Are you a linchpin?

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linchpinIn hardware, a linchpin holds a wheel onto an axle and keeps it from falling off.

In business, a linchpin is an indispensable person. Seth Godin’s new book, Linchpin, is about those indispensable people. The book starts out slowly. At first, it’s much like Seth’s posts. Interesting, thoughtful, but not out-of-the-park remarkable (for him). Then, around p. 100, he kicks it into a whole new gear. I think it changed my life.

Be a linchpin

Someone who makes a difference. It doesn’t have to be the CEO. It could be the waiter who sings while he works, or the hotel clerk who runs out to buy toothpaste for a customer who had none (without being asked).

Beware the lizard brain

He talks about the lizard brain (which he defines as the primitive reflexes of fear, revenge, anger, and reproduction) that lurks in our heads, creating resistance. We struggle trying to fit in, be compliant, be acceptable. Don’t stick out or you’ll get hammered down.

All wrong.

Fight the resistance

You must stick out. Take risks. Be an “artist” — not necessarily in the drawing or singing sense (good thing, cause I can’t sing at all), but in the sense of nurturing, encouraging, and growing creativity.

It’s OK to fail

Give yourself permission to fail. It’s OK. Then, once you’ve failed, you can move on to the next thing. And the next.

Encourage your bad ideas. The worse the better! Do it often. The good ones will show up too.

I think it’s the best book he’s ever written. Get your own copy here.I’ll get milkshake money.

Image: wikipedia (public domain)

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17 thoughts on “Are you a linchpin?”

    • @John: LOL! That’s funny!

      @Simon: Thanks! Come back and share your thoughts.

      @Henry: You’re right. It’s a lesson that took me a long time to learn.

  2. I absolutely agree with the last point, it’s OK to fail. The most important thing is that you wake up and try again after the failure. I believe nobody succeed in the first shot, unless they are very very very lucky!

  4. Hey Jodi, pretty nice review. Recently, I fell in love with books and I guess this one will surely be on my list. Seth Godin as always has been inspiring.. The words It’s OK to fail definitely help :)

  5. I like the mentioning of people who make a differerence. In the Netherlands they just started a campaign ‘nice people, how to deal with them’.

    A bit ironic of course. Being nice to strangers seems a bit suspicious these days. So the campaign is an ‘instruction’ on how to react on people who are just being nice.

    Not that easy as we always seem to expect a hidden agenda.

  6. Great review. One of my goals for this year is 40 books (a lot for a turtle of a reader). Problem is I started with Wilbur Smith…long. I’ve read a few of Seth’s (like I know him..) books and enjoyed them. Thanks for the suggestion.

    • @Mayank – Welcome to the world of book addiction. If you need any “enabling,” I’m here to help. :-)

      @Annemieke – Sad that you need a campaign to “manage” nice people! It’s also sad that we expect to be scammed.

      @Bruce – I’m a speedy reader (which helps a lot). Seth is really a nice guy (wonder how the folks in that campaign Annamieke mentioned would deal with that). He even took me and part of the triiibe to dinner the night before his first public presentation about the book! If you’re ever in Queens, NY and you like spicy Sichuan food, try Little Pepper.

  7. Hi there, Jodi!

    Great review! And the picture of a linchpin gives me an idea. It looks like the classic “no” symbol. What could we put inside the linchpin? “COGS”? “DRONES”? “SHOWING UP”?

    I think I’ll get out my paint program and post to Triiibes… (:

    • @Pace: You’re right, it does! Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
      Maybe no lizards?

  8. I got here from ProBlogger – getting your link from the challenge thread.

    Pretty good review and sounds to be an interesting book. Also, I fell in love with The Tribes book and planning to grab a copy of LinchPin soon.
    Thanks.

    • It is, dare I say, a remarkable book. He gave out posters at the book launch (printed on an old-fashioned letterpress) printed with key phrases from the book. I have it hanging on my wall in front of me, so I don’t forget!

  10. This is the first time I’m visiting your Blog and could not resist giving a Thumbs Up!

    It’s really encouraging for me as I’ve just stepped into Blogging arena. These tips would help.

    The Best thing about this post according to me is the ease with which it conveyed all the ideas. A spoonful of each. Brief yet ample!

    • Hi Jeannette, did you get the book at the Small Biz Technology Summit? I was there too!

  12. Pingback: Linchpins are everywhere. Are you a Linchpin? | Kamil Ali