The Icarus Deception: How high will you fly?

A decade ago I left a nice, safe corporate career to find my art and discover my true self. It was scary. I didn't know where the journey would lead nor if I could make a living by my own wits. Seth Godin's The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? is an ambitious work that challenges you to do the same. It's for anyone who is living life as a cog in the machine and who dreams of breaking free, making art, and creating something meaningful. You don't have to leave your current job to make art, but like me, you might be forced to.

Seth launched the book via Kickstarter and because I am a backer, I got an early copy. The book releases to the public on December 31.

Part of the reason I chose to start my own business was Seth's 1999 book Permission Marketing had recently been released and for me, the book clearly articulated the online marketing revolution that we were on the cusp of. I just had to take advantage of those ideas but that marketing radicalism just didn't fly with the corporate status quo. There are no boxes in the org chart for a "ruckus maker".

For me, creating art meant starting something new. But you can create art within an existing structure too. It's the doctor who chooses to communicate with patients on Skype video when they have questions even though the medical establishment looks down on such personal care. It's the customer service rep who brings his colleagues together every Friday afternoon to figure out ways to do their jobs better. It's anyone who picks herself to do something important rather than waiting for an authority figure to give authorization to proceed.

I read each and every Seth book the moment they come out. And if you take a look at my Amazon reviews, you'll see that I talk about many of them. Yes, I'm a fanboy. But that's because Seth has an uncanny ability to generate ideas that prompt me to think about what I'm doing in new ways.

The Icarus Deception will likely make you uncomfortable. The ideas push you to evaluate the nature of your work and your life. Hopefully, like me, Seth's thoughts are a catalyst for you to stop simply doing what the bosses say and live as an artist: to try the untested, to challenge accepted wisdom, to build something new, to travel without a roadmap, to make a difference. I only wish this book had been available ten years ago when I was ready to fly.

Comments

[Larry Waight (@larrywaight)]

In order to think outside of the box, you to have to break that box and that is what Seth Godin and David Meerman Scott have taught me. "The Icarus Deception" will be one of the first books I will read in 2013.

[David Meerman Scott]

Thanks Larry! You are already breaking boxes so I look forward to how high you will fly now!

[Victorpan]

Glad to know that you're also a backer! The Icarus Deception is definitely a read for those who feel that their job has stagnated.

[Nick Simard]

"The Icarus Deception" Already on my list. But never knew it will teach me to fly high.

[Joseph Ratliff]

David, you're one of four "thought leaders" I listen to and execute, every word.

I too was a backer for this project of Seth's (one of the other thought leaders I listen to). When I read the online version of Icarus Deception, as a person who "escaped" the rat race over a decade ago... the book took my understanding of creating art to a whole new level.

I pre-ordered all three books (Whatcha Gonna Do With That Duck and V is for Vulnerable also) on October 8th... long before the digital version came out.

That's how valuable I think Seth's thoughts are, IF someone is willing to execute on them (as I have many times).

But back to you David... I think that your book Newsjacking would be an excellent compliment to Icarus Deception, simply because it provides a nice blueprint for creating content that is relevant to news items in any category.

Thank you for that book David, and I can also highly recommend Icarus Deception to anyone who reads this post.

[David Meerman Scott]

Thank you Joseph for your kind words. I'm flattered that you use one of my books in the same sentence as one of Seth's!

[John Kreiss]

The best form of marketing is word of mouth. Seth just sold another book thanks to this recommendation from someone I trust.

[David Meerman Scott]

I hope you like it as much as I did, John.

[Kent]

Seth always have great books. Like you, I read all Seth Godin's books. I wish I can get the book as soon as possible. Permission Marketing changed my life as well.

[Trevor Young]

Hi David, I love it how Seth is always pushing the envelope, not just with his ideas around business and marketing generally but also in the publishing realm specifically. Only Seth could get away with publishing three books at once which he has done here!

I listened to an illuminating interview with him the other day (via The Rise to the Top) - http://www.therisetothetop.com/badass-blogger/seth-godin-most-revealing-interview-ever/ - in it Seth revealed several insights which helped me better understand how he thinks and why he does what he does. I highly recommend it!

[Cheryl from BusinessChic]

Oh man!

It's funny because I already use Icarus as a reason to not leave my safe job! That said I've had some really great people I admire spend their time telling me that I need to make the jump. It's at the point that I feel I'll be wasting all of our time if I don't. I'll be purchasing this book based on your review. Thanks and eek!

[David Meerman Scott]

Kent and Cheryl - I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

Trevor - Seth seems to be a step ahead of others (like you and me) who write and speak about generating attention for our businesses. What I like about his most recent work is that it has gone beyond pure marketing to be more about how to live a fulfilling business life in a changing world. I'll check out the audio!

[Rgoldston.wordpress.com]

Wow can't wait until my copy arrives. I'll be reading it as soon as it comes. I also read each and every Seth book. I had a chance to meet him a few months ago at a Google event and he's the motivation behind me launching my blog.

[Daniel]

"I only wish this book had been available ten years ago when I was ready to fly."

Even for a young guy, I've learned that sometimes you actually can begin a life-changing process too early (before you're ready). However, when you finally get ready to make the change, it's never too late. So you most likely found the book at just the right time.

[grogue]

I have started a new project: http://projecticaro.blogspot.com.es
I hope you enjoy it

[Jules]

So you left a corporate job to 'discover your art' and it turned out to be online marketing? Wow. Inspirational. We need more crazy out-of-the-box dreamers like you.

[Long Beach PC Expert]

This could be the book most career people are looking for. Definitely on queue for reading this 2013! Thanks David!

[Breean Miller]

Great post. I recently started reading Seth's new book. But, it doesn't make me uncomfortable, it speaks directly to me!

I, too, must be a fanboy (fangirl?).

Love your work too, by the way :)

[David Meerman Scott]

Thank you Breean

[Bookkeeping Services Caloundra]

Seth Godin is a legend! No one can challenge and can inspire like him. Especially in the filed of marketing and entrepreneurship.