The problem with taking offense is that it's really hard to figure out what to do with it after you're done using it. Better to just leave it on the table and walk away. Umbrage untaken quietly disappears.
Seth GodinRead
...treasure what it means to do a day's work. It's our one and only chance to do something productive today, and it's certainly not available to someone merely because he is the high bidder. A day's work is your chance to do art, to create a gift, to do something that matters. As your work gets better and your art becomes more important, competition for your gifts will increase and you'll discover that you can be choosier about whom you give them to.
Interpretation
Valuing the effort and creativity in daily work is essential for personal growth and success.
This quote emphasizes the importance of appreciating the work we do each day, as it is a unique opportunity to produce something meaningful and valuable. Seth Godin suggests that as we improve our skills and create noteworthy contributions, we can become more discerning about how we invest our talents, underscoring the idea that hard work and creativity are critical for achieving success and recognition.
In practice
In a motivational speech about personal development.
The problem with taking offense is that it's really hard to figure out what to do with it after you're done using it. Better to just leave it on the table and walk away. Umbrage untaken quietly disappears.
Not adding value is the same as taking it away.
Excellence isn’t about meeting the spec, it’s about setting the spec. It defines what the consumer sees as quality right this minute, and tomorrow, if you’re good, you’ll reset that expectation again
Living with doubt ... is almost always more profitable than living with certainty. _x000D_ People don't like doubt, so they pay money and give up opportunities to avoid it. _x000D_ Entrepreneurshi p is largely about living with doubt. If you need reassurance, you're giving up quite a bit to get it. On the other hand, if you can get in the habit of seeking out uncertainty, you'll have developed a great instinct.
The danger of the Web is that you can go from idea to public announcement in under ten minutes.
Art isn't only a painting. Art is anything that is creative, passionate and personal. Art is the unique work of a human being created to touch another. Art is created to have an impact, to change someone else.
When I’ve been unsuccessful, I’ve been controlled. When I’ve been successful, I’ve been in control.
All you can do is every day, try to solve a problem and make your company better
Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them.
I think many start-ups make mistakes because they are focusing on things that are farther ahead, and they haven't done the work that has built the foundation to support it.
When I started Virgin from a basement flat in West London, I did not set _x000D_ out to build a business empire. I set out to create something I enjoyed _x000D_ that would pay the bills.
Money is a tool – it’s the means, not the end. Inspiration is the metric that dictates whether or not a project is a success. It’s more realistic than trying to aim for radio play, or trying to satisfy an AR, or the other gatekeepers on these platforms. I don’t even know how to create with those things in mind. But if you tell me the goal is to inspire? That makes my job a lot easier.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.