Seth is a renowned speaker as well. He was recently chosen as one of 21 Speakers for the Next Century by Successful Meetings and is consistently rated among the very best speakers by the audiences he addresses.

Seth was founder and CEO of Yoyodyne, the industry’s leading interactive direct marketing company, which Yahoo! acquired in late 1998. Godin worked as VP Direct Marketing at Yahoo before leaving to become a full time speaker, writer and blogger.
He holds an MBA from Stanford, and was called “the Ultimate Entrepreneur for the Information Age” by Business Week.

• Do you know what time it is?
• Of course. We have a watch.
• Why do you have a watch?
• The system demands we show up at the right place at the right time.
• it’s about maximizing, centralizing, monetizing.
• The system is pretty new.
• We’ve only had time zones for 150 years.
• Professional wrestling is fake.
• Somewhere along the way someone told you pro wrestling was fake and you believed it.
• It changed the way you looked at professional wrestling.
• You came to understand that there’s a difference between what is and what you are expecting.
• As soon as you realized the truth you could realize the artifice and that
• The economy drives our country.
• 4,000 years ago when we were nomads of tribes of 150 people we had a spiritual and cultural life that matched that.
• The Roman Empire demanded a new type of living. It was a new way of living, from the top down.
• Princes, merchants, banks, imperialists and kings shifted our spiritual and cultural lives.
• The life we know today is driven at every level by the economy we live in.
• The economy changes the way we see things.
• Seth made $40 Billion dollar mistake.
• In 1992 he had a small internet company.
• He compiled a list of the best websites in print.
• Made t-shirts and sold 800 copies of the printed book.
• At the same time, a company started with the same resources called Yahoo.
• They saw the same thing Seth saw… he saw a book idea; they wanted to change the world.
• The record industry is over, dead, it’s toast.
• It used to perfect in so many ways.
• You owned a record, lent it friends and would have to go to a store and buy one if it wore out.
• Then, it changed.
• The old idea was: if you have something people want or want to reach the masses, make it average for average people and yell about it.
• Henry Ford realized the power of mass production.
• Mass production allows you to become more and more efficient because it’s so efficient.
• In order to make the factory efficient you need interchangeable parts and interchangeable people.
• The model of a factory is built into all of us.
• Factories led to schools.
• Factory workers were freaking out because it’s hard to train someone who’s not expecting it.
• Factories trained workers in schools.
• Schools trained our kids to be obedient, to sit in straight rows, to do what they are told and use a #2 pencil while they do it.
• They trained us to buy stuff.
• It was all invented to feed the factory system.
• No one ever taught students how to solve interesting problems… how to do work without a map… how to develop autonomy.
• The factory wants you to fit in so they can ignore you.
• The factory isn’t just a factory or a business, it can even be the spiritual institutions we work for.
• The factory changed us… it put in our heads that what is valuable is a building.
• The factory
• We’ve been brainwashed to have a place of worship we had to have a building.
• Making a light saber isn’t hard… what’s hard is conceiving the idea of a light saber.
• In the world of Google, competence is no longer a scarce commodity.
• There’s always people who can do your job just as good.
• There’s a problem bordering on a crisis.
• We are bowling all day long… avoiding the gutter, aiming for a strike.
• We incrimentally follow the steps and feed the system.
• The problem with factories is that they will die because they race to the bottom.
• If someone is racing to the bottom you don’t want to win that race.
• Someone is always going to beat you.
• Someone will always be better.
• You have to race to the top if you want to win.
• There is a revolution.
• A revolution is destroying the industrial revolution.
• Every revolution destroys the old revolution before it creates a new one. – Clay Shirky
• What can you count on?
• You can count on that we are now connected more than ever before, you can make things more than ever before.
• All that’s left is to make a difference.
• All that’s left is to connect.
• All that’s left is to matter.
• All that’s left is to do work that matters so much that people will miss you when you are gone.
• Will you be more obedient than everyone else or more graceful than everyone else?
• We weren’t taught to do this in school.
• Being graceful is doing work and art that matters.
• Being graceful means when you leave a room people are sad to see you leave.
• The factory was around for a long time… it created institutions that embraced compliance.
• We’ve been trained to be complaint cogs in a system.
• We have a choice.
• We live in a connected revolution.
• We are only 6 handshakes away from everyone.
• You don’t win by being complaint, you win by being connected.
• North Korea is filled with compliance.
• You can’t comply yourself to success.
• You get better at making cupcakes progressively as you veer from the directions.
• Some people fail and go back to the rules; or they choose to fail by trying something different.
• Cupcake failure is not fatal.
• If we want to create a world where we can do our work, the work, we have to be prepared to fail.
• Every coin has two sides.
• You have to prepare to fail and embrace it as a part of growing.
• Tribes are at the heart of marketing, institutions and how ideas spread.
• No one joins a boring tribe.
• CMO = Chief Movement Officer
• If you are going to win, you are going to make a movement.
• You won’t create a movement by being complaint or demanding compliance.
• You make a movement by doing things people hate.
• We bought iPhones because we are part of the tribe… it’s jewelry that has a function.
• Apple realizes they aren’t in the technology business… they are leading a movement and a tribe.
• They win because they chose to create a movement that was easy for people to join.
• Their movement grows because people talk about.
• Boring and bureaucratic doesn’t work.
• People talk about geniuses… people who solve interesting problems, who connect with people and who know what it means to be a human and make a difference.
• If you’re going to be a genius, you can’t have a boss sitting around telling you what to do all day.

Without a boss in a new economy, who exactly setting your agenda?

• Is it about compliance or relentless curiosity.
• The heart of it is art.
• 1/3 of all of the oil paintings in the world are painted in China.
• Art isn’t painting.
• Art is a human act that changes someone and its generous.
• It’s a gift you can’t sell.
• The act of being able to help someone is the work of art.
• We get paid for doing what someone needs us to do.
• It’s gift-giving and connecting with people that changes people.
• Doing acts that bring us closer together is at the heart of what makes a connection economy work.
• The thing we need to do is our art.
• When you figure out what your art is you figure out what your purpose is. They are the same thing.
• People don’t learn by understanding they learn by some other way. The world changes.
• When you figure out why something works you understand.

Art demands emotional labor.

• We get paid for a different kind of labor.
• The labor of exposing ourselves is an intellectual risk.
• The labor of exposing ourselves to people who might not like us.
• Emotional labor is work worth doing.
• We need people who care opposed to people who are just doing their jobs.
• We need people who can make a human connection.
• We need people who can make change even if it means failure in the short term.
• A resume is a list of names proving you are good at following the rules.
• Do you fire people who don’t make mistakes or those who do?
• What are you rewarding?
• What are you attracted to?
• Why do we do what we do?
• Do we do it because it’s safe or because it’s what we are supposed to do.
• The more change we can make it’s more likely the tribe will join us.
• How tight is the tribe?
• That is our opportunity.
• Would the tribe miss you if you were gone?
• If the tribe disappeared how long could it be replaced?
• If you are at the center of a tribe that matters people will miss you.

That’s fine, but my boss won’t let me…

• Of course they wont!
• Your boss won’t let us try new things.
• Change is made by individuals who stop seeking deniability.
• That’s what we spend most of our day doing…
• Change is made by people who eagerly accept responsibility.
• You accept responsibility while not commanding authority.
• You must give away credit.
• You can never fit in enough…  You will never fit in all of the way.
• Stop trying!
• Emotional labor is hard.

The Lizard Brain

• Deer killed more people than sharks last year.
• Why did the chicken cross the road? Because his chicken brain told him to.
• We all have a lizard brain. It’s responsibility for anger, revenge, and reproduction.
• Animals are wild because their lizard brian tells them to.
• We all have a lizard brian.
• The lizard takes over when it’s upset.
• Stephen Pressfield calls the voice of the lizard the resistance.
• It’s the voice that tells us we can’t do it, we aren’t good enough, etc.
• The Resistance forces us to choose safety.
• The Resistance is our enemy.
• The lizard brain prevents us for doing work that matters.

The Downside of Tribes

• We’ve created a culture filled with politicians who divide us.
• Why is it so important for the tribe win?
• Is it about winning, really?
• Is that what we need to focus on?
• There’s a difference between scarcity and abundance.
• We are moving to a connected, revolutionary world.
• What happens when you give gifts instead?
• Is that seat taken?
• How many people would give everything to have our seat?
• How many people would want to have the opportunity we have.
• Do not waste the revolution.
• Do work that matters.
• Hurry.

The day was technically “off the record,” so while I have over 30 pages of notes, I can’t share all of them publicly. However, a lot of the content he did share was expounded thoughts from his book Linchpin and from entries on his blog. Both are required reading in my opinion. Anyway, I wanted to share some key points and key-take aways I had from the day and hope to share some of the excitement and enthusiasm I felt while hearing Seth speak.

“How dare you waste the revolution!”

That’s how Seth kicked off the day. And it is true, we are living in the midst of the revolution of our lifetime. Every major cultural shift [the printing press, assembly line, etc] has made significant cultural shifts and we are living in the midst of one with the death of the factory and the rise of a new way of working in the internet age. People who are making impact are ones who don’t follow the rules, who aren’t cogs in a giant machine… they are people who discover what they were born for and do work that matters. And beyond having ideas and insight, they ship!

Below are some other great quotes from the day…

• An idea planted in the right spot is like a pair of glasses that can change the way you look at things. What are you going to do when you notice the world is changing? Great ideas don’t require assets, they require insight. They have nothing to do with technology but has everything to do with intention.
• We don’t need you to be good at what we were doing yesterday we need you to be good at making mistakes on what you want to do tomorrow.
• Every problem you have right now is a perfect one. If it wasn’t perfect you would have solved it by now.
• Revolutions are all about doing something that’s impossible. What makes things impossible is what makes them a revolution. Revolutions change things in impossible ways.
• One of the dangers of the internet is that you can do short-term stuff all day long and produce nothing.
• If it’s easy it’s not remarkable. If it’s not remarkable it won’t be talked about. Remarkable means to make a remark about it.
• If what you are doing is easy, then it’s not scarce, and if it’s not scarce, it’s not valuable.
• The internet is a communications network. If you own a laptop you own a factory.
• All of us sell something none of us have heard of. The old model was to yell about it. The new model is to make something worth talking about.
• The conversation you create is worth more than the product you make.
• Find products for your customers instead of finding customers for your products.
• The revolution hates compliance. It doesn’t reward cogs in the system. You don’t get rewarded for compliance. You get rewarded for solving interesting problems. You get rewarded for leading. You get rewarded for taking risks. You are rewarded for connecting people. You are rewarded for creating ideas worth spreading.
• Do things that scare you and change people around you.
• Ship every day.
• Big isn’t better than the right size.
• Be a creator of media and a leader of people
• No one can stop you but yourself and it probably will.
• Art should exist to change people.
• It’s not about the product it’s about the story you give to people as they engage with it.
• It’s not about what you can accumulate but what you can give.
• If you can help people think about why what they do matters, it can be a foundation to start a movement.
• Asking the question is harder than answering it.
• We spend way too much time responding and reacting to minutia than really doing work that matters.
• Decide to fail. Decide to connect. Decide to put yourself out there.
• Part of living your life is doing art that scares you.
• You aren’t meant to be a part of a factory you are meant to be a part of a movement.

That’s just small taste of what was an incredible, inspiring day. I’ve never been so challenged to do something NOW. One of the key concepts I took away from the day was the importance of shipping… not just having good ideas, but actually delivering something, giving people something, executing ideas. Seth gave us each a copy of his Ship It journal, which is a workbook to help you work through you ideas and ship them. I’ve already started filling out mine!

Seth is a man who lives what he preaches. He’s genuine, sincere, and cares deeply about people finding their voice and doing work that matters. He’s incredibly selfless and humble, and someone who has made a significant impact in my life from a distance. The time spent with him and other linchpins in Chicago was valuable and I know will mark the days ahead of me. I see the revolution happening and know it presents amazing opportunities for the Church and I don’t want to waste it. Every day I want to take a step forward and do work that matters.

On Friday last week I took the first step in posting my blog “No One Cares About Your Church.” That was a blog post I had been sitting on for months but was afraid and insecure to post. I fought the lizard brain and shipped it, and I am so glad I did.  I’m making a commitment to continue to share ideas and insights to help the Church communicate more clearly and effectively, to tell the tell greatest Story every told in way that compels people to see Jesus differently.

Thanks for an amazing day, Seth… and to everyone else out there… don’t waste the revolution… do work that matters!

–

Photo of Seth is courtesy of my new friend and fellow Linchpin Rachel Koontz. She does amazing work and blogs on yoga. Check it out!

Less than a month ago an idea was born.

I bought a domain, sent a few emails, and the rest has been a crazy journey that only God could have orchestrated.

While there are a number of great books and resources available for church communications directors, they often offer a very narrow or limited view of what can be an intricate subject. Church communications is now a wide umbrella that encompasses a broad range of disciplines including print, media, branding, design, web, social media, online communities, and much more.

The need is great but solid resources are few and far between.

Two years ago I was approached by an editor to write a book about my experience doing church communications, and I began the process of putting together a manuscript. While things seemed to be coasting, the economy began to take a slump downward and the idea was quickly shelved.

Well, about a month ago a fire was rekindled under me to make a book happen [credit to Scott Belsky’s Making Ideas Happen and Seth Godin’s Linchpin]…only this one would be different.

I felt there was need for a more holistic resource that would pull from the collected wisdom of many to create an indispensible resource for church communications leaders to help them clearly and effectively communicate the Gospel. Rather than one sole voice, I wanted to help create a conversation.

I’m thrilled to be the first to let you know the idea has become a reality and it’s happening… in partnership with the Center for Church Communication, I will be releasing OUTSPOKEN: Conversations on Church Communications.

Well, it’s not just me doing the writing… it’s me and over 50 friends including:

Kem Meyer – Granger Community Church
Dawn Nicole Baldwin – AspireOne
Greg Atkinson – gregatkinson.com
Michael Buckingham – Holy Cow! Creative
Shawn Wood – Seacoast Church
Scott Hodge – The Orchard
Ben Arment – Story, Whiteboard Sessions, Dream Year
Leonard Sweet – best-selling author, professor at Drew University
Phil Cooke – author of Branding Faith
Tony Morgan – TonyMorganLive.com
Jon Acuff – Stuff Christians Like
Will Mancini – auxano, author of Church Unique
Tony Steward – LifeChurch.tv
Charles Lee – Ideation
Cynthia Ware – Center for Church Communication
Blaine Hogan – Willow Creek Community Church
Daniel Decker – Higher Level Group
John Dyer- donteatthefruit.com
Rhett Smith – RhettSmith.com
Scott McClellan – COLLIDE Magazine
Katie Strandlund – CautiousCreative.com
Jason Widney – Park Community Church
Matt Knisely – Lawton First Assembly
Nathan Davis – Destiny Christian Center
Phil Bowdle- West Ridge Church
Jesse Phillips – CATALYST
Kent Shaffer- ChurchRelevance.com, YouVersion.com
Katie Moon – Fellowship Church
Kevin Hendricks – Center for Church Communication
Corbyn Tyson – monvee, Heartland Community Church
Curtis Simmons – Fellowship Technologies
Eric Murrell – Long Hollow Baptist Church, MediaSalt.com
Cleve Persinger – The Chapel, MediaSalt.com
Matthew Paul Turner – JesusNeedsNewPR.com

I’m just getting started!

John Saddington – North Point Ministries
Jay Argaèt – Hillsong Church
Maurilio Amorim – The A Group
Danielle Hartland - Grace Church
Jim Gray – Mission Igniter
Lori Bailey – LifeChurch.tv
Vin Thomas – VINTOM.com
Justin Wise – BeDeviant.com
Sam DuRegger – theomusings.com
Blair Farley – Mariners Church
Jeremy Scheller – The Sanctuary Covenant Church
Jan Lynn – TheViewfromHer.com
Steve Fogg – Crossway Church
Clint! Runge – Archrival
Jennifer Schuchmann – WordstoThinkAbout.com
Kerry Bural – The Resonate Group
Jeremy Sexton – National Community Church
Michael Forsberg – Jarbyco
Bobby Chandler - Sugar Creek Baptist Church
Vince Marotte – Gateway Church
Denny Weinman – Sugar Creek Baptist Church
Josh Burns – Park Community Church
Dawn Bryant – bloom
KC Walsh – Willow Creek Community Church
Rich Kirkpatrick – Sunridge Community Church
Cameron Smith – Christ’s Church of the Valley
Gerry True – Oak Hills Church
Josh Cody - Center for Church Communication

Added July 21:
Dave Blanchard – IDEO
Joshua Blankenship – NewSpring Church
Bianca Juarez – InTheNameofLove.org
DJ Chuang – Worship Leader Magazine
Drew Goodmanson – MonDev/Ekklesia360
Paul Steinbrueck – OurChurch.com

…and more to be confirmed!*

OUTSPOKEN will be a collection of short essays by each contributor focusing on various areas that encompass church communications. It will offer practical ideas and insights from some of the people who are shaping and changing the way churches communicate. Some faces are familiar, some are new, but they all represent a unique mix of churches and backgrounds that will inspire and challenge you to change the way you do communications.

OUTSPOKEN will be self-published and available for purchase online as a downloadable PDF. Print copies will be available for purchase through Amazon. We’ll also be working to make it available in Kindle and iBook format.

Release date is to be determined, but we’re aiming for early winter.

Follow the OUTSPOKEN journey on twitter @OUTSPOKENbook or “Like” it on Facebook to stay up-to-date! Watch for more updates, the website launch and more!

*  These individuals are currently slated… the official lineup could change!

Seth Godin is the man.

His thoughts on marketing, business, life, and leadership have made a profound impact in the way people think… be it business executives, entrepreneurs, or even people in the church world.  Seth has been a part of the Catalyst Conference in years past and continues to speak incredible value into the lives of church leaders and influencers.

Seth’s books The Purple Cow, All Marketers are Liars and Tribes have a had a significant impact on me personally and helped me think through how I do my job, the messages I communicate, and how to be a better leader.

Last December I had the enormous privilege of being one of 25 people who was invited to spend the day with Seth at his office in New York City to interview to be a part of SAMBA – Seth’s Alternative MBA Program. Out of nearly 400 applicants, I was part of a small group of people who were selected to spend the day getting to know the other selected applicants and have a short conversation with Seth.

His humility and genuine care for investing in the lives of others was so apparent. He’s the real deal in person. The entire day was a blast and was one of the most affirming experiences I’ve had… to have someone like Seth validating you and what you do is quite humbling and an experience I will never forget. Although I wasn’t one of the lucky nine who was selected to be a part of SAMBA, even getting that far was reward in itself.

Seth’s new book Linchpin hit bookshelves today and I can already tell you it will be another book that is going to make an impact and change the way people think.

I believe in the message [although I just got my copy] and want to share it with you!

Leave a comment or fill out the form below and on Friday, January 29, I’ll be giving away a copy of Linchpin and Tribes.

Congrats to @BradleyDavis, you’ll be receiving these books! Thanks to everyone who participated!