What I Learned Hanging w/ Seth Godin

Posted by Scott Williams
16 Comments
January 3, 2011
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If you have been around BigIsTheNewSmall.com for some time, you know that the inspiration for the name came from Seth Godin’s Small Is The New Big.  In my opinion and the opinion of many other Godinites, Seth is a genius.  I read his blog daily, I’ve read every one of his books and appreciate the way he thinks.

I have been “hanging” with Seth Godin via his blogs and books for about five years now.  I have not personally hung out with Seth, although we have exchanged e-mails over the years.  That’s the beauty of blogs and social media, you can “learn and hang” with some of the brightest minds on the planet via their blogs, twitter and facebook updates.

One of many things I have learned from Seth Godin is: “If you can say it in less words… do it.”  In the words of Bill O’Reilly “Keep It Pithy.”  BigIsTheNewSmall

In 2011, one of my many goals that have been inspired from hanging with Seth Godin is to write shorter, simpler, wittier and more thought provoking posts, in as few words as possible.  I am not Seth Godin and You Are Not Seth Godin…  I even wrote a post about it here.

What have you learned from Seth Godin or other Authors/Bloggers?

What do you think about shorter posts?

  • http://theperkinsblog.net Michael

    I think that the biggest thing I’ve learned Godin is that it’s okay to think differently. We need to change the way we do things if we are to be effective.

    And shorter posts? I prefer reading them because I can tell the author has put a lot of thought into those words. When I write, I try to stay under 350 words. It’s personal preference, but I think more are likely to actually get the message I’m trying to convey.

    • Scott Williams

      I have always tried to lean on the short side, but most of my social media posts are longer. I think I might try the series approach this year

  • http://www.derwinlgray.com Derwin L. Gray

    Scott,

    I like the “emotional labor” that Seth births into his books and blogs. He’s a futurist. He’s really helped me with my blogging; that if I’m going to write a blog in a world where everyone writes a blog, I need two things:

    1.) Remarkable content overflowing with emotional labor,
    2.) and a tribe.

    And yes, shorter and simpler is the way to go. Thanks.

    Pastor Derwin

    • Scott Williams

      Sometimes longer posts are just necessary, Seth will write one every now and again

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  • http://www.thedailywalk.net adam

    I cannot tell you the vast amount of info that I have taken in from other’s blogs. Especially on the topic of blogging in particular.
    I like short posts that are concise and to the point. I read lots of blogs and the shorter more efficient ones make forgoing through them all and taking it all in a lot easier.

    • Scott Williams

      Thx for making my blog one of your reads… at least for today

  • http://seekingpastor.wordpress.com seekingpastor

    Short posts are fine, but they are not my style. I tell stories. It’s hard for me to do that in less that 600-700 words.

    • Scott Williams

      Agreed… they are not for everyone, nor are they an every day thing

  • http://www.marcmillan.com Marc Millan

    Seth is the man, you are the man too bro. Seth is great at giving you a full plate of food in a in two scoops, amazing at it. It does take effort to write that way and I have been working hard it for a while, “pithy” ?? That’s just a hard word to roll out.
    M_

    • Scott Williams

      Thanks Marc, try using Pithy in sentence tis week. LOL :)

  • http://www,twitter.com/DarrenWasHere Darren

    Just thinking about Seth and what he pushes us to accomplish is often enough to get my thinking to shift to the right place.

    • Scott Williams

      agreed

  • http://thejourneydeeper.wordpress.com/ Darlene

    I am constantly amazed by his brevity and ability to say so much with so few words. Part of what keeps me reading his blog is that I can count on him to make his point quickly and be done. I don’t have that gift, but I’m trying.

    • Scott Williams

      We both are!!!

  • http://elevationlife.com Bryan Thompson

    Scott, I have been reading Seth Godin for about 5 years now as well. To me, nothing rivals his Purple Cow book, but Linchpin made me think about leadership in a way I never had before! Thanks for posting this! Happy New Year, man!

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