I have read a lot of business related books in my time and up until recently only one has changed the trajectory of my professional career. That book was "First, Break All the Rules" by Marcus Buckingham. The book taught me to focus on my strengths and not beat myself up over the things I couldn't do. It not only transformed how I managed me, but changed the way I managed and hired my employees. That was ten years ago and it wasn't until now that I have read a book that has the potential to be just as transformative. The book is Linchpin by Seth Godin. If you read this blog you will realize that I am a fan of his and have already read several of his books and am a daily reader of his blog. That being said, it was not until I read Linchpin that I had had a series of Aha moments that if I follow through on in execution could fuel my career and yours as well for the next ten years.
The premise of Linchpin is a relatively simple one. For years, there were two groups, management and labor. Labor did everything they could do to fit in and be a faceless cog in the machine. Godin now describes a third group, the Linchpin. These are the people that own their own means of production(laptop, internet connection), who can make a difference and connect us. The Linchpin steps out from the faceless masses and makes things happen. The Linchpin connects, creates, and invents. Godin states that by bringing your whole self to the workplace and giving of yourself in ways that you never considered before and really trying to make a difference is the only way to become indispensable. How many of you have a job where you think you can bring positive change, but you don't because rocking the boat is scary and could get you in "trouble"? Godin would say that the Linchpin not only rocks the boat, but this is the only way to create a semblance of security at work. These are the people that create things where there is no rule book. As a matter of fact, the biggest lesson I took from the book was if you have a job where someone tells you what to do next, you have given up the chance to create value. You may ask, what stops us all from being Linchpins? Fear and anxiety. Get past it and be great! His follow up to Linchpin recently came out. It is titles the Icarus Deception. I will give you my thoughts on this book in the near future.
I highly recommend you read Linchpin and once you have, please add your comments as I would love to hear what you have to say.
