Write a classified ad. What's the offer? What do you want me to do? You're paying by the word!

I remember learning new words and phrases by the barrelful in business school. As a business-book writer, I'm exposed to them all the time. Many of them are actually quite useful, because they give you precise words to describe things that would be difficult to communicate otherwise. For example, telling someone that a particular hedge fund is "highly leveraged" is a lot easier than saying, "They've borrowed a lot of money in order to speculate and multiply their positive returns using other people's money."

Things you can learn from the music business (as it falls apart)

Its too easy to criticize hope.

Permission marketing is the privilege (not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages to people who actually want to get them.

The Original Squid speaks...Seth Godin on Squidoo.

The answer lies in trial and error and motivation and in overcoming the fear that makes us avoid the topic in the first place.

I'm working today. In fact, if I'm conscious, I'm working. That's largely because it doesn't seem like 'work' today. I'd write this blog even if no one read it.

Seth Godin is the bestselling author of more than seven books. He writes about marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respect.

*What every entrepreneur, geek, brand manager and marketer needs to know about trademarks...