Seth Godin: How Do You Become an Artist? | Behind the Brand

TL;DR

Seth Godin says you become an artist by putting your personal stamp on work that might fail and using it to create generosity and human connection. Art can appear in a carefully prepared restaurant dish or an insurance broker’s unusually helpful referral, not only in painting or writing. He urges people to replace the map-reading mindset with a compass and their own judgment; read on for his distinction between mechanical work and meaningful art.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• 🥰 Art is not limited to traditional artistic fields, but can be applied to various aspects of life and work.
• 🫷 Embracing our artistry means taking risks, being vulnerable, and pushing beyond our comfort zones.
• 🥹 The fear of failure and rejection often holds us back, but reframing them as learning opportunities can help us grow.
• 🙈 Becoming an artist requires seeing the world differently, embracing uncertainty, and constantly improving and innovating.
• 🛻 It is important to pick ourselves and trust our own judgement rather than waiting for external validation.
• 👶 Trust, attention, and personal connection are the new currency in the connected economy.
• 🧍 Quality and personalization are more important than ever in standing out and gaining trust in the marketplace.
• 🗯️ It is crucial to pick the right clients or audience who align with our values and vision.
• 🤗 Thinking like an artist involves seeing possibilities, being open-minded, and continuously refining our skills and craft.

Questions & Answers

Q: What does becoming an artist mean according to Seth Godin?

Becoming an artist means acting like a human rather than a small machine and putting your stamp on something that might not work. Godin particularly associates this work with generosity and human connection.

Q: Can work outside painting and writing be art?

Yes. Godin says a restaurant dish made with care for one person can be art, as can an insurance broker referring a client to someone who offers a better product.

Q: What separates art from mechanical work?

Mechanical work follows instructions and focuses on doing the same task faster and cheaper. Art is human, fresh, and not found in a rule book, so its outcome may be uncertain.

Q: Why does Seth Godin think people stop acting like artists?

Godin says children naturally make original things, tell new jokes, and show others they care. Over time, that impulse gets burned out of them, and he wants to bring it back.

Q: What is wrong with always asking for a road map?

Godin says schools and large organizations train people to follow maps and prescribed instructions. He believes this map-reading mindset creates a bind because people are not being asked to figure things out or use their best judgment.

Q: What should people use instead of a road map?

Godin recommends looking for a compass instead of a map. He also urges people to give directions rather than continually asking others for them.

Q: Why can making art feel frightening?

Art is often undefined, may not work, and can move in a completely different direction from where it began. Godin says some people recoil because that uncertainty feels scary and alien, while others feel relieved when trusted to make something.

Q: How does Seth Godin distinguish painting from art?

He describes workers in a Chinese village repeatedly producing oil paintings as quickly as possible and says that activity is painting, not art. In his distinction, repetition alone has little value, while art involves something human, new, and fresh.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Seth Godin emphasizes the need for individuals to become artists, to embrace their uniqueness and make their mark on the world.

• He challenges the traditional mindset of following maps and seeking directions, encouraging individuals to become the compass and give directions instead.

• Godin highlights the dangers of staying in our comfort zones and the importance of pushing boundaries, taking risks, and embracing uncertainty to truly grow and succeed.