The Practice by Seth Godin inspires artists, writers, and entrepreneurs to stretch and commit to putting their best work out into the world.
Creative work doesn’t come with a guarantee. But there is a pattern to who succeeds and who doesn’t. And engaging in the consistent practice of its pursuit is the best way forward.
Godin insists that writer’s block is a myth, that consistency is far more important than authenticity, and that experiencing the imposter syndrome is a sign that you’re a well-adjusted human.
Most of all, he shows you what it takes to turn your passion from a private distraction to a productive contribution, the one you’ve been seeking to share all along.
With this book as your guide, you’ll learn to dance with your fear. To take the risks worth taking. And to embrace the empathy required to make work that contributes with authenticity and joy.
Scroll down and read 30 quotes from The Practice by Seth Godin.
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30 Quotes from The Practice by Seth Godin
The magic of the creative process is that there is no magic.
Creativity is a choice, it’s not a bolt of lightning from somewhere else.
Learn to juggle. Draw an owl. Make things better. Without regard for whether it’s going to work this time.
Followers aren’t searching. They’re simply following in the footsteps of the people before them. Do well on the test, comply with the instructions, move to the next rung. Leaders seek to make things better, to contribute and to find firm footing. The chance to make a difference and to be seen and respected, all at once.
When you choose to produce creative work, you’re solving a problem. Not just for you, but for those who will encounter what you’ve made.
Your part matters. Your art matters. It’s worth reminding yourself that the question isn’t “can I make art,” because you already have.
At the heart of the creative’s practice is trust: the difficult journey to trust in your self, the often hidden self, the unique human each of us lives with.
Waiting for a feeling is a luxury we don’t have time for.
If you want to change your story, change your actions first.
Art is the generous act of making things better by doing something that might not work.
Being creative is a choice and creativity is contagious.
You can choose to find your voice, or you can continue to ignore it.
Once you decide to trust your self, you will have found your passion. You’re not born with it, and you don’t have just one passion. It’s not domain-specific: it’s a choice. Our passion is simply the work we’ve trusted ourselves to do.
Of course you’re allowed to sound like you. Everyone else is taken.
Our culture is like that village. Ideas shared are ideas that spread, and ideas that spread change the world.
We make a difference in the world when we seek to make a difference. Not because it’s easy, but because it matters.
Problems have solutions. That’s what makes them problems. A problem without a solution isn’t a problem, it’s simply a situation.
You’re here to make change. We need to make things better, and we need someone to lead us. Time is fleeting and you only get today once.
Selling is simply a dance with possibility and empathy. It requires you to see the audience you’ve chosen to serve, then to bring them what they need. They might not realize it yet, but once you engage with them, either you’ll learn what’s not working in your craft or they’ll learn that you’ve created something that they’ve been waiting for, something that is filled with magic.
You can’t find a good reason until you know what you’re trying to accomplish.
The truth: if a reason doesn’t stop everyone, it’s an excuse, not an actual roadblock.
Again and again, creative leaders fail. It is the foundation of our work. We fail and then we edit and then we do it again.
You don’t have to change everything. In fact, it’s likely that you can’t.
If your story isn’t working for you, you can find a better one to take its place.
It’s hard to get blocked when you’re moving. Even if you’re not moving in the direction that you had in mind that morning.
No one can possibly do a better job of being you than you can. And the best version of you is the one who has committed to a way forward.
Trusting yourself comes from a desire to make a difference, to do something that matters.
Committing to a practice that makes our best better is all we can do.
Human connection is exponential: it scales as we create it, weaving together culture and possibility where none used to exist
The magic is that there is no magic. Start where you are. Don’t stop.
Which quote from The Practice by Seth Godin is your favorite?