Do you want to know how to become indispensable and create a remarkable future
I just completed the latest book of my favourite Marketer Seth Godin called Linchpin, the author of the bestselling books Purple Cow and Tribes. It’s another book of how our world and economy have shifted. The main question he is trying to answer is how to become indispensable. What is the attitude you need to take in order to drive your career and create a remarkable future?
I strongly recommend the book as it will change your life and force to make a choice and take action to become the real artist you are meant to be. Click here to buy the book at the Funky Success online Shop.
Click here to open the mind-map in a separate lightbox.
Linchpin by Seth Godin
Here are some of the topics the he is covering in the book:
- First an introduction about how the market has changed in the last decade to benefit the Linchpins. You now have the choice between just being a cog in the system or “to make an indispensable contribution to something you really care about”. It is now up to you which path you will take, but you will need to make the choice.
- Seth then explains what the new world of work has become in this hyper competitive economy. For a long time, and how most of us where brought up, the structure was just management vs. labour. Now there is a third party in place called the linchpins. Those are people who own the means of production (a laptop, a camera) and are able to lead and connect to others. It is an opportunity to bring your best self and be rewarded.
- The following chapter is about choice, about you making the call. Indeed, you need to make the choice of staying in the system and be safe in the status quo or create your own path. Seth also mentions that the second option is the only one that will really created value.
- The indoctrination and how we got here. It is not a surprise that most of us fit so well in the machine. We were trained from our earlier age with school and the media to become compliant worker in the factory. But what if the factory doesn’t exist any more? How is our subordination and compliance rewarded? It can’t and it won’t. You need to start thinking by yourself and stand for you own conviction.
- The next answer he gives is how to become the Linchpin. A linchpin is someone that has the ability to walk into chaos and create order. It is a person that is able to connect, invent and create, and therefore is indispensable.
- In order to become a true linchpin you will have to be brave enough to make a difference, create work with humanity. This is why the cubicle isn’t the best environment for those people, as being average and compliant isn’t what is required anymore.
- The resistance and why it is so hard to become a linchpin. The main reason is the amygdale, what Seth calls the lizard brain. It is this part of the brain, the helped human not to get killed for thousand of years (as fear prevents you to be stupid when facing wild animals). But in today’s world, its main function is resistance. Indeed it will sabotage any threat, risk and generosity of your creative self. As this fear is unlikely to go away (this is just the way we are programmed) the best way to deal with it is to recognize and then to face it.
- The power of the gift culture. Seth says that real art if a gift. It cannot be sold. Indeed in order to stay genuine money can’t be part of the equation. There are many examples of authors delivering their art for free (will it be an eBook, photograph or album) and they are perfect examples of the perfect way to bring people together. Don’t be afraid to give, as you will soon realize it will give you more joy to give, then for the person to receive your art.
- Making the choice to become a linchpin will be challenging. Simply because there is no Map. You will need to create your own map, you own path. You will need to figure by yourself what to do next. Nobody can’t tell you as it was never done before. The challenge brings the beauty, as you will start creating. You will be more just a cog in the machine, but you will become an artist. It is in fact the only way to create real value.
- Once again he focuses on making the choice. It is the choice of creating value by creating what you want to do. To make that choice you will need to overcome anxiety, which he describes, is fear about fear. You need to become a leader by facing your fears and set your own path.
- The culture of connection. The important thing is for your work to be connected to others. Use your art to make a difference. It is less about the actual work and really more about your personality and your attitude.
- The 7 abilities of a linchpin. Without getting into too much detail it is about being unique, being a leader, being able to inspire. He mentions the importance of having deep domain knowledge, contributing and making decisions.
Linchpin Mindmap
Here is the Linchpin book mind-map. Click here to view the mind-map in a lightbox or click here to open it in a new window.
Linchpin book mindmap
Summary
We are currently in a turning point in our economy, where you need to bring you own vision and convictions in order to become successful. It is more and more what the market demand. You will need to make the ultimate choice between obedience or engagement in something you really care. You will need to make a choice between the comfortable and well defined path or creating your own map and make a real difference. The second option is the only way to create art and fulfil your potential.
This is just a quick summary of the book. I strongly recommend reading it completely as it will change the way you perceive your career, life and the contribution you need to make to this world.
Click here to buy the book.
