Ship your creative genius!
The Practice: Shipping Creative Work
by Seth Godin
Business
TL;DR
This book is all about getting off your ass and consistently creating and releasing your work, even when you don't feel like it. It pushes you to embrace the process over the outcome, understanding that true creativity is a practice, not a lightning bolt. You'll learn to ditch the excuses, build a habit of shipping, and find your audience by showing up daily. It's less about being a 'creative genius' and more about being a 'creative doer' who delivers value regularly.
Action Items
Pick one creative thing you want to do, and commit to doing it for 15 minutes today, no matter how uninspired you feel. Just start.
Identify one excuse you've been using to avoid your creative work. Today, ignore it and do 10 minutes of that work anyway.
Think of one person or group who could benefit from something you create. Brainstorm one small thing you could make or share with them today.
Look at a creative project you've been holding onto. Find the absolute smallest, 'good enough' version of it you could release or share today. Do it.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - Just Ship It, You Coward (aka The Imperfection Imperative)
Look, we all know that feeling: you've got this brilliant idea, you start working on it, and then BAM! The 'perfection monster' creeps in. This chapter basically tells you to tell that monster to eff off. It's not about making something flawless; it's about getting it out there. Think of it like ordering food – you want it delivered, not stuck in the kitchen forever because the chef is still perfecting the garnish. Done is better than perfect because 'perfect' often means 'never finished.' The real learning happens when your work hits the world and gets feedback, not when it's gathering dust in your drafts. So, stop overthinking and start shipping your creative babies.
Key Methods and Approaches
Your Daily Grind
(AKA: The Practice)
Description:
Show up every damn day and do the work, even if it's crap.
Explanation:
Your brain isn't a light switch for creativity; it's more like a muscle. If you only hit the gym when you 'feel inspired,' you'll stay weak. The book says treat your creative work like brushing your teeth – you just do it, no questions asked. It's about building a habit, not waiting for the muse to descend from the heavens like some TikTok influencer.
Examples:
Writing 500 words for your novel every morning before scrolling TikTok.
Designing one new graphic for your side hustle daily, even if it's just a doodle.
Practicing your instrument for 30 minutes, even if you're just playing scales.
Coding for an hour on your personal project, even if you're debugging the same line for 45 minutes.
Today's Action:
Pick one creative thing you want to do, and commit to doing it for 15 minutes today, no matter how uninspired you feel. Just start.
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