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Interviews: Ask American Author and Entrepreneur Seth Godin a Question
Seth Godin is an American author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker. He is just about as nerdy as it gets, receiving degrees in computer science and philosophy from Tufts University, followed by an MBA in marketing from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In the 80s, he worked as a brand manager for the non-curriculum based educational software company, Spinnaker Software, and then left to found his book packaging business, Seth Godin Productions. Soon after that he launched his marketing company Yoyodyne with Mark Hurst in 1995. Between now and then, Godin has written 17 books, such as Tribes and Linchpin, Free Prize Inside, Purple Cow, and The Dip.
You may ask Godin as many questions as you'd like (one question per comment, please). We'll pick the very best questions and forward them to Seth Godin himself. Feel free to leave your suggestions for who Slashdot should interview next.
Go on, don't be shy!
You may ask Godin as many questions as you'd like (one question per comment, please). We'll pick the very best questions and forward them to Seth Godin himself. Feel free to leave your suggestions for who Slashdot should interview next.
Go on, don't be shy!
As a young boy I always dreamed of entering the book packaging business. However I found it is very hard to get a job in that industry with so many people clamoring to get into that exciting field. Do you have any advice of how to crack into the book packaging business?
According to the Wikipedia article on Yoyodyne (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoyodyne), the one that Seth Godin started has been purchased by Yahoo! and is not the motorcycle parts supplier linked in the article summary.
Just in case anyone was as confused as I was.
Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
Seth, aside from embracing social media and creating a web presence for online ordering, what should traditionally offline small business such as a bakery be doing to stay competitive in the modern world of big data driven decisions?
With the amount of borderline insane screaming and poo-flinging taking place in US elections and fascism, xenophobia and abrahamic revelation cult fanatism drowning out many reasonable debates in the US and in Europe, I am worried that western post-war society is on the decline and the unwritten social contract in the US and other first world countries is up for grabs.
What are your thoughts on the future of our society in general, with megacorps gaining more and more unchecked power, universal 24/7 surveillance, the attack on cash and the decline of reason in the public discourse? Should we be worried? Are you? How do things look today compared to the good ol' days in your opinion?
Thanks for your insights on this.
And on a sidenote: I love your podcast interview with Tim Ferriss - it's a ball to listen to you two.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
What actually makes you qualified to answer any questions? It seems like you are famous for being famous, not for any actual work you have done. You seem to have written books and you are famous for your books, but in most case, it seems to be like the old proverb (not an English one) - those that are knowledgeable and capable work in the field and achieve, those that aren't knowledgeable and capable teach others (or write books, get rich quick schemes (just send me 1500 first), etc.)
Hey, this is Seth. My first legit question!
That's a great question. Okay. Strip naked and dance in front of the store. No wait. Call your local news and tell them first.
When the news vans come, have a catchphrase ready, like "These donuts are too sexy for youuuuuu!" Don't forget to keep dancing while you say it.
This will go viral, and business will be mooning! Happy to help you friend.
-Seth Godin, MBA in Marketing
When building a grass-roots marketing campaign for god-knows-what, how exactly do you choose which sites to grace with your presence and marketing dollars, and how in god's name did you decide that Slashdot was a forum for this sort of marketing?
So I haven't read any of your books, why should I read them?
Given that you are author of a book entitled "All Marketers are liars" and that you yourself are a marketer how do you think you can honestly answer any of our questions?
Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.
I think the Subject just about covers it.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Your daily blogs are notable for their extreme brevity. As a result of these, your words get re-printed and quoted much more than those of your longer-essaying entrepreneur peers, which probably has the happy side effect of "boosting your brand" more. Is this by design or luck, and what advice would you give your longer-winded peers about brevity? Bonus Question: What effect has the popularity of Twitter (and its character limit) had on CEO blogging, and CEO communications in general?
There is one thing that everyone here wants to know (besides who are you), and that is
Chicago deep dish pizza or New York style pizza.
You like Chicago deep dish better don't you Seth, admit it.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
I bet he likes it on Chicago style pizzas!
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
Ooooh... Meth pizza!
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
Geez people, why all the hate? I could see it directed at the pharma guy. I don't think Mr. Godin quite deserves this. Is it because he's successful? Perhaps doesn't speak to your interests?
Would you recommend a cattle prod or something more permanent for dealing with marketers with MBAs?
Did the lobotomy at the MBA graduation ceremony hurt?
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
Maybe ask this: Q: Seth, you have a very inspiring blog. What other blogs or web resources inspire you?