There are a million ways to make a million dollars, and this is how Seth Godin did it and got rich!
His extensive collection of bestselling books and his daily blog are treasured resources for anyone looking to elevate their marketing, leadership, and life.
He’s a master of concise, impactful wisdom, and he has a unique ability to inspire action and spark significant change.
Seth Godin’s work is all about how to build a career that matters and how to make a lot of money in the process.
So here is how to get rich, according to Seth Godin.
Don’t worry if you don’t feel like reading, you can enjoy the video below or watch it on YouTube:
1
Become indispensable
In a rapidly changing world, being just another cog in the machine won’t get you far.
Seth Godin, in his revolutionary book “Linchpin”, introduces a crucial concept: becoming indispensable.
Linchpins are the individuals who bring humanity, connection, and art to their work.
They don’t just follow the instructions or the manual; they invent, lead, and connect.
In Godin’s opinion, linchpins are the people you can’t live without.
They are not defined by their job titles, but by their actions, the choices they make, and the energy and passion they bring to their work.
For Godin, being a linchpin is about taking initiative. It’s the act of self-starting, of seeing a problem and deciding it’s your job to fix it.
It’s about creating a unique interface between members of the organization. And finally, it’s a personal commitment, not a business strategy.
Godin encourages you to become a linchpin by:
- Giving yourself freely to your work
- Caring deeply and genuinely about your colleagues and your customers
- Being brave enough to stand out and challenge the status quo
2
Ship your work
Seth Godin is a firm believer in the idea of “shipping, which means completing your projects and sending them out into the world.
He argues that the world is full of great ideas, but what really counts is the ability to execute those ideas and make them a reality.
In Godin’s words, “real artists ship.“
It’s not about perfecting every detail; it’s about finishing your work and sharing it with others.
Fear of criticism, fear of failure, and fear of standing out can all act as barriers that prevent you from shipping. If you want to get rich, Seth Godin suggests that you should change your perspective.
Instead of seeking to avoid criticism, you should view it as evidence that you’re doing things that are challenging and outside of your comfort zone; it’s a sign that you are, indeed, shipping.
Godin encourages us to set deadlines that we share with others, creating a form of social commitment that makes it more likely we will actually ship when we say we will.
Shipping is scary. It exposes you to the world and its potential criticism.
But it’s also the only way to improve and make a difference. It is not about being reckless, but about understanding that waiting for perfection means not shipping, and not shipping means not making the change you seek to make
3
Embrace the lizard brain
Seth Godin frequently discusses the concept of the “lizard brain,” our primal instincts that control our fears and responses to the world around us.
This part of our brain is wired to protect us from danger, but in the modern world, it often holds us back from trying new things due to fear of failure or embarrassment.
Godin argues that instead of allowing our lizard brain to dictate our decisions, we need to recognize when it is taking control and consciously decide to push past the fear it creates.
Godin does not suggest silencing this instinctual part of ourselves. Instead, he believes that we should use it as a compass.
When we feel resistance, it is often a sign that we are on the brink of something significant.
Rather than running from that discomfort, we should lean into it, understanding that it’s a sign of doing meaningful work—work that challenges the status quo.
Seth Godin’s advice to get rich is practical: anticipate the resistance that comes with bold, innovative work, and don’t let it deter you. Instead, use it as a signal.
The stronger the resistance, the more important the work.
Thus, instead of avoiding our fears and insecurities, we can embrace them as signs that we are on a path worth pursuing.
And look, a lot of things are really scary, especially when it’s your first time doing them.
Starting your own business, changing industries, or learning something you’ve never done before, are all daunting tasks.
And every fiber in your body tells you to stop. These are the moments when it’s important to recognize what’s fear and what’s common sense.
4
Seek the smallest viable audience
This is one of our favorites, taken from Seth Godin’s wisdom.
You see, just as when you’re trying to be liked by anyone, you end up being liked by no one, when you try to serve everyone, or when you try to sell something to everyone, you end up hurting your business.
It’s very hard to create something that everyone loves or has a use for.
And that shouldn’t be your aim. If you want to get rich, Seth Godin suggests you should look for your smallest viable audience, and cater only to them.
By targeting a smaller, more defined audience, you can create tailored products or services that genuinely solve a specific problem or meet a specific need.
This leads to a deeper connection with your audience, as they feel understood and valued.
They are not just another customer; they are the customer. With this kind of connection, the people you serve become your biggest advocates.
They trust you, and they talk about you. They help your work spread, often in the most organic and trustworthy manner through word of mouth.
You see, not everyone needs to hear what you have to say. You should only care about the right people.
5
Be remarkable!
In Seth Godin’s philosophy, “Be Remarkable” is not just a slogan; it’s a strategy and a call to action.
In a world cluttered with noise and drowning in choices, being average doesn’t cut it anymore.
An average product, service, or idea is invisible in the crowded marketplace, but a remarkable one stands out and captures attention.
Remarkable, as Godin emphasizes, doesn’t necessarily mean huge or grandiose; it means worthy of being remarked upon, worthy of drawing attention.
It’s about creating something that people can’t help but talk about.
Being remarkable begins with a commitment to doing things differently, challenging the status quo, and having the courage to take risks.
For Godin, it’s not about being different for difference’s sake but about being different in a way that adds genuine value to people’s lives.
Now look, being remarkable is hard. Very few people have the drive to make something so good that their customers do the marketing for them.
But in Seth Godin’s eye, in order to get rich, that is what you need to aim for with everything that you do.
If you really want to make it, you can’t half-ass it.
6
Tell a story that resonates
In Seth Godin’s view, telling a story that resonates is an essential principle for anyone looking to make an impact.
It is not about fabricating a narrative, but about authentically connecting your product, service, or idea with your audience.
Godin believes that marketing isn’t about the products we sell, but the stories we tell.
These stories are the narratives that give context to our products and services and make people care about them.
Here’s a deeper dive into this principle:
In order to get rich, Seth Godin emphasizes understanding your audience deeply.
- Learn their needs
- Learn their fears
- Learn their aspirations
- Learn their worldviews
This is foundational because a story that resonates is one that is tailored to the specific group of people you are seeking to serve.
Secondly, telling a story means crafting a narrative that is both authentic and emotional.
It’s not enough for a story to be true; it needs to feel true to the listener, to touch them on an emotional level.
For example, the story we tell you guys, the Aluxers, is that in every generation, there is one person who will break the poverty chain.
And that person can be you. This is both true and emotionally impactful.
We know it can happen because we’ve done it ourselves.
7
Embrace the dip
We are sure many of you have gone through this.
Some are currently in it right now. It’s when the enthusiasm fades and the hard work becomes a grind.
This is the point where most people give up on a project, career, or learning curve.
Seth Godin calls it “the dip”. It’s that time when you are exhausted.
You scrape the energy barrel in the hopes of gathering enough strength to make it through the day.
It’s also the time when many competitors will give up, leaving a more significant opportunity for those who push through it.
Seth Godin sees the dip as a natural and expected part of the process of getting rich, not a sign of failure.
He thinks that not all hard work is equal. It’s the hard work you do in the dip, the persistence through the tough times, that is the most valuable.
Think about going to the gym. The first few reps are fairly easy. You’re only starting to warm up properly.
But after a whole while, those weights seem to get heavier and heavier, your whole body starts to shake, and all you want to do is give up.
- That’s when the work is most valuable.
- That’s where you see the most benefits.
- And that’s the area most people avoid.
Godin suggests you should expect the dip because it’s coming. And you need to prepare for it, embrace it, push through, and come out on the other side a stronger person.
8
Build a tribe
This is a central theme in Seth Godin’s work and refers to the idea of creating and nurturing a community of people who share a common interest or passion.
Godin’s notion of a tribe goes beyond the traditional concept of a customer base or an audience; it’s about forming a group that is engaged, connected, and actively participates in a shared story or mission.
Godin emphasizes that a tribe is not just about numbers; it’s about genuine connections and engagement.
It’s not necessarily about having the biggest following; it’s about having a following that deeply cares about the work you do or the product/service you provide.
These are your true fans, the ones who will stay with you, advocate for your work, and spread your ideas.
Pretenders chase likes and followers. Genuine people chase genuine people.
9
Practice emotional labor
This is something we hear very few people talk about.
You see, most people who get stuck in their professional lives usually do the following. They wake up each day to a series of tasks that have been delegated to them, they reach inbox 0, then they log off.
And the next day, it’s rinse and repeat.
They are mechanically performing a set of tasks with no personal involvement, they don’t care about their own work or the people with whom they interact.
And many would argue that’s how it’s supposed to be, because your work is not your family, and your boss is not your uncle.
But Godin argues otherwise.
He thinks you should intentionally exert emotional energy in your work, often in the service of positive experiences.
In essence, emotional labor means choosing to care, to make a difference, and to do the extra that’s not outlined in a job description.
It’s about:
- the teacher who stays after class to help a struggling student
- the customer service representative who listens deeply to a customer’s concerns and makes them feel heard
- the leader who understands the personal and professional challenges of their team and responds with empathy and support
In Seth Godin’s eyes, emotional labor is the key to creating work that is meaningful, fulfilling, and impactful. It turns your job into a form of art, and it also makes you irreplaceable.
10
Don’t build cheap
Some believe that the secret to succeeding in business is to build something better and cheaper.
But the reality is, that better and cheaper cannot coexist in the same room.
Godin argues that “being the cheapest is a refuge for those who don’t have the failure to design something worth paying for’.
If you can’t build something remarkable, something people actually find valuable and useful, your only option is to build something cheap.
And there will also be someone who can do it cheaper.
You cannot compete on cheap prices. It’s a losing game.
And lastly, we have a bonus for those of you who have always stuck with us until the end.
Seth Godin believes that money isn’t the goal. Money is the result of the great work that you are doing.
When you make yourself indispensable, and remarkable and put your heart and sweat into the work that you are doing, the money will come naturally.
And that’s because people want good work in their lives.
They want quality stuff. And they are more than willing to pay for it.
If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love the one we did on Tim Ferriss, in the same series.
These are 10 lessons we gathered from Seth Godin on how to get rich. We know they can be a bit of a head-scratcher, but their value is palpable once understood! See you next time!
