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The Greg McKeown Podcast

344. This is Strategy with Seth Godin (Part 1)

The Greg McKeown Podcast

Greg McKeown

Education, Business, Self-improvement

4.81.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 October 2024

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Seth Godin is a renowned author, entrepreneur, and thought leader in marketing and business. With over 20 published books, including bestsellers like "Purple Cow" and "Tribes," he has reshaped how we think about marketing strategies, leadership, and creative innovation. Known for his daily blog that reaches an extensive readership, Seth is a pivotal figure in modern management, often compared to legendary thinkers like Peter Drucker. Recently, he authored "This is Strategy" and is a seminal voice in understanding and navigating complex systems. Episode Summary: Greg is joined by marketing visionary Seth Godin to explore the intricacies of strategy and systems thinking. They explore the nuances between strategy and systems, set within a modern context. Godin emphasizes the fundamental difference between strategy—a philosophy of becoming—and tactics, as well as the pivotal role systems play in shaping human behavior and business landscapes. Godin articulates the invisible forces of systems that govern both individual and organizational outcomes. Using examples from history and personal narratives, the discussion centers on how recognizing and navigating these systems can drive meaningful change and innovation. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to refine their strategic thinking, whether in business, personal development, or broader societal contexts. Key Takeaways: Understanding Strategy and Systems: Strategy is a guiding philosophy, acting like a compass, whereas systems are the underlying forces shaping behaviors and outcomes. Invisible Systems' Influence: Identifying and understanding invisible systems can enable strategic action and transformation in various aspects of life and business. Triangular Relationships in Systems: Relationships, including familial and professional, often exist in a triadic format, incorporating you, others, and an influencing system. Empowerment through Systems Thinking: Recognition of systems provides a framework for empowerment and the potential to become a linchpin within an organization. Internal Systems Impact: Personal narratives and subconscious systems derived from family and schooling can profoundly affect individual potential and decision-making. Notable Quotes: "Strategy is a philosophy of becoming. It's your way of thinking about who you seek to serve and the change you seek to make." - Seth Godin "Systems don't like to change, and we are part of a system, but if we use the system, we can change the system." - Seth Godin "These stories that we engage in are well grooved and they become part of our inter system, the internal one." - Seth Godin Resources: Seth’s Blog: Seth's Blog Seth's Book: This is Strategy Follow Seth on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn Affiliate links are used where appropriate. We earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Greg! Join my weekly newsletter. Learn more about my books and courses. Join The Essentialism Academy. Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome everybody before we get to the podcast itself a reminder to sign up for the one minute

0:07.1

Wednesday newsletter you'll be joining more than 175,000 people you can sign up for it by just going to

0:14.6

Greg McHughan.com forward slash one M w. W and every week you will get one minute

0:21.3

or something close to it of the best thinking to be able to help you design a life

0:29.6

that really matters and to make that as effortless and easy as possible. So go to Greg McHughan.com

0:37.0

forward slash 1MW. Welcome back everybody. This is the Greg McEwen podcast and I'm here with Seth Goden

0:52.0

who has been a part of the world, the genre of business books,

1:00.8

of course going back originally particularly known for his marketing

1:05.5

prowess but he's been writing for so long now

1:10.6

uh... you know twenty books i'm sure the number is not precise that he is a part of the

1:16.8

modern world of management like a Peter Drucker was in his time Seth is a part of the world of thinking in that sense.

1:30.6

Infinite number of people get his daily blog and he has just written a book called

1:37.0

This is Strategy, which I'm going to put to him in a moment is about strategy but seems to be almost as much about systems as it is about strategy

1:48.5

Particularly the idea I think he is trying to inspire the reader to be able to navigate complex systems in order to be able to take high-level

1:59.5

leverage strategic action that gets the kind of future that you want. So, Seth, welcome to the podcast. Thank you, Greg. I am honored.

2:33.8

Some of my close friends have been lucky enough

2:37.2

to be on the show with you, so thank you for having me.

2:39.4

What did I get wrong?

2:41.0

Oh, I don't think you got anything wrong.

2:43.7

Words are tricky because words can open doors for us, but they can also trap us.

2:49.6

So people think they have a strategy.

2:52.0

But what they actually have is a bunch of tactics or a job or a dream.

...

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