-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueAdvancing the Advanced Materials Discussion
Moore’s Law is no more, and the advanced material solutions to grapple with this reality are surprising, stunning, and perhaps a bit daunting. Buckle up for a dive into advanced materials and a glimpse into the next chapters of electronics manufacturing.
Inventing the Future With SEL
Two years after launching its state-of-the-art PCB facility, SEL shares lessons in vision, execution, and innovation, plus insights from industry icons and technology leaders shaping the future of PCB fabrication.
Sales: From Pitch to PO
From the first cold call to finally receiving that first purchase order, the July PCB007 Magazine breaks down some critical parts of the sales stack. To up your sales game, read on!
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: 'The Practice: Shipping Creative Work'
June 27, 2024 | Dan Beaulieu, D.B. Management GroupEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

As you must know by now, I am an unabashed fan of Seth Godin and an equally unabashed fan of this particular book. Out of all of Seth’s books, and there are a lot of good ones in the 20-plus he has written, this one motivates me the most. I go back to it repeatedly when I’m stuck in the middle of a creative project and I need a good swift kick in the you-know-what to get moving.
The Practice is all about sharing your work, no matter what that work is. It’s having the courage and the confidence to put yourself and your work out there.
By using a series of 219 rants (all of them from the thousands of blogs that Seth has put out over the years), his core message is: It doesn’t matter what you do unless you share it. If you do not “ship it,” it’s as bad as if you’d never done it in the first place.
Personally, this is true in everything we do, from writing a column or short story to introducing a new marketing idea to a company. Nothing is useful until someone uses it. It’s all up to you. Don’t for someone else to do it. We need to nominate and select ourselves. If you write a book, publish it yourself if no one else will. If no one will hire you, start your own business.
If you fail, so what? You’re learning. Thomas Edison tried over a thousand different filaments before he got it right on his light bulb. He did not fail a thousand times; he learned a thousand times until he got it right.
“This book is an extraordinary and electrifying call to action,” says Rosanne Cash. She’s right. That’s the way I feel about it as well.
If you have a book in your bottom drawer, or a new company you want to start, but you’re afraid of failing, then read The Practice. If you have a new strategy for your company and are afraid to try it, this book will give the wherewithal and the courage to move forward fearlessly.
I have this quote from Seth on the wall in front of my writing table:
“The path forward is about curiosity, generosity, and connection. These are the three foundations of art. Art is a tool that give us the ability to make things better and to create something new on behalf of those who will use it to create the next thing. Human connection is exponential: It scales as we create it, weaving together culture and possibility where none used to exist. You have everything you need to make magic. You always have. Go make a ruckus.”
Remember that when he says “art,” he means what we are working, even in business. Please do yourself a favor and read this book.
Dan Beaulieu is president of D.B. Management Group.
The Practice: Shipping Creative Work
Author: Seth Godin
Copyright: 2020 Portfolio- Penguin an Imprint of Penguin Random House L.L.C.
Pages: 261
Price $26
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Happy’s Tech Talk #43: Engineering Statistics Training With Free Software
10/06/2025 | Happy Holden -- Column: Happy’s Tech TalkIn over 50 years as a PCB process engineer, the one skill I acquired in college that has been most beneficial is engineering statistics. Basic statistics was part of my engineering fundamentals classes, but I petitioned the dean to let me take the engineering statistics graduate course because I was creating a senior thesis for my honors focus and needed more training on Design of Experiments (DOE).
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
10/03/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007It’s been a busy week. We’ve been covering PCB West, and we’ll be bringing you a variety of news and interviews from the show in the next few weeks. We’ll also be attending SMTA International later this month, and productronica as trade show season rolls on. This week, we have a number of interesting columns and news items. We start with a positive story about North American PCB sales, which were heading in the right direction in August. Don Ball writes about the ins and out of working with overseas partners, and there’s a great column by Dan Beaulieu on avoiding the temptation to offer discounts when your customer gets squirrely.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: 'A View from the Top: Moving from Success to Significance'
10/02/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfOnce in a while, a book comes along that reminds you why you started down this road of business and leadership. Zig Ziglar’s "A View from the Top" is that book. It’s not just about business and motivation. It’s about living a life that counts—for your family, your company, your community, and yourself. Ziglar delivers this book in his typical fashion, with the punch of hard-earned wisdom, a bit of humor, and a lot of common sense.
Global Notebook Shipments to Grow 2.2% in 2025 as Southeast Asia Production Capacity Expands
09/17/2025 | TrendForceDespite challenges from geopolitical tensions and tariff uncertainties, the global notebook market is showing signs of recovery in 2025. TrendForce reports that notebooks currently continue to enjoy U.S. tariff exemptions when imported from Southeast Asia.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: Four Important Books You Need to Read (Not Just Say You Have)
09/18/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfDan Beaulieu continues his popular book review series by reviewing four classic books that he believes everyone should have on their bookshelf. In this column, he reviews "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli, "The Art of War," by Sun Tzu, "How to Win Friends and Influence People," by Dale Carnegie, and "Think and Grow Rich," by Napoleon Hill. While we've all heard of these books and maybe read them, Dan will give you a new perspective.