The Right Approach: Get Ready for ISO 9001 Version 6
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Still Broke: Walmart’s Remarkable Transformation'
Driving Innovation: Depth Routing Processes—Achieving Unparalleled Precision in Complex PCBs
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
Share on:
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
Dan's Biz Bookshelf: 'Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company'
09/04/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfMost of what we hear about Apple’s relationship with China is half-baked punditry or political noise. However, Patrick McGee’s "Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company" is a tour de force that peels back the PR polish and shows us what’s really going on behind that gleaming bitten fruit.
North American PCB Industry Shipments Up 20.7% in July
08/27/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced today the July 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.00. Total North American PCB shipments in July 2025 were up 20.7% compared to the same month last year.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: 'Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things'
08/28/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfShout out to Adam Grant’s books. Everything he writes is spot-on, and I recommend them all. But this latest one will slap you upside the head—not with fluff or hype, but with truth. If you’re a leader, builder, mentor, or just someone trying to push yourself to be better, "Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things" is a masterclass in unlocking what’s inside of you.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf ‘House of Huawei'
08/14/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfEva Dou’s "House of Huawei" is one of the most gripping business books I’ve read in years, and believe me, I’ve read my fair share. This is not just another corporate biography. It’s a geopolitical thriller, except every word is true. People have painted the Chinese tech giant Huawei as a villain, a threat, and an enigma in equal measure. However, Dou cuts through the noise and delivers something few Western reporters have managed: a fair, balanced, and thoroughly researched look at the company everyone in tech has an opinion about, but few understand.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘In Defense of a Liberal Education’
07/31/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfWhile Fareed Zakaria’s "In Defense of a Liberal Education" isn’t technically a business book, it’s nevertheless one that any business leader developing a workforce should read. A powerful, thought-provoking treatise on why the liberal arts are crucial, "Liberal Education" challenges the growing emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education at the expense of broader intellectual pursuits.