241 Seth Godin Weaponise Your Creativity

At a Glance

• Creative Potential in Everyone - “I think every person has an amountsof extraordinary creativity.That, you know, 1939 in the movie business was just stunning.It was a lot of people working, but they were parallel.It wasn’t a hierarchy.” Emphasizes that everyone has the potential for creative and innovative thinking.

• Rigid Hierarchy at Apple - “And so they didn’t come out with that many different products, but the products they came out with paved the earth.They just changed everything.” Highlights how Apple’s rigid hierarchy under Tim Cook led to a focus on making stock price go up rather than changing culture through innovation.

• Future of Work and Social Hierarchy - “Because we can afford it.And if that happens, the question is where will our status roles come from? Where will our social hierarchies come from?” Delves into the potential future of work and how it might impact traditional notions of status and hierarchy.

• Purpose of Culture vs. Capitalism - “And to get there, I think we end up with a world a lot more like the amateur bloggersfear podcast fear and a lot less like how do I sell more whatever on the street cornerby hustling out the other guy.” Questions whether the purpose of culture is to enable capitalism or vice versa.

• Leverage in Making Positive Change - “We have more leverage than we thought and you don’t haveto change everything, but you can change something.” Urges people to take action and make positive changes, even if it’s just changing one thing.

What to Do

• Start Small, Change Something - We have more leverage than we thought and you don’t have to change everything, but you can change something.

• Don’t Wait, Take Action - Don’t wait till the perfect system is in place; make things better right this minute.

• Focus on Internal Measures of Success - Move away from socialized metrics of success and embrace internal measures of success.

• Re-evaluate Purpose of Culture and Capitalism - Ask yourself: Is the purpose of our culture to enable capitalism, or is the purpose of capitalism to enable culture?

• Empower Individuals to Make a Difference - Encourage people to take action and make changes for the better, rather than waiting for others to do it.

• The Power of Small Changes - Changing something can have a positive impact and be a starting point for larger change.

What to Get

• This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans by Seth Godin - Amazon

• This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn To See by Seth Godin - Amazon

• Seth Godin Book Collection - Amazon

• Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control by Stuart Russell - Amazon - Mentioned in relation to the control problem for artificial general intelligence, showcasing the speaker’s interest in technology and its impact on society.

• Blog Post “The Toxoplasma of Rage” by Scott Alexander - Discussed in the context of media influence and culture change, reflecting the speaker’s exploration of societal issues and media dynamics.

• Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear - Amazon - Referenced in relation to identity-based change and the concept of becoming what we do, indicating the speaker’s interest in personal development and habits.

Summary

In this engaging podcast episode, the host, Chris, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Seth, an accomplished author and entrepreneur. The discussion delves into various topics, including creativity, innovation, and societal values.

One of the most intriguing points made by Seth is his observation that periods of extraordinary creativity often coincide with flat organizational structures. He cites 1939 in the movie industry as a prime example, where many people worked together without a rigid hierarchy. In contrast, companies like Apple, under Tim Cook’s leadership, have prioritized stock price growth over innovation and cultural impact.

The conversation also touches on the potential future of work, with Seth speculating that AI might replace not only assembly line workers and travel agents but also creative professionals like himself. This raises questions about how society will redefine success and status in such a scenario. Seth posits that our values should shift to prioritize culture over capitalism, leading to a world where social hierarchies are based on contributions rather than wealth.

Seth also emphasizes the importance of individual agency in driving positive change. He encourages listeners to take action and make a difference, even if it seems like a small step, and suggests that collective efforts can lead to significant improvements in society. This message is especially relevant given the complex challenges facing our world today.

Throughout the conversation, Seth shares his personal insights and experiences as an author and entrepreneur. He highlights the value of shipping creative work and encourages listeners to take action, even if it means making a change for the better rather than waiting for a perfect solution. The discussion concludes with Seth sharing information about his organization, Kimbo, which offers workshops and resources for individuals looking to make a positive impact.

Overall, this podcast episode offers a compelling exploration of creativity, innovation, and societal values. It challenges listeners to think critically about the world around them and to consider their own role in driving positive change.