The problem with taking offense is that it's really hard to figure out what to do with it after you're done using it. Better to just leave it on the table and walk away. Umbrage untaken quietly disappears.
Seth GodinRead
Not adding value is the same as taking it away.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Contributing positively is essential; failing to do so is equivalent to detracting from overall value.
Seth Godin's quote emphasizes the importance of actively adding value in any endeavor. If one does not contribute positively or enhance a situation, it can be perceived as undermining its worth, thereby equating inactivity with negativity. In various contexts, whether in business, relationships, or personal growth, the absence of value creation is akin to reducing the existing value, highlighting the necessity of engagement and contribution.
Themes
ValueContributionBusinessEngagementNegativity
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting to discuss project contributions.
More from Seth Godin
All quotes →Excellence isn’t about meeting the spec, it’s about setting the spec. It defines what the consumer sees as quality right this minute, and tomorrow, if you’re good, you’ll reset that expectation again
Seth GodinRead
Living with doubt ... is almost always more profitable than living with certainty. _x000D_ People don't like doubt, so they pay money and give up opportunities to avoid it. _x000D_ Entrepreneurshi p is largely about living with doubt. If you need reassurance, you're giving up quite a bit to get it. On the other hand, if you can get in the habit of seeking out uncertainty, you'll have developed a great instinct.
Seth GodinRead
The danger of the Web is that you can go from idea to public announcement in under ten minutes.
Seth GodinRead
Art isn't only a painting. Art is anything that is creative, passionate and personal. Art is the unique work of a human being created to touch another. Art is created to have an impact, to change someone else.
Seth GodinRead
I made a decision to write for my readers, not to try to find more readers for my writing.
Seth GodinRead
Similar quotes
The most valuable assets of a 20th-century company were its production equipment. The most valuable assets of a 21st-century institution, whether business or nonbusiness, will be its knowledge, workers, and their productivity.
Peter DruckerRead
I'll tell you why I like the cigarette business. It cost a penny to make. Sell it for a dollar. It's addictive. And there's a fantastic brand loyalty.
Warren BuffettRead
Building a mission and building a business go hand in hand. The primary thing that excites me is the mission. But we have always had a healthy understanding that we need to do both.
Mark ZuckerbergRead
Values can set a company apart from the competition by clarifying its identity and serving as a rallying point for employees. But coming up with strong values - and sticking to them - requires real guts.
Patrick LencioniRead
The greatest change in corporate culture - and the way business is being conducted - may be the accelerated growth of relationships based... on partnership.
Peter DruckerRead
Cutting prices or putting things on sale is not sustainable business strategy.
Howard SchultzRead