Book Review: Poke the Box
This is Seth Godin’s new book. It was a quick and easy read! If I had to summarize the book, I would say it is the sequel to Seth’s last book, Linchpin (which is a must read). Seth continues to encourage and inspire people to start and do great work. To ship. To make a difference. To make their lives count.
Personally, I don’t think we can read enough of books like these until we’re so convinced we can do something great that we actually go out and do it. It’s only 96 pages, you can read in one sitting. I’d encourage you to take the time to go through it! Then go start something! Ship!
Some Highlights:
- The first rule of doing work that matters Go to work on a regular basis. Art is hard. Selling is hard. Writing is hard. Making a difference is hard.
- When our name is on a project, our ego pushes us over the hump and drives us to do even better work. Ego drives us to seek acceptance, to make a difference, and to push the envelope.
- One way to start every morning with your team is to have everyone check in. Go around in a circle and let people update and contribute. It’s not a silly exercise if it helps people speak up and it communicates forward motion.
- Please stop waiting for a map. We reward those who draw maps, not those who follow them.
- I think we might be afraid of how much freedom we actually have, and how much we’re expected to do with that freedom.
- If you had a chance to do a TED talk, what would it be about? What have you discovered, what do you know, what can you teach? You should do one. Even if you don’t do one, you should be prepared to do one.
- If you don’t ship, you actually haven’t started anything at all.
- the best way to become an insider, a leader, someone who matters, is to initiate.
- Keep starting until you finish.
- If you can’t fail, it doesn’t count.
Dominique Dejonghe (1)