#43: Seth Godin, Author and Marketing Strategist — showing up for yourself, creating conditions for your best work, and how to deal with massive rejection Seth is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and speaker. In addition to launching one of the most popular blogs in the world, he has written 20 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It’s Your Turn (And It’s Always Your Turn). His book, This is Marketing, was an instant bestseller in countries around the world. Though renowned for his writing and speaking, Seth also founded two companies, Squidoo and Yoyodyne (acquired by Yahoo!). By focusing on everything from effective marketing and leadership, to the spread of ideas and changing everything, Seth has been able to motivate and inspire countless people around the world. In 2013, Seth was one of just three professionals inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. In an astonishing turn of events, in May 2018, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame as well. He might be the only person in both. Imagine a world where people work where they are respected, where the work – not the employee – is thoughtfully criticized, and where managers create the conditions for employees to do the best work of their lives.  Seth Godin does a deep dive on all of these and so much more in our conversation, sharing concepts from his brand new book The Song of Significance that reimagines what work and leadership can be. Key highlights in the episode Know our guest; Seth Godin (00:29) Why he does not advertise on his blog (05:11) Seth’s near-death experience and how it affected him (06:14) His book The Song of Significance (09:18) How do workplace systems impact the significance of workers, and how can they be changed? (13:38) The difference between managers and leaders (17:01)  Advice to managers on how they can create conditions that foster the significance of the workers (17:20)  The key insight from his first job that shaped his entire career (21:06) Why he never quit despite facing massive rejection early in life (25:51) Criticism vs. Feedback (30:42)  How to give constructive criticism without attacking (31:19)  Seth’s experience with the impostor syndrome and how to overcome it (41:43) How Seth has evolved as a leader (45:00) What he wishes he had known earlier on his journey (47:18) His advice for other founders as they embark on their journey to grow into leaders (47:55) Notable Quotes “We don’t get many chances to sing our song, and we don’t get many opportunities to open the door for other people. Sometimes it feels like we are going to live forever, but no one ever has, so let’s get real.” ~Seth (07:10) “Mortality comes with responsibility.”~Seth (07:54) “Systems always change; they just don’t change at first, and they don’t change on demand, but they always change.” ~Seth (15:04) “Everyone comes up with things that haven’t been done before; they just don’t write them down.” ~Seth (24:53)  “A book can be great and