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© 2026 Juvoni Beckford

←All books

Business · 2015

Poke the Box

Seth Godin

Poke the Box Cover
Rating
6/10
Difficulty
Light
Read time
2 hours
Best in
  • Kindle

96 pagesRead Apr 9, 2016Staying power: Lingering influence

by Juvoni Beckford·@juvoni

Before readingWhy I picked it up

This is a book about starting. Something I am constantly trying to get better at doing, along with finishing. I've read other Seth Godin books and appreciated their short and direct approaches.

After readingPosted April 16, 2017

A short manifesto on overcoming the fear of starting and doing work that's worthwhile. Simple principles with big personal impact. The terminology of a box is symobilic of a child poking a buzzer box out of pure curiosity not impeeded by fear of overthinking. In life, fear and overthinking prevent us from taking action. If the cost of booking the box is less than the cost of doing nothing, poke the box.

Three reasons to read it

  1. 01If you have trouble starting things.
  2. 02If you overthink things and procrastinate on taking action.
  3. 03Principles for starting, being consistent and more curious.

Notable quotesSeth GodinMore in Quotes

  1. 01

    “I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance.”

  2. 02

    “There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth. Not going all the way, and not starting.” Siddhrtha Gautama”

  3. 03

    “Reject the tyranny of picked. Pick yourself.”

  4. 04

    “Today, not starting is far, far worse than being wrong. If you start, you've got a shot at evolving and adjusting to turn your wrong into a right. But if you don't start, you never get a chance.”

Notes for this book are still being transcribed.

←PreviousHow Will You Measure Your Life?Clayton M. ChristensenNext→How to Lie with StatisticsDarrell Huff
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