There are many people in the world who wear multiple hats, calling themselves an author, entrepreneur, marketer and public speaker. However, there is one individual who is a master in all of these roles. It’s Seth Godin of course. A true experimentalist, even just a spark of an idea will usually end up being tested, in the most unconventional ways by Seth. Having been tagged as “America’s greatest marketer” by American Way Magazine, he also knows a thing or two about writing, and has authored 17 bestsellers across the world that have been translated in excess of 35 languages. Indeed, you can learn a number of things from your own journey as a writer, but here are a few things Seth Godin can tell you about it.
1. Keep Writing
Seth Godin doesn’t let a day pass without writing. He makes sure he writes at least one blog post a day, and has been doing so for years. Striving for excellence means not ever stopping even when you’ve already reached the level where people applaud you for being the best that you are. Even a seasoned blogger like him never stops practicing and developing.
2. No TV
He deliberately made the decision to stop watching television. Imagine the amount of time you spend in front of the television every day. It could be an hour or so and you wouldn’t think much of it, considering you also need to spend time in relaxation. It’s important, right? But if you want to be really good at something, there are things in life that you’ll need to sacrifice, at least for now. Two hours or so in front of a television is two long, precious hours that you can learn from if you spend it on writing.
3. Don’t let anything stop you from writing
Most writers need to have some inspiration to strike before they can start writing. Seth Godin doesn’t believe that this is really important. What if it doesn’t come at the moment when you actually need it already? After all, we writers need to meet some deadlines, too! His secret is simple: write as if you talk. By doing this he’s able to produce materials that are conversational and easy to read. When you’re suffering from writer’s block, your pen seems to be the heaviest thing on earth when you hold it on your paper. Rather than letting it get you down, consider how you can simplify your writing for a while.
4. Sleep on it
There are times of course when you might have put yourself under a lot of pressure to accomplish something. The downside to this is you probably became less productive. You just got on with it, frustrating as it was, and your frustration levels kept increasing. Seth Godin advices that when this happens, leave it for a while, and get back to it with a fresher, clearer mind. There is nothing like a power nap or even better, a good night’s sleep!
5. Pay attention to details
Surely, there is a lot we can learn if we stop and pause, and take time to notice things around us. It allows us to develop critical thinking, a curious mind that always seeks out answers. As a writer, Seth Godin likes to pay attention to his surroundings, to every detail that people usually find mundane and ordinary. That is exactly why he is able to conceive ideas, sell them and make great successes out of them.
Image credit: Joi Ito on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0