What does it take to build a successful business?
According to James Jones, it’s about leadership, as he writes in From Here to Eternity (also available on Audible):
Plenty of cattle in this world have to be driven. But without good leaders, nothing’s ever accomplished.
For more inspiration, here are some of my favourite Seth Godin quotes from his 2022 blog posts, together with a recommended title from Blinkist.
When we’re not certain of the right answer, the best approach is to have a portfolio, a range of bets that reward us with resilience and significant upside. ~ Portfolio thinking
Learn more: The Silk Roads
When we can’t be sure of the future, a portfolio that acknowledges this by going to various edges will outperform one where we pretend we know the right answer. ~ Portfolio thinking
Learn more: How the Future Works
After you build something great, sooner or later you’ll need to figure out how to thrive without being the new flavor of the day. ~ The next big thing
Learn more: This is Day One
It turns out that in most markets where there are easy substitutions, the long-term value of loyalty is far greater than the short-term profit of less. ~ A little more or a little less
Learn more: Basic Economics
Chaos is uncomfortable, particularly if you’ve been indoctrinated in the industrial mindset. But if the right people and the right conditions are present, chaos creates possibility. ~ Chaos, connection and industrial systems
Learn more: Management Mess to Leadership Success
Instead of denying the existence of limits and the trade-offs that they bring with them, it might be helpful to begin with an understanding of what they are, or at least what other people think they are. ~ Limitless
Learn more: The New Silk Roads
It’s possible to build an organization that does work you’re proud of, surrounded by people who feel the same way. People who care, solving problems and creating connection. ~ Peak customer service and the hospitality mindset
Learn more: The Best Place to Work
If you want to create remarkable service, you’re simply going to have to trust your people and yourself. ~ The hospitality systems gap
Learn more: Inclusion on Purpose
Leadership is not the act of making everyone happy. It’s the ability to show up and help us get to a place where, on balance, more of us are glad to be. ~ The win-win fallacy
Learn more: How to Be a Leader
Your main job is persuading the people you work with to ship great stuff. No junk. No shortcuts. ~ Defender of the brand
Learn more: The Heart of Transformation
Now more than ever, there’s room for leaders. Go first. ~ The crossroads
Learn more: Leading Without Authority
As you succeed, it’s harder, not easier, to bring delight to the people you serve. ~ Expectation and delight
Learn more: Rocket
Systemic problems require systemic solutions. ~ Finding persistent invisible systems
Learn more: ReWork
In many organizations, customers have a choice and customers have a voice. Treating everyone as if they have that sort of power makes it far more likely you’re earning trust and respect, not cutting corners. ~ Front of house/back of house
Learn more: Leadership
Setting the triggers for action is best done in advance, and maintained regularly. Waiting for a crisis is expensive and risky. ~ Steady state and the trigger for change
Learn more: The Wisdom of the Bullfrog
The goal isn’t to find no competition. It’s to find a better way to solve the problem. ~ No competition
Learn more: The Prepared Leader
If we’re sold on where you’re going, we’ll probably spend the time to learn how to get there. ~ Vast vs specific
Learn more: Positively Energizing Leadership
Changing our definition of ‘now’ and ‘later’ is a powerful competitive advantage. ~ How long is forever?
Learn more: The Future Is Faster Than You Think
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