What To Do When It’s Your Turn

A few months ago I shelled out a few dollars to support the most recent literary project of Seth Godin.  The book is called ‘What to do when it’s your turn (and it’s always your turn)’.  He described the book as an experiment (he’s kind of known for experiments), and more importantly he has described it as a book he wants shared with others.  When it showed up in my post box there were five copies, not the three I had ordered.  That was the bonus that was mentioned when I ordered back in early December, 2014. The bonus is intended to help buyers, particularly the early recipients of the book, share the message of the book with others.  What is it about?

Basically, Seth Godin thinks we are wasting the chance of a lifetime.  The book, in his words, is “an urgent call to do the work we’re hiding from, a manifesto about living with things that might not work and embracing tension when doing your art.”  It continues his long term theme of embracing the tension, knowing that the anxiety before a decision is risk feedback and a visceral call to do great things.  Mainly, it is a continuation of his manifesto to ‘ship’ your work.  Realize that perfection is the enemy of productivity.

It’s not a heavy read.  It is somewhat magazine like in its composition.  Lots of short stories or profiles to kick you in the proverbial butt to grasp on the opportunity that is the age we live in.  And opportunity is everywhere.

The book is designed to share.  In fact the back page has a place to write your name in before passing it on to another reader.  I have given a copy each to two people who I have received inspiration from in the past.  The gift was a small ‘thank you’.

I want to give one of my readers a book also.  My way of saying thank you for your encouragement, your patience between my posts, and your feedback (public and private).  My super scientific way to give the book away is to have a random drawing from the names of those who comment on this post, either on the blog directly or on the Facebook feed.  It will not be restricted to just Cayman readers, I will send it to you wherever you are.  You just have to promise to give it to someone else after you are done with it.

Now I’m starting to get that knot in my gut.  The fear is creeping in.  Anxiety.  What if no-one writes a comment?  This might not work.

I’m going to do it anyway.  It’s my turn.

Comments are welcome and encouraged.

 

 

I live in the Cayman Islands and I'm married to Christina. We have two children, Ryan, attending Northeastern University in Boston, MA, and Taylor, attending University of Leeds in Leeds, UK. I own several businesses in Cayman. My list of 'pasts' include past chairman of the Cayman Islands Special Economic Zone Authority, past president of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, and past president of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce.