If you like Meatball Sundae, Purple Cow or any other of Seth Godin’s books.  Or even if you’ve never read any of his books, his latest is an ebook called What Matters Now and it’s free.

I like Seth’s writing, it’s always inspiring, insightful or inspirational.

Good way to start off 2010.

For those keeping tabs, Seth also has a book book coming out too.

I spent part of the day planning my business goals for 2010.  It’s one of the things I love about this time of year.  Well, that and the fact that I feel completely justified in having hot cocoa in the middle of the day.

For me, goal planning is as much about looking back as it is looking forward. Because this year also closes a decade, I looked back even further.  Reflecting on all I’ve accomplished and planning for all the things I still want to get done.

Goal setting turned to reminiscing and I was reminded of the words of a friend  from many years ago.  He was a very successful business owner, and I looked up to him tremendously as, at the time, I looked forward to what my life could become.

I’ve had (and continue to have) a lot of great mentors, coaches and teachers in my life, but this person was something special.  To begin with, he was in his mid seventies and at the time, I was in my mid twenties.  (I’m now in my forties.)  Something he said to me way back when keeps coming back to me today, so I thought I’d share it with my you:

-When you’re in your twenties, you don’t know sh*t.  You think you do, but really…you’re clueless.

-When you’re in your thirties, you know some things, but no one else thinks you do.

-In your forties, you get a little gray in your temples, people start paying attention to what you say.  Suddenly they know you know something.

-Your fifties, everybody agrees, you know something.  Even you.

-Then come your sixties, “suddenly” you’re an expert. Everyone wants to know what you think.  But you couldn’t care less, you’re more interested in having a life.  You’re headed in a new direction.

What ever decade you’re in in your life, I hope the coming year is one of continued discovery!

This post is dedicated to my friend and mentor, Had Estabrooks.

The Vendor Client Relationship video*:  I saw it on Facebook.  Maybe that’s where it should have stayed.  Then I saw it on Twitter, then FriendFeed—it popped up on LinkedIn too.  Yes, it was funny and if you’ve been in the business, you’ve seen this over and over again.  It made great points that we should all consider when working with professional service folks.

This video taught me something about myself that it never intended to:  Apparently I listen to far too many of the same type people.  5 of the blogs I follow posted it, influential blogs—leaders in the marketing industry.  Nicholas Kristof called this The Daily Me, a phenomenon I’ve mentioned before.  I know and believe what it says—and seeing that video broadcast from so many of the people whose blogs I take the time to read made me realize, they don’t need to get that much of my time.  I know trends happen and buzz develops –it’s called viral for a reason ….but standing in an echo chamber does me no good—or anyone else, for that matter. 

Starting today I am looking for new, alternative, fresh, non-marketing related content.  I’m fleeing the overload.  I can’t find the quote at the moment, but I think it was Jeff Goodby who said he didn’t read anything marketing related and didn’t want his staff to either.  Looking broader and more holistically at the world gave them better perspective and insight than being immersed —surrounded by the same voices.  Truer words were never spoken.

My Google reader is going in for an overhaul.

*No, as a matter of principal, I will not post the link.  Google it, you’ll find it!

Finally this weekend, I had the time to re-read my notes from SXSW and what a ton of insightful stuff.

Charlene Li (who’s one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever had the privilege of hearing speak) said:

Organizational stuctures and social media maps do not look alike.  Silos are being blown apart.  We’ve now got to place the customer inside the organizational chart; ideally at the top and center.”

Brilliant.

And if you’d like to see Charlene’s entire presentation it’s here:

Ted Turner’s autobiography, Call me Ted has been criticised for not being open enough at certain points in the story.  And when it comes to his personal life, he’d rather look ahead than behind.  But get the man talking about business and you’ve got a classic overcoming obstacles Cinderella story.

Call me Ted provides an up close and personal view into the mind and heart of the man who, among other things, founded CNN, gave $1 billion  to the UN, created the first national cable channel and as a result, the first direct response TV ads.  Remember the Ginsu Knife? 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abLB7aTmnE4]

What about vinyl repair kits or the 70’s super bad party ring?  Yes, indirectly, we can blame Ted Turner for those annoying Billy Mays Oxyclean commercials!

The man’s not a saint, nor does he claim to be.   Anyone who’s accomplished as much as Ted Turner has rubbed some people the wrong way.  Yes, he has detractors, but he’s done a lot of good.  Turner made a lot of mistakes but learned from them all; and he lays them bare in Call me Ted .  

His philosophies are homespun, conventional wisdom that he’s applied to his life and business, while other anecdotes are uniquely Ted Turner.  Nothing game changing and above all, he makes it plain that there are no magic bullets, that hard work is key and yes, a little luck doesn’t hurt. 

Here are 20 take aways from the book:

• Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.  Turner didn’t coin the phrase but he lives by it.
• Honor and trust are the two most important things in business.
• Look for an unconventional angle and approach to problems:  The SuperStation couldn’t get noticed in the TV listings  when they were becoming a national station, competing with the networks in the early days of cable so he created Turner Time which made all their start times for programming  5 minutes after the hour or half hour 7:05, 7:35 etc.  As a result, they stood out!
• Community service in business is crucial.
• Set your goals so high you can’t possibly achieve them in one lifetime.
• You may not be in a glamorous business but you can still look for ways to use creativity everyday.
• Problems are inevitable; go around or through them.
• Don’t always negotiate on price.  Negotiate on terms.
• Doing the smallest things to take care of your customers is essential.
• Break down barriers:  When he purchased MGM and as went through to tour the place and meet the employees he said to each one who addressed him as Mr. Turner:  “Call me Ted.”
• You don’t know the roadblocks until you get started.
• Keep sights set on the future, don’t dwell on the past.
• Even bad publicity can be valuable—just make sure they spell your name correctly!
• Don’t haggle over a good opportunity.
• Don’t set your goals in monetary terms.
• Move fast.  Take advantage of opportunities before they become obvious and have passion for efficiency
• Talk to lots of people in your industry, including your competition.
• Speak your mind.
• Boundless energy will serve you well.
• And my personal favorite:  You can loose 10 million dollars a day for 2 ½ years and still be OK.

Turner wraps up the book by outlining his 11 voluntary initiatives, so named because he has trouble living up to his own personal code—so far be it for him to try to tell others how to live.  But the suggestions are bold and massive in scope.  I am not listing them here!  It’ll give you a reason to read the book.

Like any advice, take what works for you and leave the rest.  You may come away invigorated and ready to take on the world, or pissed that he’s made it so big.  Maybe he’ll provide anti motivation as in:  if he can do it I know I can do it.  I think he’d laugh and probably agree to know he had that effect.