Poke the Box: When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time? by Seth Godin

“The job isn’t to catch up to the status quo; the job is to invent the status quo.”

Seth inspires me so much in life to really live truthfully to myself and live a life that I desire to lead. This book is another kick in the bum, motivational & inspiring push to further challenge what I thought life meant and what I do with it.

We are not all going to be, as he describes it, the initiator, but certainly it seems to be a major strength in this day and age. It relates to both the aspiring success of an individual, and the continual improvement, development and innovation behind successful companies.

Beyond initiating something is actually starting something, just starting. Seth is a person of action and implementation and when having an idea he pursues it until it’s off the ground. Once up and running his thought is that he can always make changes, fine tune, realign when there but perfecting something prior to starting is a recipe almost of failure.

If you have a burning desire to do something the message as always from Seth is to just ship, without shipping you’ll haven’t a clue whether something is going to work or not.

Starting is a great first step may not be enough, because if the customer, client or anyone never gets to read, taste, smell, feel, hear or simply try your product its as good as just an idea. Starting is better than not starting but shipping is the goal.

Our fears are the cards that hold us back; they buckle us to our seat tightly yet when you understand the true nature of the fear you will find that the buckle is not locked and once you stand you have only two options, to take another step or to sit back down.

Sometimes you will sit back down again but you can always stand up again. Like in life if you stop moving and using the body you will stop being able to. Don’t use it loose it. Like taking action on that idea or dream the more you fight those fear the more likely you will be able to continue to do so.

My final reflection on this book and its message is that living a life that we are conditioned to live is not the best or only alternative. Certainly in the information age, an age in which we are so globally connected when so many opportunities exist for us to take action, become the initiator and start something is easier than ever before to live a life by our own design.

Seth struggled holding a job because people didn’t like his attitude to initiate new things and try change, that preferred he followed instruction and await orders. This is so important for all of us. Don’t live a life waiting for someone else direction and certainly don’t work a life away for someone else’s dreams. If you cannot do, try and taste what it is that you desire to do, be your creator and unique self, and find an environment that allows you to do so.

He ends this all-inspiring book with one final quote by Siddhartha Gautama and that is:

“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth. Not going all the way, and not starting.

If this book sounds of interest you can purchase Poke the Box: When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time?

Please leave your thoughts, comments & questions below.

Peace, passion and purpose…

Other books by Seth Godin