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And It Turns Out That Tribes, Not Money, Not Factories, That Can Change Our World, That Can Change Politics, That Can Align Large Numbers Of People. Not Because You Force Them To Do Something Against Their Will. But Because They Wanted To Connect.
-Seth Godin
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And It Turns Out

Seth Godin
And It Turns Out That Tribes, Not Money, Not Factories, That Can Change Our World, That Can Change Politics, That Can Align Large Numbers Of People. Not Because You Force Them To Do Something Against Their Will. But Because They Wanted To Connect.
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Our World
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Greatness
Way
Shrinks
If You're Working With A Spreadsheet Or A Thread Of Correspondence Or A Set Of Data, I'm Not Sure You're Doing Your Best Work If You're Doing It On An Iphone.
Iphone
Data
Doing Your Best
No More Than Six Words On A Slide. Ever. There Is No Presentation So Complex That This Rule Needs To Be Broken.
Broken
Needs
Slides
It's Easy To Be Afraid Of Taking A Plunge, Because, After All, Plunging Is Dangerous. And The Fear Is A Safe Way To Do Nothing At All. Wading, On The Other Hand, Gets Under The Radar. It Gives You A Chance To Begin.
Hands
Giving
Safe
I Have Something To Say. I Know How To Do Something. I’m Doing It. If You Want Me To Do It With You, Raise Your Hand.
Hands
Want
Raises
But If The Cow Is Purple, You'd Notice It, Ok? The Thing That's Going To Decide What Gets Talked About, What Gets Done, What Gets Changed, What Gets Purchased, What Gets Built Is, Is It Remarkable? And Remarkable's A Really Cool Word 'cause We Think It Just Means Neat, But It Also Means Worth Making A Remark About, And That Is The Essence Of Where Idea Diffusion Is Going.
Mean
Thinking
Essence
The Way To Get Unstuck Is To Start Down The Wrong Path, Right Now.
Way
Path
Wrong Path
It's Never Too Late To Start Heading In The Right Direction.
Too Late
Heading In The Right Direction
Headings
The Challenge With Being An Initiator Of Projects Is That You Are Never, Ever Done.
Business
Challenges
Done
Leaders Have Followers, Managers Have Employees. Managers Make Widgets, Leaders Make Change.
Leader
Followers
Employee
The Market ... Demands A Signal From You That You're Serious, Powerful, Accepted, And Safe.
Powerful
Demand
Safe
If We Can Fall In Love With Serving People, Creating Value, Solving Problems, Building Valuable Connections And Doing Work That Matters, It Makes It Far More Likely We're Going To Do Important Work
Falling In Love
Creating Value
People
Laptop Computers Dramatically Increased The Time People Spend Doing Work. (the Internet Dramatically Decreased It, So We're Even).
People
Laptops
Computer
We Live In A Vague World. And It Gets Vaguer All The Time. In This Environment, The Power Of The Specific, Measurable And Useful Promise Made And Kept Is Difficult To Overstate.
Promise
World
Environment
The Best Time To Start Promoting Your Book Is Three Years Before It Comes Out. Three Years To Build A Reputation, Build A Permission Asset, Build A Blog, Build A Following, Build Credibility And Build The Connections You'll Need Later.
Book
Writing
Years
If You Believe That A Given Situation Should Make You Unhappy, Then It Will, And The Unhappiness Will Then Reinforce The Condition.
Believe
Unhappy
Unhappiness
The First Rule Of Doing Work That Matters: Go To Work On A Regular Basis.
Matter
Firsts
Bases
Action Or Inaction Are Both Forms Of Leadership And Standard Setting.
Action
Form
Standards
It's Not Reckless, Because When We Leap, When We Dive In, When We Begin, Only Begin, We Bring Our True Nature To The Project, We Make It Personal And Urgent. And It's Not Abandon, Not In The Sense That We've Abandoned Our Senses Or Our Responsibility. In Fact, Abandoning The Fear Of Fear That Is Holding Us Back Is The Single Best Way Not To Abandon The Work, The Pure Execution Of The Work. Later, There's Time To Backpedal And Water Down. But Right Now, Reckless Please.
Responsibility
Water
Way
The Resistance Is The Voice In Your Head Telling You To Use Bullets In Your Powerpoint Slides...it’s The Voice That Tells You To Leave Controversial Ideas Out Of The Paper You’re Writing, Because The Teacher Won’t Like Them. The Resistance Pushes Relentlessly For You To Fit In.
Teacher
Writing
Ideas
Just Because Something Is Easy To Measure Doesn't Mean It's Important.
Motivational
Christian
Mean
Most People Don't See That They Have Options Beyond What Society Tells Them To Do. That's The Biggest Problem. They Honestly Believe That Compliance Is The Shortcut To Success.
Believe
People
Shortcuts
I Was Amplifying The Negative At The Expense Of The Positive, Not To Serve Any Useful Function, Not To Make My Writing Better, But To Destroy It. The Lizard Brain, So Attuned To People Laughing Behind Our Backs, Was On High Alert For This Sort Of Criticism And Would Do Anything It Could To Stop Me From Writing Again. I Haven't Sought Out And Read A Review Or A Tweet Since.
Life
Work
Writing
Permission Marketing Turns Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Loyal Customers. It's Not Just About Entertainment - It's About Education. Permission Marketing Is Curriculum Marketing.
Educational
Loyal Customers
Marketing
Emotions Are Far More Contagious Than Any Disease. A Smile Or A Panic Will Spread Through A Group Of People Far Faster Than Any Virus Ever Could. When You Walk Into The Office Or A Negotiation, Then, Wash Your Bad Mood Away Before You See Us. Don't Cough On Us, Don't Sneeze On Us, Sure, But Don't Bring Your Grouchiness, Your Skepticism Or Your Fear In Here Either. It Might Spread.
Motivational
Office
People
You Dont Need To Convince Everyone. All You Need To Do Is Motivate People Who Choose To Follow You.
People
Needs
Convince
Do The Emotional Labor Of Working On Things That Others Fear.
Emotional
Labor
A Brand Is The Set Of Expectations, Memories, Stores And Relationships That, Taken Together, Account For A Consumer's Decision To Choose One Product Or Service Over Another.
Memories
Taken
Expectations
Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.


2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.


2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.


2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.


3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.


3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.


3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.



4. Proper Usage of Quotes


4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.


4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.


4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid


5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.


5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.


5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.



6. Quotes in Different Contexts


6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.


6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.


6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.



7. Punctuation and Formatting


Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:


Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.


Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.


Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.



8. Ethical Considerations


Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes


Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.



Conclusion


Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.


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