--- title: Living in Surplus by Seth Godin description: "Editor’s note: My life has essentially been a (still) unending struggle to move from deficit to surplus thinking. I’m making progress." image: https://mindcapturegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/seth20182-1080x675.jpg --- [![Main-Logo-01-1](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Main-Logo-01-1.png?width=250&height=43&name=Main-Logo-01-1.png "Main-Logo-01-1")](https://www.thebusinessofgood.org) # | Blog ## [Living in Surplus by Seth Godin](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/living-in-surplus-by-seth-godin) ** Aug 30, 2020 9:57:04 PM / by [Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/author/tim-mccarthy) **Editor’s note:** *My life has essentially been a (still) unending struggle to move from deficit to surplus thinking.  I’m making progress. *   ![](https://mindcapturegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/seth20182-1080x675.jpg) Original Article: [https://seths.blog/2019/08/living-in-surplus/](https://seths.blog/2019/08/living-in-surplus/) In our culture, it’s easy to choose to live in deficit. To spend just a bit more than you make, so that you’re in debt. To need to drive just a bit faster than the prevailing traffic, so you can push every interaction. To measure yourself against someone (there’s always someone) who has more (there’s always more) than you do. If this habit of becoming ‘behind’ is the fuel you need to do your best work, it’s difficult for an outsider to argue against. But consider that it’s also possible to choose to live in surplus. To spend a bit less than you make, so you’re never worried about paying the rent. To drive with the flow of (metaphorical) traffic, because not only is it safer, it frees you up to dream. And to measure yourself against no one but yourself. Raise your standards as often as you can, but not because someone else you chose out of the lineup of success is somehow ahead of you. When you live in surplus, you can choose to produce because of generosity and wonder, not because you’re drowning. Tags: [Learning and Knowledge](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/topic/learning-and-knowledge) ![Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Tim-square%20edit-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=Tim-square%20edit-1.png) #### Written by [Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/author/tim-mccarthy) ### Subscribe to Email Updates - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [Creativity & Favorites (686)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/creativity-favorites) - [Monthly Newsletter (232)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/monthly-newsletter) - [Learning and Knowledge (209)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/learning-and-knowledge) - [Organizational & Operational Excellence (34)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/organizational-operational-excellence) - [Personal Well-Being (30)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/personal-well-being) - [Communication & Relationships (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/communication-relationships) - [Professional Growth and Development (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/professional-growth-and-development) - [Business & Entrepreneurship (27)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/business-entrepreneurship) - [Social Impact & Responsibility (9)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/social-impact-responsibility) ### Posts by Topic - [Creativity & Favorites (686)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/creativity-favorites) - [Monthly Newsletter (232)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/monthly-newsletter) - [Learning and Knowledge (209)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/learning-and-knowledge) - [Organizational & Operational Excellence (34)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/organizational-operational-excellence) - [Personal Well-Being (30)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/personal-well-being) - [Communication & Relationships (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/communication-relationships) - [Professional Growth and Development (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/professional-growth-and-development) - [Business & Entrepreneurship (27)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/business-entrepreneurship) - [Social Impact & Responsibility (9)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/social-impact-responsibility) [See all](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/living-in-surplus-by-seth-godin#) ### Recent Posts --- Listen to Tim's Monthly Favorites on Spotify --- See Tim's Library at GoodReads ## [Tim's Book of the Month Library](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/16122954-tim-mccarthy?shelf=books-of-the-month&utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [![The Hunter](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692131625l/174156145._SX50_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602634062?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [The Hunter](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602634062?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Tana French](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/138825.Tana_French) [![Man’s Search for Meaning](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535419394l/4069._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636003?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [Man’s Search for Meaning](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636003?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Viktor E. Frankl](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2782.Viktor_E_Frankl) [![New Seeds of Contemplation](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348656473l/1145854._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636488?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [New Seeds of Contemplation](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636488?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Thomas Merton](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1711.Thomas_Merton) [![Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1284082691l/27533._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602638191?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602638191?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Muhammad Yunus](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1254841.Muhammad_Yunus) [![goodreads.com](https://s.gr-assets.com/images/widget/widget_logo.gif)](https://www.goodreads.com/) Share [book reviews](https://www.goodreads.com/) and ratings with Tim, and even join a [book club](https://www.goodreads.com/group) on Goodreads. ### Sign Up for Monthly Thoughts # Contact Tim Email me or connect on LinkedIn ** [tim@thebusinessofgood.org](mailto:tim@thebusinessofgood.org) [ Click the Icon to Connect ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mccarthy-97869790/) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/TimMcCarthyBoG/) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mccarthy-97869790/) Copyright 2026 | Designed with ** by [the Business of Good](http://thebusinessofgood.org) [**](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/living-in-surplus-by-seth-godin#)