Seth Godin has been a big influence on me for more than a decade.
He’s earnest.
He’s insightful.
And he’s prolific.
He’s published a blog post every day since 2002 — more than 8,000 of them.
He’s written more than 20 books.
He created the altMBA program and other workshops that have reached thousands of people worldwide.
And he’s helped countless organizations and individuals to learn a form of marketing that is generous and effective.
The dictionary defines prolific as “producing many works.”
But what does it really take to be prolific?
Diligence.
Creativity.
A clear mission.
And one more thing:
A willingness to confront the fear that otherwise would keep you cautious.
For most people, this fear shows up in small, everyday ways:
- Pausing too long before sending that email or proposal.
- Delaying a decision until you’ve reconsidered one more time.
- Holding back in a meeting instead of speaking up.
- Spending extra time polishing something that’s already good enough.
What’s underneath?
Common fears like:
- “What if I get it wrong?”
- “What if I look foolish?”
- “What if this isn’t perfect?”
- “What if someone is disappointed?”
But there are other ways to look at it:
- See the true cost of waiting — opportunities lost, momentum slowed.
- Reframe the risk: is the downside really bigger than the benefit of moving forward?
- Shift your identity: prolific leaders are remembered for showing up consistently, not for being flawless.
- Remember that iteration beats hesitation: you learn more from releasing the work than from holding it back.
So here’s the real question:
What shift can you make today to become more prolific?
