What Matters Now - Inspiring Ideas for 2010

“What Matters Now” is a free ebook that Seth Godin has developed with over 70 great thinkers. What I like the most about these micro-essays is that they’re very easy to read and they encourage you not only to think outside the box, but to look at the world beyond yourself and your immediate circle.

I found the book extremely inspiring and if you’re looking for new year’s resolutions, this is a great place to start. As Seth suggests, please be sure to share the book with your friends!!

I’ve chosen my top 10 11 topics below and pulled out a single sentence from the essay. I encourage you to read the entire document (40 minutes, tops!), but at the very least, I hope you will read the pages below!

Facts

Index card pictured above
Jessica Hagy (@JessicaHagy) (Pg. 7)

Dignity

“Creating ways for people to solve their own problems isn’t just an opportunity in 2010. It is an obligation.“
Jacqueline Novogratz (@jnovogratz), CEO Acumen Fund (Pg.

Re-Capitalism

“If you live or operate in the developed world, you’ve got a problem- you have a lot to unlearn, and no short-term incentive to do it.”
Chris Meyer (@ChrisMeyer16) (Pg. 14)

Most

“Are you the most of anything?”
William C. Taylor, Cofounder FastCompany (Pg. 21)

Autonomy

“Management isn’t natural.”
Dan Pink (@DanielPink) (Pg. 25)

Poker

“Everything I know about business I learned from poker”
Tony Hsieh (@Zappos), CEO Zappos.com (Pg. 26)

Evangelism

“The future belongs to people who can spread ideas.”
Guy Kawasaki (@GuyKawasaki) (Pg. 32)

Neoteny

“While we retain many of our childlike attributes into adulthood most of us stop playing when we become adults and focus on work.”
Joichi Ito, CEO Creative Commons (Pg. 39)

Change

“Stop agonizing about what’s not working. Instead, ask yourself, ‘What’s working well, right now, and how can I do more of it?‘”
Chip and Dan Heath, Authors, Made to Stick (Pg. 50)

Productivity

“Don’t worry too much about getting things done. Make things happen.“
Gina Trapani (@Smarterware) (Pg. 68)

Gumption

“Get hungry- hyena hungry. Get fired up. Find your backbone, and your wings.”
J.C. Hutchins (Pg. 81)