The Practice: Shipping Creative Work Hardcover – November 3, 2020

One of my favorite books. Timeless, super insightful and inspiring.

This is one of the best “morning reads” I’ve picked up. A reading in the morning that is short and inspiring and helps you take the leap into action that day. I could have made this book last longer by just reading a section at a time but I was enjoying myself too much!

Although I have only started this book, I think the content is going to be good, encouraging, and helpful. I purchased the hardback because it was on sale and I thought I would enjoy a hardback for a change. I was surprised at the small size and font. While it is 252 pages, the book itself is a 5x7 - VERY small for a hardback. If I would have caught the size, I much would have paid the higher price for the paperback (6x9). The size, in my opinion, detracts from the content, making it difficult to sink into the message. Additionally, the pages are cream, which gives a dated feel. I was excited about getting the book and I've, sadly, hardly picked it up because the physical appearance doesn't say "grab me and read me." If the topic is of interest to you, I would definitely steer you to purchase the paperback!

When I find myself in times of creative trouble, need some words of wisdom, and Mother Mary is a little preoccupied (see: date), I turn to my go-to books. The "Tao Te Ching" is always a good one. When I need the big guns — down with you, Resistance! — I call in Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art" and "Going Pro." And now, there is a new book that combines aspects of all three: "The Practice", by Seth Godin.A main thrust of the book is to dismantle myths about creative output. Creativity is not a special talent reserved for the elect; you don't have to wait for the muse; wherever you are now is fine. You just have to get started and, above all, establish a regular practice (hence the title). Sure, a lot of what you produce will be dreck. That's okay, because in that big pile of dreck, a small fraction will be great. But you won't get the hits without the dreck.Early in the book, Seth serves us this list of what it means to establish a practice:"We can adopt a practice. Here are the surprising truths that have been hidden by our desire for those perfect outcomes, the ones industrial recipes promise but never quite deliver: Skill is not the same as talent. A good process can lead to good outcomes, but it doesn’t guarantee them. Perfectionism has nothing to do with being perfect. Reassurance is futile. Hubris is the opposite of trust. Attitudes are skills. There’s no such thing as writer’s block. Professionals produce with intent. Creativity is an act of leadership. Leaders are imposters. All criticism is not the same. We become creative when we ship the work. Good taste is a skill."That's a lot of wisdom in the space of 109 words, much of it counterintuitive, which Seth then unpacks in 8 sections. What does it mean to trust yourself, and to be generous with your art? How do you go pro? How important is intent? Are creative constraints good or bad?One by one, Seth dismantles the excuses and blocks creators unwittingly make up for themselves, such that by the end of the book, you just might say, "Hey, I think can do this, too."Each chapter is a short, memorable little nugget with anecdotes that stay with you. I especially appreciated the quotes from other wise people and the stories from great artists like Joni Mitchell about their creative process.This book felt like a jolt of concentrated wisdom, like one of Seth's workshops in written form. He's been walking the path of creativity and entrepreneurship for 4 decades and taught thousands of individuals, so what he shares in "The Practice" rings true to me. If you'd like to light up a booster rocket under your butt and establish a prolific practice of creating work that matters, "The Practice" is your indispensable guide and companion. It's my new go-to book for years to come. May you let it be a catalyst to *your* greatness.-- Ali Binazir, M.D., M.Phil., Happiness Engineer, executive coach, and author of The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman's Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible, the highest-rated dating book on Amazon for 7 years, and Should I Go to Medical School?: An Irreverent Guide to the Pros and Cons of a Career in Medicine

Seth Godin does not sleep. Practical advice for any professional. This book reads like a manual for anyone who has worked.

You sit in life wondering if you are enough! Can I actually make a difference? Why does it feel like I am an imposter, pretending? You feel like a fraud, wondering when you will be found out.You sit thinking, perhaps someday I can take “that” step.. you search.. you wonder… you seek….Then somehow, the universe or God gives you a gift - this book - to read … and you find the answers you were always looking for.If you read this review and your heart starts racing a little faster .. it might be your time to start. To finally share with the world who you are and the change you wish to make.

I was attracted to this book because… I’m always challenged and inspired by Seth Godin’s writing. I know my practice of the work I want to do is failing. Common sense suggestion that lead you to believe in yourself and take responsibility for your own magic.This book was about It breaks down into three calls to action. 1. ‘Shipping - your efforts don’t count if you don’t share it.’ 2. Create because you are working toward making things better by producing a new way forward. ‘Creativity is a choice.’ 3. Work - isn’t a hobby, it’s a practice that requires commitment.Things I liked about this book I’m always amazed at Godin’s ability to speak truth in few words. Reading anything he writes is never a waste of time.Why you should read this book If your work is lagging, especially if you are a creative. If you are waiting for the next great inspiration. If you are struggling with finding the time to fo your passion. If you are experiencing any of those things, this book will pick you up out of the dust that has surrounded you and turned you around to a more satisfying outlook on your practice,This book lived up to the back cover copy -The recommendations on the back cover resonated with my experience in reading the book. From the inside cover - “If you’re ready to make a difference with your ideas and your craft, what are you waiting for? Because we’re waiting for you.”