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Article: Get Fired! Philosophical Tips for the New Economy

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Get Fired! Philosophical Tips for the New Economy

by Josh Gitlitz "Business used to be about stable marketshare.  It isn't about that anymore. Ideas -- ideas are the currency of the next generation."

So says Seth Godin, serial entrepreneur, author, self-described agent of change and posterboy for the new economy.  Speaking Tuesday at Fast Company Magazine's San Francisco TalentLabs conference, Godin details philosophizes on success in the new economy: (1) Break the rules, (2) Create value without interrupting people with annoying ads, (3) Pretend that nobody cares how cool your stuff is, and (4) TRY TO GET FIRED!

It is only by pushing the envelope that people will find true nirvana in the economy to come.  In Godin's world, there are only two types of people - rule makers and rule breakers.  Rule makers are people who like to follow a prescribed formula and frequent old economy firms stricken with inertia.  Rule breakers are those who continuously innovate as the world evolves and are mostly seen in startups and internal entreprenurial roles in larger old economy firms.  He strongly advises people to find out which one they want to be and to go seek out a company that appreciates that type of person.

"Being on time.  Being on budget.  Copying an idea.  Being good enough.  Doing something useful.  THAT'S BORING!," screams Godin to the assembled crowd of new economy worker bees.  "Remember, safe is risky because you'll just die slowly!"

Seth Godin's message is contagious.  He's an obviously brilliant guy, who delivers his seemingly-anarchist message in a personable fashion that really makes you want to run out of the room and make a change in your life.  His latest book, "Unleashing the Idea Virus" does the same in print.  Will Godin cause a mass labor revolution?  Perhaps for some, but Godin's message is crystal clear: The new economy is all about change and those that don't will be left behind.