5 Lessons for Entrepreneurs from Seth Godin

Seth Godin is a self-published author, entrepreneur, and public speaker, and his overwhelming success is an inspiration for all of us. The marketing genius and best-selling author has worked hard at creating his brand and making a name for himself. His key to success? His positive outlook on life.

Following, we would like to provide you with some of the most valuable lessons any entrepreneur should learn from Seth Godin. Whether we’re talking about business in particular or life in general, the following pointers will provide you with tremendous insight that can lead you to the success you’ve always yearned for. Let’s take a look at the countdown.

No. 5: Taking risks

As Seth Godin has proven time after time, taking risks is crucial for your success. While it is true that not all risks are worth overcoming, an entrepreneur should make it a point out of taking calculated and reasonable risks, for the sake of his or her business. For Godin this occurred when he started publishing his works on his own. He took a chance and decided to make his work public, without knowing whether he would fail or succeed. Take his example and put your passion out there for the world to see. When you are determined and confident about what you do, no risk should be too big to overcome.

No. 4: Risk, fear, and worry are separate notions

Even though they might seem like interconnected terms, risk, fear, and worry are dramatically different notions and any entrepreneur should realize this early on. Risks are all around us, especially in the world of entrepreneurship. Fear represents a normal reaction humans have when they are faced with certain risks. However, worry only occurs when one tends to dwell too much on the risks and the possibility of failure. Most often than not, it is worry that stops people from pursuing their goals, and not the existence of certain risks. Worry is an active mental process through which one focuses all of their attention on the risky situation. This often leads to people diverting from the situation and avoiding any risks. In order to succeed as an entrepreneur, you have to realize that while risks and fear are perfectly normal, worry is not. You’re the one in control of how you are feeling and it is up to you to face your risks rather than obsess about them.

No. 3: There is no winning without failing

We’ve all heard that saying „If you fail, try and try again”, but Seth Godin insists on reminding entrepreneurs that this is a healthy outlook. According to him, success cannot be achieved without previously failing in some sort or another. Even if the disappointment associated with failure is often hard to stomach, the fact that you have failed means that you are at least trying, and that you’re one step closer to success. Failure brings about experience that will be valuable to you in the long term. So keep trying and keep failing – regardless of how long it takes, you’ll one day reach success.

No. 2: Conquer your fears

People fail to reach their maximum potential for two main reasons: they are either afraid of failing or they’re afraid of success. Regardless, this fear can paralyze anyone on their path to glory. You might have a great business idea, but worrying about how things will turn out in the end can stop you dead in your tracks. Accept the fact that nothing is a given, and push forward with your project. Take a deep breath and do what you’re supposed to do without obsessing on how things will work out.

No. 1: Uncertainty is a fact of life – embrace it

By far the most important lesson one can learn from Seth Godin is that uncertainty is a natural occurrence and that it cannot be avoided. Rather, entrepreneurs should learn how to embrace this fact of life. Most of us are programmed to react with unease and a high dose of anxiety anytime we are faced with an uncertainty. But Seth Godin tells us that there is no amount of wishful thinking, positive mindset, or even thorough preparation that can help lift away uncertainties about the future. Uncertainty will always be there. As Godin says it, we can only have a clear view of the events of our past, the future will always remains a mystery. And in the end, that’s exactly how it is supposed to be.