Seth Godin
American author of Purple Cow
Seth Godin (American author of Purple Cow) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Writer's block, Linchpin (book), The Tipping Point.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Writer's block
Godin proposes replacing "just do it" with "merely do the work," without narration or catastrophizing.
“The alternative is to replace the word just with the word merely. Merely do the work”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and More (Aug 5, 2026) · Listen from 49:45
Godin argues that writer's block is really a fear of bad writing and of the world's reaction to it.
“Writer's block is real, but it does not exist. What it really is, is misnamed, I have a fear of bad writing”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and More (Aug 5, 2026) · Listen from 47:15
Linchpin (book)
Godin says reframing his work as generosity toward others made it easier to keep working after Linchpin.
“Generosity means that you're expending emotional energy, emotional labor to help somebody else”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and More (Aug 5, 2026) · Listen from 55:00
The Tipping Point
Godin recounts that after a year-long slump, reading Gladwell's The Tipping Point prompted him to write a 225-page book in 12 days.
“And in the next 12 days, I wrote a 225-page book. And I sent it to Malcolm”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and More (Aug 5, 2026) · Listen from 53:45
Perfectionism
Godin suggests Ferriss may not be the best judge of when his writing is ready and could hire an editor for feedback.
“this might not be your best skill, knowing when it's ready to publish”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and More (Aug 5, 2026) · Listen from 53:34
Writing craft
Godin rejects the idea of a muse or the importance of talent.
“So I don't believe in the muse at all. I don't think there's any outside force. I don't think talent really matters”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and More (Aug 5, 2026) · Listen from 49:25
Writing habits and daily word counts
Godin recounts that Isaac Asimov typed for six hours every morning regardless of quality.
“Every morning for six hours, he would sit and type. And it didn't matter if it was good or not”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and More (Aug 5, 2026) · Listen from 47:59
Appearances
#878: How to Start When You're Stuck, Finish What You Begin, and Stop Waiting for Inspiration — Creative Advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Lamott and MoreThe Tim Ferriss Show · Aug 5, 2026 · 59 min
Tim Ferriss compiles writing advice from Elizabeth Gilbert, Anne Lamott, Joyce Carol Oates, Jerry Seinfeld, Mary Karr, Brandon Sanderson and Seth Godin on starting, persisting and finishing.
Discussed in
Episode #168: He Turned Down Shark Tank and Built a $300M Business... But Was It Worth It? Featuring Nick FriedmanThe Dylan Gemelli Podcast · Sep 30, 2026 · 56 min
Dylan Gemelli talks with College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving co-founder Nick Friedman about building the company, Shark Tank, stress, burnout and scaling.
Often appears with
- Tim Ferriss · 1 shared episode
- Elizabeth Gilbert · 1 shared episode
- Anne Lamott · 1 shared episode
- Joyce Carol Oates · 1 shared episode
- Jerry Seinfeld · 1 shared episode
- Mary Karr · 1 shared episode
- Brandon Sanderson · 1 shared episode