Seth Godin is one of the world’s great bloggers because he publishes a thoughtful take every single day, and has done so for nearly 17 years. His posts are usually short, which I appreciate since I already have more than a handful of daily blogs and newsletters to get through. Godin is also a prolific author, educator, and well-known marketing thinker. Not everything he writes applies to my life, but often his ideas are both interesting and relevant. As a new blogger, I find him inspiring.

Earlier this year I finished his latest book, This is Strategy. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it unless you work in marketing, but as usual, I found a few quotes worth saving and reflecting on. The one below resonates with me as a new blogger with no social media presence.

On one level, I think about the systems that exist for bloggers—Medium, Substack, LinkedIn. The main reason I have decided to blog is simply to practice writing and thinking in public on a regular basis (something Godin highly recommends). I’m not trying to become famous or turn it into a major source of income. Still, I want my ideas to reach others and to invite feedback and conversation. To grow an audience, though, I have to consider engaging with the systems that make that more likely.

Godin’s point helps me reframe the decision. Instead of focusing only on what these platforms can do for me, I need to ask what they will demand of me. For instance, posting through them means exposing myself to their algorithms, and I know from experience that’s a mixed bargain. Leaving Instagram, Facebook, and later Substack has been a real boost to my mental health, so I’m cautious about opening those doors again.

Even if I eventually choose to cross-post, Godin’s reminder will help me pause, reflect, and step in with eyes wide open. It also makes me wonder: what other systems in our lives deserve a closer look at how they shape our habits and our thinking?