Seth Godin Made Me Cry

13 Comments

Seth Godin

I should say Seth almost made me cry when I spent a day with him last week. Then I realized he was doing to me what I do to many of my clients and I had a choice: accept it as truth and find a way around it, or live in denial and fail.

I was surrounded by some of the world’s brightest non-profit profit leaders and Seth said my plan wouldn’t work. I had been selected from hundreds, maybe thousands of people to spend the day working on ideas that will change the world and here I was, wondering if I should even continue forward.

After a few minutes I came to my senses. Seth was right, of course, and I quickly began creating and thinking through new ideas with the team; ideas that have a good chance of succeeding.

That moment will always be pivotal to me. I was faced with the truth, and painful as it was, I decided to embrace it and find a way past my obstacle. I find the truth to be crippling for many people, perhaps even you. Are you set in your ways, oblivious to the help others are trying to give you?

If you’re like me, you need to embrace the truth. It hurts to admit defeat, but it hurts more to have to admit it after failing.

Posted on October 25, 2012

  • http://www.parxbyjont.com/ Jonathan Tollefson

    This is exactly what I could use more of Justin!  Someone to hurt my feelings so I can move on, in a better direction.  

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    If you embrace it as truth, it’s always helpful, Jon.

  • Doug Gale

    Great subject line Justin!  It is so great to have those sages in our life that can see things that we may not see, see things that may not work out for whatever reason and have the courage to tell us…too often we are so focused on what we see and believe that our way will work not matter what and those colleagues speak to us and save us time, money and other resources…so important to have those influences as we journey through life!

  • http://www.flurrycreations.com/theblog John Bergquist

    Walked through a very tough interaction like this recently. Like you I realized that there really was only one choice. I can not say that I would have made the right one even a year ago. Good on you for pivoting man.

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    I had to make the choice during the meeting, John. I almost didn’t make it either, which would have been devastating.

  • http://twitter.com/jameswoosley JamesWoosley

     Jonathan — Give me a call sometime.  I’ll be happy to make you cry!

  • http://lifestoked.com Deacon Bradley

    Totally been there (and frequent it often as an entrepreneur, hah). The hard part in my opinion is finding someone who can give you that devastatingly helpful advice. 

  • http://www.flurrycreations.com/theblog John Bergquist

    That is something indeed! Wow.

  • http://twitter.com/RandyCantrell Randy Cantrell

    I’m sure hoping we get a podcast episode about this encounter. I want details. Lots of details. (I’m crying ’cause I don’t have pictures of monkeys on my walls!)

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Not sure I want those pics on my wall, Randy. :) Yes, I’ll be talking about this about 2 shows from now.

  • http://RaisingWomen.com/ James Dibben

    Wait till your kids become teenagers. The days of “almost” crying will be WAY over!

    Sounds like you had an amazing experience. I look forward to more details.

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Thanks, James. Lots to look forward to. I’ll talk about this a bit more on an upcoming show.

  • http://www.parxbyjont.com/ Jonathan Tollefson

    lol James, I know you would.