Technology, business and change
When to quit and connecting the dots
I would like to share two videos featuring two well-known persons: Seth Godin and Steve Jobs. The first video is an interview with Seth Godin in which Seth talks about when to quit and why choosing the right moment is extremely important. It is of course related to his book “the dip” that you might have read, but even though you did, it’s a great video.
The second video is a speech from Steve Jobs in which he talks about a lot of things and it is somewhat related Seth’s interview. There’s a part in the video where Steve talks about the fact that he never graduated from college, but what looked like a bad decision at the time, turned out to be one of the best decision in his life: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect looking backward”.
Both videos are extremely different, but at the same time extremely similar. Enjoy!
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Froggy, good stuff! I really like these two videos. Jobs is the man and I watched that one a few days ago. But i was really fascinated by Seth’s discussion on Dips. I haven’t read, nor heard about this book, but it is interesting.
I, as many of us, have experience enough dips in my life to know exactly what he is talking about. Hell, I am going through one right now with this Online entrepreneurship goal that I have. But I will not be quitting just when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The best thing he said in here is that the people that succeed are the ones that cannot do anything else. Why? Because they spent their time and energy focused on being the best at one particular thing. That is what it takes in most businesses and endeavors, period, focus.
You have to just want it more than the next guy. Let me say this, I want to be an online entrepreneur so bad that I will do, study, discuss, read, and learn whatever skills I need to make this dream happen. And happen, it will!
Let’s take a big leap!
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I am a fan of Seth. I read his book, “Permission Marketing”. It’s one of the best book on how to turn ‘strangers into friends and into customers’.
Well, I’m a Mac fan so for obvious reasons, Steve Job inspires me for his “perfectionism” in everything he does. His biography is a joy to read.
Great videos, Ben.
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Hey Ben, thanks for the videos!the project. I am trying to beh
I never like to give up on anything, but find that if I stop working on it for too long, then I lose all the ‘flow’ that I had with it – namely losing interest in it. Thats about the time I decide to give up on them…albeit Im trying to be a bit better now, what with my ideas developing.
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Thanks for sharing. It is always very good to see such a big names talking. They are creators of big ideas and they have vision for success and future, and if you can understand what is behind their talk and follow their advice you can make a huge self personal progress.
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Nice picks Ben. Seth Godin has a bunch of videos that are worth watching on YouTube. He has a lot to offer and is a great speaker.
I seemed a little strange to see a collage dropout address a graduation ceremony but if you can get Steve Jobs that’s just a small detail.
@Yan: If Seth’s book “Permission Marketing” is one of your secrets to success I’m going to read it.
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@Brian: I’ve learned a thing or two (maybe there) from the book and I highly recommend it. It’s one of my secrets to FUTURE success…
Yan
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[...] issue. Once you get into the ‘groove’ it becomes really easy. Seth Godin has a great idea When to quit and connecting the dots – frogstr.com 01/10/2009 I would like to share two videos featuring two well-known persons: Seth [...]
Seth Godin brought up two issues for me. The more I learn and the more I do with this Web 2 info, the more scattered I become, finding it sometimes difficult to decide what to focus on at the moment. This feels like that moment in, “The Wizard of Oz” when Dorothy is flying in the air and nothing makes sense and everything is happening out in the wind until she lands when black and white turns into color. That time before the landing feels like a dip for me but probably isn’t. But I don’t know that at the time.
I have also observed that every once in a while, especially when I have a ToDo list with 95 thing on it, I become immobilized. And then I get depressed because I feel stuck. I am stuck, feeling that I am going to be in this mode forever. But when I look back, inevitably, these periods come just before a big breakthrough into the next step or the next big event.
I loved the Steve Jobs video at Stamford. I am a die-hard MAC user, having one since it’s birth in 1984, living in California then when excitement about the personal computer was palpable in the air one breathed. My thought about Steve Jobs is, “Jobs created jobs.”
Saw the video of Jobs a few years ago… His story is awesome! More importantly – He is right about connecting the dots looking backwards… We all just have to learn from our past mistakes and move forward.
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Ben, I hadn’t noticed the KeywordLuv before. It it new?
@Yan: Thanks, I’ll put it on my list. I’m finishing Guerrilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson right now. It’s ok but I wouldn’t recommend it unless it was free. Hey, still waiting on that theme membership site’s affiliate link.
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I don’t get bromance you people have with Steve Jobs. Who cares.
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@Freddie: You should get his book “the dip”, everyone tells me to read it! I am planning on buying it soon to get some more inspiration.
It will definitely happen for you Freddie, you put all the efforts needed to be an online entrepreneur and you couldn’t possibly quit without having me and a group of other bloggers on your back…So success is the only possibility
For me it was more Steve’s video that stuck into my head. Probably because I will be graduating very soon…
Thanks for commenting Freddie!
@Yan: I really have to read his books! If you tell me “Permissions Marketing” was good, I’ll put it on the list as well, with “the dip”. Steve is the man!
@Dan: Man I so understand you. I lose focus very easily on projects in the long term and I have a lot of unfinished projects. I think what you have to find is a project that won’t require you to be involved 100% in it for 365 days in a row and maybe find smaller projects that can be achieved quickly. For example, I recently started doing consulting for businesses. This is perfect for me right now as it is a lot of short projects and this way everything moves fast and you always keep focus.
Good luck buddy!
@Judit: you are right, there’s a lot we can learn from them!
@Brian: thanks for your comment and yes there are tons of good videos on YouTube from Seth and other successful people! I do agree it’s bit strange to talk about drop out at a graduation ceremony, but it was brought in the right way.
As for commentluv, it has always been there!
@Adele: it is so true that it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of work and the intimidating “to do” list. You are also right about how it is hard to focus on one single thing when you are learning about 100 different things. I think no matter what these big guys say, you have to go through the trial and errors to figure out what is your own way…But their advices is still important
I am such a big fan of Steve Jobs too. He is such a good speaker and communicator and knows how to sell stuff in a very simple and elegant way. “Jobs created jobs” for sure…
@Eric Tan: Yep, connecting the dots make a lot of sense and even if I’m not very old, I remembered a couple of things that looking backward, are the reasons why I am where I am right now.
@Michael: … … … … (explain point of view) … … … …
That was one of Jobs’ best speeches. I’ve listened to it a bunch of time and it never gets old. Despite the attention he receives, I think he is still under-rated as a great business mind and leader of innovation. I doubt the 3 big America car manufacturers would be in the same trouble if the had a Jobsian-type leadership.
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Exactly, I never get bored of watching it!
The man is a legend and truly one of the best business man.
Couple of great videos, thanks for sharing. Somehow I had missed The Dip and plan to buy it as I think right now the people who are willing to take the risk and quit and focus on the next opportunity will be the ones who score big in the next decade.
Thanks Bud, these are great inspirational videos
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No problems!
Really great . Videos worth watching.
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I paid attention to that post a little bit late, but better late than never.I find the video very impressive and enjoyed the speech very much.I was glad to learn about this business guru new to me.
thanx for this video…i'm lazy to look for it by myself…
I like your Video …I receive knowledge from it.thank you very much
I like the video. Quitting is not always losing. We must have the courage to quit the business especially if it is not profitable.
Love the design of this blog!