How does Seth Godin determine when a blog post is finished?

Seth Godin doesn't 'know' when a post is done; he treats it like a conversation. He previews and revises posts the night before publication, with the rule that making it shorter earns points. If it can't be boiled down further and isn't deliberately deceptive, it's considered done.

What is the 'character' of Seth Godin's writing, and how does it differ from 'authenticity'?

The 'character' of Seth Godin's writing is a consistent voice developed over years, akin to a Charles Schulz comic strip. It's not about raw, unvarnished emotion in the moment, but portraying a recognizable, trustworthy persona that serves the reader.

What are the core elements that define Seth Godin's writing character?

Key elements include starting with the benefit of the doubt, a level of optimism, reducing ideas to their essence without hyperbole, eliminating unnecessary parentheticals, and creating tension with an assertion that is then released by a clear delivery.

How does Seth Godin approach choosing new projects or career chapters?

Godin emphasizes creating 'vacuums' by stopping existing commitments, forcing himself to fill the void with new work. He prioritizes whether people he serves are glad he showed up and if the projects are interesting and generous, rather than maximizing income or audience size.

What is the primary payoff of writing consistently, according to Seth Godin?

The biggest payoff isn't financial, but in quieting the internal noise and establishing a reliable writing habit. Knowing that something will be published daily, regardless of perfect execution, builds momentum and ensures continuous output.

What does Seth Godin mean by a 'cure' in the context of a writer's platform?

A 'cure' refers to a writer establishing a niche or safe haven for their work, a predictable space where readers can count on a certain type of content. For Seth Godin, his blog served as this 'cure' or fortress in the online space.

How to Overcome Resistance — Seth Godin

Tim Ferriss

Howto & Style3 min read53 min video

Apr 4, 2024|18,937 views|402|16

tim ferriss 4 hour workweek 4 hour body 4 hour chef timothy ferriss entrepreneur author writer angel investor ferriss tim ferriss blog timothy ferriss speaker

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Seth Godin on writing, resistance, and finding your unique voice.

Key Insights

Blog posts should act as prompts or sketches, inviting reader participation rather than providing exhaustive answers.

Resistance is a natural hurdle in creative work; setting clear boundaries and constraints can help overcome it.

Consistency in publishing comes from treating writing as a craft or character performance, not just raw emotion.

The goal of writing is to offer value by illuminating existing truths or useful ideas in a shareable way.

Choosing 'next chapters' or projects involves creating intentional 'vacuums' to allow new work to emerge.

Authenticity in writing is less about unvarnished emotion and more about a consistent, recognizable voice.

THE ART OF THE BLOG POST: PROVOCATION OVER PRESCRIPTION

Seth Godin emphasizes that effective blog posts function more like a question or a provocation than a definitive answer. Drawing parallels to comic book storytelling, he explains that valuable content often emerges in the 'gaps' between ideas, inviting the reader's brain to make connections. This approach encourages reader engagement and personal growth, as they actively participate in understanding the message. Trying to cram too much detail or nuance into a single post, like a dense academic sentence, overwhelms the reader and misses the medium's strengths. The goal is to spark thought, not to explain exhaustively.

OVERCOMING RESISTANCE WITH STRATEGIC BOUNDARIES

Creative resistance, as described by Steven Pressfield, is a significant hurdle. Godin suggests that imposing clear rules and constraints on one's writing process can be a powerful antidote. Instead of trying to achieve perfection or exhaustive completeness, setting boundaries like word limits, specific formats (e.g., a narrative told over the phone), or required taglines helps ensure work is completed and published. These boundaries aren't about limiting creativity but about providing a framework that makes shipping the work possible, transforming the daunting task into a manageable process.

CULTIVATING A CONSISTENT WRITING VOICE

Godin advocates for treating writing as the performance of a character, much like an actor plays a role. The 'Seth Godin' character has a consistent voice, developed over years of daily blogging, which his AI parody could replicate. This voice isn't about publishing raw, unfiltered emotions or tired thoughts; it's about embodying a particular perspective and service. This consistency, exemplified by Charles Schulz's Peanuts comics, allows readers to know what to expect and builds trust, distinguishing the artist's established persona from fleeting personal moods.

THE PURPOSE OF PUBLISHING: VALUE AND SHAREABILITY

The ultimate goal of a blog post, according to Godin, is to offer value by articulating something that is either fundamentally true, interesting, or worth considering. An ideal post is something that a reader can confidently share with colleagues or friends because it resonates with their own experiences or insights. This 'shareability' is a key metric for success, more so than breaking news or novel pronouncements. The blog serves as a platform to illuminate ideas that already exist within people, making them feel seen and understood through accessible communication.

CHOOSING THE NEXT CHAPTER: CREATING INTENTIONAL VACUUMS

When contemplating new projects or career directions, Godin advocates for creating intentional 'vacuums' by stepping away from existing commitments, such as ending a successful podcast. This deliberate absence is crucial for making space for new, potentially more impactful work to emerge. It's not about idleness but about generating an uncomfortable yet necessary void that compels one to fill it with something novel and meaningful, rather than merely continuing with the familiar and easy.

THE REWARD OF THE CRAFT: AGENCY AND THE END OF NOISE

The greatest payoff of consistent writing, for Godin, is not financial but internal: it reduces the 'noise' in his head and fosters a sense of agency. Committing to publishing daily, regardless of perfection, ensures forward momentum. This practice transforms writing from a daunting act into a repeatable process. Furthermore, establishing a consistent platform, a 'ccure' or niche, provides readers with a reliable source for specific types of insights, creating a valuable and enduring connection built on predictable service.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Writing and Blogging Best Practices

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Treat blog posts as questions or provocations, not prescriptions.

Allow the reader's mind to connect the dots between ideas (like comic panels).

Write in advance and have a backlog of posts.

Rewrite posts to make them shorter.

Focus on the benefit to the reader and why they might share it.

Establish a clear genre for your blog so readers know what to expect.

Play a character or voice that is consistent and recognizable.

Begin from a place of benefit of the doubt and optimism.

Reduce ideas to their essence without exaggeration.

Eliminate parentheticals unless absolutely necessary.

If you don't understand a post, ask a friend or come back tomorrow.

Embrace creating a vacuum in your schedule to make space for new projects.

Focus on shipping work, even if imperfect, to overcome resistance.

Use tools like AI (e.g., Claude AI) to assist with reviewing and critiquing writing.

Remind yourself that life is projects, not just a job.

Avoid This

Don't try to condense complex college-level study sentences into a blog post.

Don't add too many pictures to a story that would be better in words.

Don't proofread when you mean copy edit for a friend.

Don't try to force a 5,000-word idea into a 1,000-word post; it will be exhausting.

Don't over-explain or add excessive parentheticals that clutter the message.

Don't publish posts when you are simply tired or annoyed; maintain the character's voice.

Don't rely on software streak counters to motivate you if they make you feel bad.

Don't fall into the trap of contrarianism for its own sake.

Don't maximize income per hour or audience size; focus on serving people and doing interesting, generous work.

Don't equate creating a vacuum with being idle; use it for internal creation and refinement.

Common Questions

Blog posts are effective for making leaps between ideas, allowing the reader's brain to fill in the gaps, much like panels in a comic. Longer forms can handle deeper, more layered content, but blogs are better suited for sketches and provocations that encourage reader engagement.

Mentioned in this video

bookUnderstanding Comics

A book by Scott McCloud that explores the theory and language of comics, explaining how panels and transitions work.

softwareTim.blog/Friday

The URL for signing up for Tim Ferriss's 'Five Bullet Friday' newsletter.

softwareSeth Godin's Blog

Seth Godin's popular daily blog, known for its short, insightful posts on marketing, work, and life.

companySpider Software

A software company where Seth Godin worked, focused on developing educational computer games and illustrated adventure games.

personMichael Brighton

A collaborator with Seth Godin on illustrated computer adventure games.

softwareFive Bullet Friday

Tim Ferriss's weekly newsletter that shares interesting articles, books, albums, gadgets, and tech tricks.

organizationaltMBA

An online business school founded by Seth Godin, focused on teaching leadership and marketing concepts.

conceptTwisted Copywriting

A concept discussed in the video regarding how blog posts can act as a provocation or question rather than a definitive answer.

mediaClue (VCR Game)

A murder mystery board game adapted into a VCR game, mentioned as an example of a product that did not live up to its potential.

personRay Bradbury

A celebrated science fiction author with whom Seth Godin worked on an illustrated computer adventure game.

productPatagonian toothfish

A species of fish that became known as Chilean sea bass due to marketing efforts, leading to its near extinction.

softwareSquidoo

One of the first social networks, co-founded by Seth Godin, which became the 40th largest website in the US with a small team.

conceptResistance

Steven Pressfield's concept of internal resistance that prevents writers from completing their work.

productChilean sea bass

The marketing name for Patagonian toothfish; signifies a clever, albeit destructive, marketing tactic.

personPeter Alatka

A game designer who collaborated with Seth Godin on an interactive VCR murder mystery game.

personStanley Kaplan

Founder of Stanley Kaplan test preparation services, mentioned as a contrast to Isaac Asimov regarding his micromanaging approach to projects.

mediaXKCD

groupBeastie Boys

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