Seth Godin is an entrepreneur and marketing guru. He encourages people to think outside the box. To eschew the restraints of society and authority, and be creative in your endeavours.
As we all know, I’m not particularly creative. I also rarely think outside the box. Not because I don’t want to, but because it doesn’t come naturally to me.
So when I had lunch with 500 other people in Seth’s presence last week, I was intrigued about what Mr Godin could bring that I already didn’t know I should be doing.
Seth is a great speaker. If you haven’t seen him, you should. He really is pretty motivating, but not in a cheesy way. In a way that validates the choices you’re making, the dreams you want to get off the ground.
While he was speaking, we each had a little bingo card to cross off words as he said them. The first to get a row could yell bingo and get a free book. Being the competitive little brat that I am meant I paid more attention than I probably normally would have as I usually have a short attention span and my brain wanders off a lot. Sandwiches. But a couple of things stood out to me.
The first was to stay on my current path. While Seth speaks marketing, and in terms of selling goods or ideas, I have to revert that back to blogging. Because, like it or not, that has somehow become my actual job now. So in a sense, what I’m “selling” is me. And I’m a complete wanker. But some people get a kick out of it, and as I evolve, so does my blog. That definitely means that people unfollow or unlike or whatever as they realise I’m not a hippie preaching about natural living (I think the name Veggie Mama confuses people), or my sailor mouth offends some, or they don’t have small children any more and can’t relate, or they are upset I don’t post as many recipes as I used to now that I only do one a week.
I don’t mind the unfollows, I’m a rabid unfollower. We all go through different phases in life and fall in and out of love with things. I’m more than happy for people to fall out of love with me, or cull their input so they can go out and live their actual lives. As Seth said, you don’t want to be for everyone. The makers of Harley Davidson motorbikes don’t create bikes for all people, they create bikes for certain kinds of people. Don’t like Harley Davidson motorbikes? That’s ok. They’re not for you.
I’m not for you.
Ok maybe not you, because you’re here reading (hi!) but I’m not for everyone. I don’t want to be. And Seth says that’s OK (thanks, Seth!).
The other thing he mentioned that stood out to me is something I’ve long believed but of course, he could put it into a snappy phrase and I spend half a day trying to explain what I mean. He was talking about the levels of photography skill, and said that lots of people can produce beautiful photos. Some can produce photos that others don’t think are attractive (but that’s ok, it’s not for them). But everyone has access to the same camera.
If you don’t take that literally (please don’t, I can’t bear explaining this to you once you tell me some people can’t afford cameras), everyone has access to their ability to make their own agenda. As a result of the choices you make, of the jobs you take, of the people you meet, of your personal motivation. Everyone has the ability to do different things with that. I like to make my life the way I want it wherever possible. And yes, that sometimes means doing stuff I don’t like (remind me to tell you about that one time I worked cleaning colonoscopes to earn a living) to get to stuff I do like (travelling). Some people stop at doing stuff they don’t like and refuse to do it. But that usually means they never get to the stuff they really want to do. That’s not for me.
Mr Godin gave me permission that day to continue the way I was going. To go slowly because I’m not for everyone, and there’s no doubt that’s the long way round. But to do it how I want to because though everyone might have access to a blogging platform, what comes out on the other side is what you make it.
When I rocked up to get my book signed, I told him I almost won the bingo, but was pipped at the post. He asked my name and turned around. He walked over to the book table and signed the same poster prize the winner had received, so he also taught me trying but not winning is sometimes good enough. People like that you care enough to try hard. And when I asked him if we could take a picture he almost wasn’t going to, even though he liked my gumption enough to give me a poster. There was a lot of people still waiting, and his time was running out. At that point, if I was him, I would have said yes because I have remnants of the People Pleasing disease and I still find it hard to say no. He found it easy. I need to work on that.
But I got my photo anyway. And I did it myyyyyyy waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy.
What ‘wrong’ thing are you going to choose to do today? What will people say you’re ‘wasting time’ on? What will you be ‘blamed’ for? Go and do it!
It is so true what you say about unfollowers. I most certainly am not everyones cup of tea! Great post love xx
You’re my glass of Villa Maria, tho x
I have more unfollowers than I do followers, ‘cos that’s how I roll.
It’s rewarding being an acquired taste 😉
OMG!!! I LOVE YOU AND HIM!!!!! HURRAH!!!!
hahaha- sorry- total envy – great post- and I agree SMALL is the NEW big. I have a new blog beginning and this has totally inspired the right direction- thanks stacey!!
ha- I realise now how lame I just sounded :/
HAHAHAAH! He is inspiring you AND HE’S NOT EVEN HERE. he’s like Jebus.
I needed this. I’ve been contemplating a name change to my blog because I’ve evolved like you mentioned with yours – I’m no longer knocked up or abroad. Very much the opposite actually. My content is something else. Some people question why I keep the title and it’s made me contemplate too but after reading this… I reckon it might be ok. I’m just not for them. I’ll keep going on my path. Ta xxx
Oh if you’d asked my I’d totally have told you to change! People adapt! People might even like it. And new people will come! And you’ll even get a shot of motivation because you’ve made a big change to be more representative of yourself. What you might lose in the fallout is minor. Go for it!
Hmmm thanks. I’ll file that!
Changing it to what is also the next problem. I’m brainless.
Haha don’t ask me I’m as creative as a brown sock.
I loved reading this! Especially reading what he wrote out on initiating. Showing initiative can be scary, man! I just wrote a friend asking her if I could write a post on our communication this past weekend. I thought maybe it would make her upset. BUT she said yes! Scary initiative. Now I can get cracking on tomorrow’s post. YES! Lot’s of goodies for me to think on, Stacey. Thank you!
Hey, good for you! You won’t know if you don’t try, right? Even if it sounds weird! Think of the guy who invented the frisbee, for goodness sake.
haha! Or the Condom. The consequences of getting that wrong… hole-y moly
Hole-y indeed!
This is exactly the post that i needed to read TODAY! Thank you thank you thank you.
GO GET ‘EM, TIGER!
Thanks heaps for sharing the wisdom Stacey. RE growing slowly: I kinda believe the world only gives you what it knows you’re ready for and if you’re impatient and pushy with it, it mucks up the juju, know what I mean? That’s what I tell myself when I get impatient with slow growth anyway!
The wrong thing I did today was spend hours slaving over a guest post on a topic no-one wants to talk about. It feels great! x
yeah, stop messing with the juju! I love it when you talk about stuff nobody wants to know! I still think of you when I buy a doll, remembering how worried you were about plastic fumes and whatnot, haha x
Aw thanks luv… shopping with me is class-A boring, FYI! If I have that much angst over a doll, imagine what I’m like in the grocery store!
Blood pressure through the roof.
He said no and yet you got the photo… go you! Great post – I too welcome unfollowers. If you’re not digging me, please don’t stay!
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Hah he wanted to say no but he couldn’t! He did tell me to hurry though 😉
What a great post – just enough wisdom, a whole lotta sass and a great message (or two). What more to say? Loved it!
Gotta have the sass. That’s mandatory.
I love this post. So much that Imma gonna save it and read it again and again. I need to drum it into my head.
Spank you.
You don’t need to, I’ll be spouting it daily for life.
Awesome post!
I fell into the trap of wanting EVERYONE to love me for a while, then like your post articulates so well – I realised one day I don’t need to be everyone’s cup of tea.
The funny thing was once I embraced ‘the crazy dog lady’ within, everything became a lot more easier and enjoyable xx
When I was younger, I wanted everyone to like me (because no-one did). I was pretty shithouse at all of it, and had no guts to not care. It’s so fucking liberating just being yourself and finding people who like that, rather than being everything to everyone and hating it all.
I had breakfast with Seth (and a 1000 or so others) and loved it. No photo though! Lots of head nodding and ‘yes that’s me’. Loved his ‘people like us’ – loved his story telling. Such a great morning. Sounds like a great lunch too!
I had a ball! He was so interesting.
“It’s not for you” – so powerful and validating!
I can still hear the way he said it. So good!
I didn’t get to see Seth (there’s only so many Aussie trips a girl can get away with), but I was following Kelly Exeter’s feed while she went along. Seth provided the biggest *sorry for the Oprah reference* aha moment with his comment about “the tired”. I wrote about it on another site yesterday. LOVED IT. Apologies for the link, no pressure to visit, but scared if I try to explain it I’ll end up writing the post in its entirety in this comment box. 🙂 http://bloggingme.net/why-bloggers-need-bloggers/
Oh god, totally! The tired! He has such a knack for summing up internet-related issues so half of us are going ‘OHHHHHHH!’ That’s how I feel! (ps never apologise for a link, I trust you!)
Man I do wrong stuff all the time. I can’t help it it’s just who I am. I struggle to keep my mouth shut. Like the time I told a group of mums they should go buy vibrators & have fun with their husbands instead of lying to them & then heard them talking about excluding me from their next get together because ” that ” kind of stuff just isn’t ok. Instead of letting those woman make me feel like I was some kind of weirdo & stop speaking my mind ( even if it is just utter shit) I just found people who are ok with me as I am. It’s the same with blogging. I’m straight up about who I am, the way I speak & think so people can decide then & there if they are ok with that. If they aren’t then move along.
You would make me laugh til I cried. At first I would probably be taken aback, and then I’d laugh my ass off.
I’m always good for a laugh. Even if it is inappropriate, actually ESPECIALLY when it’s inappropriate ha!
Is it just me or does that caricature of him look like the Monopoly guy?
I definitely thought that!
You are my kinda girl! I’m not for you is so freaking empowering
it’s the best thing I could possibly say! That and “free cheese!”
Please can I have free cheeseeeee!
I needed to read this xx
I’m pleased. I hope it helps x
I feel like we should all chest bump or something. Freaking awesome inspiring stuff!! xx
Ha I’ll bump yo chest anytime, guuurl x
yes, seth! would love to hear him sometime. and is this the best pic or what?!
Ha! he was great about it.
I love this. Especially the camera analogy. I just bought the bloody camera, eight months of researching and saving because I really wanted a damn fine camera. I made it my priority. It’s nice when you realise you already know some of what the clever people are teaching 🙂