5 Leadership Lessons from Seth Godin

Our society is training robots!  In some jobs and schools people have been taught to conform.  Follow the instructions and do the status quo. Shut up! Don’t speak up! Rarely, are people being taught to think out of the box.   In this downward economy the only thing to do is to stop looking down and start looking UP!  Make a change.

Seth Godin’s new book, Poke the Box is a manifesto.  The book provides key principals to taking INITITATIVE.  Seth Godin’s book encourages readers to start things now.

Here are 5  Leadership Lessons from excerpts from his new book:

1. Life is a Buzzer Box, Poke it!

Seth’s uncle created a Buzzer Box, plugged it in and gave it to his son. When you give a child a toy the child will play with it.  The child will try different things to figure out how the toy works.  The child is fearless. A child initiates and creates situations.  If you are afraid to take initiative, think like a child and go for it.

2. The most important capital in the new economy is Instigation capital

The market responds to the Power that comes with capital.  There are 5 types of capital to invest when starting an business: Financial capital, Network capital, Intellectual capital, Physical capital, Prestige captial and Instigation Captial.   However, the most important capital in the new economy is Instigation capital.   Many people and organizations have money, networking abilities, smarts, tools and a great reputation.  However, the key ingredient they are lacking to make it successful is the ability to move forward.

3.   Instead of trying to check your reputation online periodically, use the time as an opportunity to create.

Seth describes several incidences of people checking for (Social Media) updates during the busy day as though they are checking their profiles and different networks to polish their reputation online.  Seth challenges people to use the opportunity to do something original, provocative or important instead.

4. Approach your work everyday in a way that generates unique learnings and ideas worth sharing

TEDx is an independent conference where people from different fields come together to discuss ideas. If you had a chance to do a TED or TEDx talk, what would you talk about?  What type of skills do you have to teach? What areas are you a thought leader in?  You should prepare yourself to do one even if you don’t actually do it.  Approach your work like a TED conference everyday.

5.  He who fails the most wins.

Seth provides many examples of people and businesses that failed, failed and failed before they became successful. The two companies that stood out was the history of Starbucks and of  Pixal filmmaker, John Lesseter.  After reading both stories you’ll be inspired to start something.

Do you want to be the person that is hiding behind a notebook with a lot of ideas?   Do you want to blend into a crowd, stay silent and not stand out?

Or Fill in the blank “_________ starts stuff and takes the initiative”. Is it your name?

Excerpted from Poke the Box, by Seth Godin.

Let’s discuss it:

I want to share the book with one of my readers, but my Poke the box book is full of notes and highlights.

However, I took Seth’s advise and purchased a book to share.  In your own words tell me why you want a copy of the book.  Write a comment below or send me your feedback via Facebook or Twitter. Be Creative.

I will select 2 people.  1 facebook friend and 1 twitter follower on Monday 3/14/2011.

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