public speaking, etc. His recipe for honey oatmeal vodka, and his favorite chocolates in the world Thoughts on improving how parents educate their children General philosophies and guidelines he uses for life management Enjoy! Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by Audible. I have used Audible for years and I love audio books. I have 2 to recommend: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Vagabonding by Rolf Potts All you need to do to get your free audiobook and a free 30-day trial is go to Audible.com/tim. Choose one of the above books, or choose between more than 180,000 audio programs. That could be a book, a newspaper, a magazine or even a class. It's that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and get started today. Enjoy! This podcast is brought to you by 99Designs, the world's largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs. I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body, and I've also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you're happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/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, 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.

Chapters
This episode of the podcast includes an advertisement for Tim Ferriss' email newsletter, 5 Bullet Friday, which shares short and interesting content with millions of subscribers every week.
00:00 - 01:12 (01:12)
listen on Spotify
Advertisement
Summary

This episode of the podcast includes an advertisement for Tim Ferriss' email newsletter, 5 Bullet Friday, which shares short and interesting content with millions of subscribers every week.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss interviewed world-renowned marketing expert Seth Godin on his podcast, exploring Godin's personal life, his morning routine, dietary habits, and much more while having a great time.
01:12 - 06:20 (05:08)
listen on Spotify
podcast
Summary

Tim Ferriss interviewed world-renowned marketing expert Seth Godin on his podcast, exploring Godin's personal life, his morning routine, dietary habits, and much more while having a great time.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast episode, Seth Godin shares insights on cooking and writing, emphasizing the importance of starting with the right raw materials to achieve quality results.
06:20 - 17:08 (10:48)
listen on Spotify
Cooking, Writing
Summary

In this podcast episode, Seth Godin shares insights on cooking and writing, emphasizing the importance of starting with the right raw materials to achieve quality results. He also highlights the value of working with experts and mentors to learn and grow in any field.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
This episode explores the pleasures of physical books, human-made art, and handcrafted products in an age of digital media and mass production.
17:09 - 22:09 (05:00)
listen on Spotify
Analog
Summary

This episode explores the pleasures of physical books, human-made art, and handcrafted products in an age of digital media and mass production. The host argues that embracing analog experiences adds richness and meaning to our lives.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, the speaker talks about using the power we have to make decisions and effect change when it comes to speaking engagements.
22:09 - 27:09 (05:00)
listen on Spotify
Speaking Engagements.
Summary

In this episode, the speaker talks about using the power we have to make decisions and effect change when it comes to speaking engagements. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear mission and goal in mind while accepting a speaking engagement.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Seth Godin discusses the importance of being generous, consistent, and accepting failures in creative pursuits.
27:09 - 37:09 (10:00)
listen on Spotify
Creativity
Summary

Seth Godin discusses the importance of being generous, consistent, and accepting failures in creative pursuits. He explains the evolution of his Daily Blog, and his decision to prioritize consistent output over publishing longer, less frequent posts.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Bestselling author Tim Ferriss talks about how starting with bad ideas can lead to good ones, the importance of finding the right market for your product, and the value of knowing when you're wrong in creative work.
37:09 - 44:39 (07:30)
listen on Spotify
Creative Process
Summary

Bestselling author Tim Ferriss talks about how starting with bad ideas can lead to good ones, the importance of finding the right market for your product, and the value of knowing when you're wrong in creative work.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Entrepreneurship can take two forms – building something that people need or want, or creating something that changes people's lives in a way that makes you indispensable.
44:39 - 53:57 (09:18)
listen on Spotify
Entrepreneurship
Summary

Entrepreneurship can take two forms – building something that people need or want, or creating something that changes people's lives in a way that makes you indispensable. The former is easily attainable, but the latter requires a higher level of insight and creativity.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In a world where trust and attention are rare and valuable resources, author and marketer Seth Godin emphasizes the need to focus on building trust and earning attention as a means of standing out in an increasingly noisy market.
53:57 - 1:06:15 (12:18)
listen on Spotify
Marketing
Summary

In a world where trust and attention are rare and valuable resources, author and marketer Seth Godin emphasizes the need to focus on building trust and earning attention as a means of standing out in an increasingly noisy market.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Money is a shared belief and narrative of its worth.
1:06:16 - 1:12:21 (06:05)
listen on Spotify
Money
Summary

Money is a shared belief and narrative of its worth. Once our basic needs are met, we have to decide what story we want to tell ourselves about money.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
This podcast episode delves into the two types of science fiction and how they can fundamentally change the way you perceive things.
1:12:22 - 1:21:57 (09:35)
listen on Spotify
Science Fiction
Summary

This podcast episode delves into the two types of science fiction and how they can fundamentally change the way you perceive things. It also explores the idea of changing your mind on various topics and how it's a natural part of growth.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The discussion revolves around the transformative effects of money and how it's all about debt.
1:21:58 - 1:28:38 (06:40)
listen on Spotify
Debt
Summary

The discussion revolves around the transformative effects of money and how it's all about debt. The speaker shares his own experience of working his way up from a simple bean to bar chocolate enthusiast to almost starting his own chocolate company.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
This podcast episode talks about the process of making chocolate, including tempering which aligns the molecules in the chocolate and explains why chocolate bars snap when broken.
1:28:39 - 1:34:35 (05:56)
listen on Spotify
Chocolate
Summary

This podcast episode talks about the process of making chocolate, including tempering which aligns the molecules in the chocolate and explains why chocolate bars snap when broken.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Seth Godin believes that in order to compete we must out lead or out solve the competition by teaching kids how to solve interesting problems and become leaders.
1:34:36 - 1:40:02 (05:26)
listen on Spotify
Education
Summary

Seth Godin believes that in order to compete we must out lead or out solve the competition by teaching kids how to solve interesting problems and become leaders.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Businessman and author, Seth Godin talks about the importance of overcoming skepticism and fear of failure, and the value of seeking out critical feedback in order to achieve success.
1:40:03 - 1:46:48 (06:45)
listen on Spotify
Success
Summary

Businessman and author, Seth Godin talks about the importance of overcoming skepticism and fear of failure, and the value of seeking out critical feedback in order to achieve success.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The host discusses how practicing gratitude and meditation helped him deal with professional existential crises and his decision to continue facing them.
1:46:49 - 1:52:05 (05:16)
listen on Spotify
Meditation
Summary

The host discusses how practicing gratitude and meditation helped him deal with professional existential crises and his decision to continue facing them. He also shares how the science fiction book, "Replay," helped him appreciate his life experiences, including the difficulties he faced.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast episode, the host and guest discuss the power that graduates possess and the importance of acting accordingly.
1:52:06 - 1:58:03 (05:57)
listen on Spotify
Graduation
Summary

In this podcast episode, the host and guest discuss the power that graduates possess and the importance of acting accordingly. The guest expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share his thoughts and encourages listeners to read his blog for daily inspiration.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast episode the host recommends audiobooks from Audible and promotes a design platform called 99Designs.
1:58:04 - 2:04:07 (06:03)
listen on Spotify
Audiobooks
Summary

In this podcast episode the host recommends audiobooks from Audible and promotes a design platform called 99Designs. He also mentions his Five Bullet Friday newsletter.

Episode
#138: How Seth Godin Manages His Life -- Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show