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Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? |  | Author: Seth Godin
Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $15.14
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Seller: pbshop
Rating:  261 reviews
Sales Rank: 811
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 1591843162
Dewey Decimal Number: 650.1
EAN: 9781591843160
ASIN: 1591843162
Publication Date: January 26, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Gift quality. Unable to ship to APO and FPO at this time.
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Exclusive: Hugh MacLeod Reviews Linchpin
Hugh MacLeod is an artist, cartoonist, and Web 2.0 pundit whose blog, gapingvoid.com, has two million unique monthly visitors. His first book, Ignore Everybody, was an Amazon Top Ten Business Book of the Year and a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Read his exclusive Amazon guest review of Linchpin:
This is by far Seth’s most passionate book. He’s pulling fewer punches. He’s out for blood. He’s out to make a difference. And that glorious, heartfelt passion is obvious on every page, even if it is in Seth’s usual quiet, lucid, understated manner.
A linchpin, as Seth describes it, is somebody in an organization who is indispensable, who cannot be replaced—her role is just far too unique and valuable. And then he goes on to say, well, seriously folks, you need to be one of these people, you really do. To not be one is economic and career suicide.
No surprises there—that’s exactly what one would expect Seth to say. But here’s where it gets interesting.
In his best-known book, Purple Cow, Seth’s message was, “Everyone’s a marketer now.” In All Marketers Are Liars, his message was, “Everyone’s a storyteller now.” In Tribes, his message was, “Everyone’s a leader now.”
And from Linchpin?
"Everyone’s an artist now."
By Seth’s definition, an artist is not just some person who messes around with paint and brushes, an artist is somebody who does (and I LOVE this term) “emotional work.”
Work that you put your heart and soul into. Work that matters. Work that you gladly sacrifice all other alternatives for. As a working artist and cartoonist myself, I know exactly what he means. It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it.
The only people who have a hope of becoming linchpins in any organization, who have any hope of changing anything for the better in real terms, are those who have the capacity to do “emotional work” at a high level—to be true artists at whatever they set their minds on doing. The guys who just plod around the office corridors, just turning up for their paycheck.... Well, those guys don’t have a prayer, poor things. The world is just too interesting and competitive now.
And Seth then challenges us, the readers, to become linchpins ourselves. To make the leap. To become artists. To do emotional work, whatever the sacrifice may be. It’s our choice, and it’s our burden. Seth won’t be there to catch us if we fall, but to become the people we need to be eventually, well, we probably wouldn’t want him to, anyway.
Congratulations, Seth. You have penned a real gem of a book here. Rock on.
--Hugh MacLeod
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 261
 Good stuff, but he says it over and over and over again July 28, 2010
Celeste Thoms (Rochester,NY)
I am listening to the audiobook and half way through part one I could not listen anymore. Even though the information is great, he never illustrates how to become a linchpin in the work place, no tips. No nothing. He also repeats the same idea with no new information to offer. This should have been a blog or a 20 minute talk on TED or something, but not a full book. After a couple of chapters it's a waste of time.
 Like spending time with Seth Godin - 5 Stars July 23, 2010
Ed Welch
Initially, my intention was to title this review: "Four Days I Spent with Seth Godin." Unfortunately, my lizard brain wouldn't allow it because I didn't really spend four days with Seth Godin, but reading Linchpin made me feel as though I did. Reading Linchpin made me feel as though I was hanging out with Seth, walking the streets of New York City with him, and absorbing his teachings. He would point out people who were Linchpins and why. We walked down memory lane as he showed me how businesses once operated, how successful businesses are operating today, and what successful businesses will need in order to succeed in the future. More importantly, at the individual level, he showed me what it takes to be a Linchpin and why many people are never able to achieve the success they desire. Before my time with him was finished, I had a new appreciation for art and it's importance to individuals and businesses, a better understanding of myself (and you) in the context of overcoming obstacles (usually our own lizard brain) and the true nature of gifts (not the birthday kind) and the role of gifts in becoming a Linchpin. He went on to teach me the importance of shipping or finishing a project on time and sending it out into the world. Let's take a brief look at each of the four days I spent with Seth:
During our first day, Seth gave me a history lesson. In the context of business and work, he wanted me to understand where we are and how we got here. He showed me the nature of left-brain jobs and why they're now going to the lowest bidder. He showed me an old building, where clothing was once manufactured, but no more. We visited unemployed workers who's jobs were now being performed by workers in other countries. He continued by emphasizing the importance of creativity to a Linchpin. With each lesson, I felt a sincere desire from him to help me (and you) to break free of the binding chains that prevent us from becoming a Linchpin and reaching levels of success we desire. This day was fun, enlightening and encouraging.
Rising early the next day, I wanted to absorb more of Seth's teachings. We began by visiting an art gallery. Confused, I asked: "What does art have to do with being successful?" "What is art to you, Ed?" he asked. My lizard brain wouldn't allow me to answer. Stepping back outside the gallery, Seth directed my attention to different types of art. For example, a blog post, conversation, smile, the way an employee interacts with a customer, etc. "All those are forms of art, Ed." My mind was broadening, as I was beginning to understand. Art wasn't just a painting or a sculpture. Art can be almost anything. I could barely sleep this night, eager to learn more the next day.
We started day three at the zoo, where the lizards live. "You see these lizards?", asked Seth. "Would you want one of these little guys to stand between you and success?". "Certainly not!", I replied. "It happens every day, even to me", he said. Seth wanted me to understand that our lizard brain is that part of us that doesn't want to feel rejection or failure. The lizard brain is all about fear, generally irrational fear. Your lizard brain wants to keep you like everyone else. It wants to spare you the pain and anguish of defeat. Unfortunately, your lizard brain isn't interested in your success, but only your survival. Each day we must be wary of our lizard brain as it will keep us from stepping out and taking those chances necessary to achieve success. Linchpins have lizard brains just like everyone else, it's just that their lizard brains are under better control. Wrapping up day three and learning about my lizard brain was very hard on me. In fact, my lizard brain didn't want me to write this review. It was trying to convince me the review would sound stupid. Or that Seth would read the review and think it was stupid. Certainly, my lizard brain was more alive and more active than ever. Taming this lizard would be a big challenge for Ed - a daily challenge.
Appropriately, I arrived on time, meeting Seth at UPS to start day four. "How many gifts do you think are shipped by UPS each day, Ed?", Seth asked. My lizard brain wouldn't allow me to guess, as I was afraid to sound silly. Seth went on to explain the history and importance of gifts. Gifts are powerful and the artists who freely give gifts to the world are those people who earn our attention. For example, most of the information found in Seth's books is also found in his blog and it's free! What does he receive in return for giving the gift of a great, daily blog post? He receives a good feeling, many satisfied readers, the satisfaction of helping many people, and many potential book purchasers. But the key to the power of gift giving is to not give the gift expecting anything in return. If you do that, the gift isn't a gift anymore - it's a transaction.
To finish our four day adventure, Seth taught me about shipping. Essentially, shipping is the act of setting a time to ship, a goal of what you will be shipping, and putting aside perfectionism and resistance to actually ship. For example, I could edit this blog post for two months. I could tinker with it, change a few things here and there, and write it over and over again. What would that accomplish? Not much. Indeed, it's important to do quality work, but don't allow yourself to be hindered because you can't ship. In all honesty, my lizard brain has been fighting with me about this blog post for months. It's not a good place to be so don't allow it to happen. Linchpin will help you overcome your lizard brain.
The Upside of Digital Transparency July 22, 2010
Jennifer
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Linchpin by Seth Godin
"Self marketing might be the most important kind. What story do you tell yourself about yourself?" Seth Godin
Anne McCrossan, a in her review of Linchpin on Grodin's site Squidoo [...], said that Seth had commented that our depressed economy may someday be seen as an under appreciated chapter in history in the same way that until recently historians thought the Dark Ages were just dark and not a preparation for the Renaissance that was to follow.
Anne also noted that digital transparency is making personal reputation more important than corporate reputation. In addition technical self-sufficiency; computers and other technology can be powerful tools when combined with our ability to overcome fear and access our inherent creativity. Workers whether solo or corporate can seize the power and stand out from the crowd of individuals looking for certainty in these challenging times.
How to cultivate these qualities? Seth Godin employs neuroscience, social marketing, eastern philosophy, psychology and social theory to empower and support the artist (in the broadest sense of the term) in all of us.
But first we need to be clear on exactly what we are working with.
The chapter called The Resistance, starting on page 101 details that, it was powerful for me.
The Resistance, recounts a story about a woman with severe short-term memory loss starring the Amygdala.
Quote from Linchpin--
"Each day she would visit her doctor. He would shake her hand, reintroduce himself, and they would start over. One day, in a fairly unethical experiment, he put a thumbtack in his hand. When they shook hands she was pinched. It hurt. He explained to her what he had done, and of course, an hour later she had forgotten about it.
The next day, though when the doctor extended his hand, she flinched. How did she know about the thumbtack? Her short term memory was clearly gone. She wasn't faking. And yet, she remembered enough to avoid the pain.
This was her amygdala at work. It has it's own memory, it's own survival system in place. The lizard brain stands by, jumping into action whenever basic survival needs are at stake. And when it is aroused, the other part of our brains stand little chance, particularly if we haven't trained for these events.
And so, the conflict. The conflict between what feels good now and what we ought to do. This explains how someone with throat cancer can persist in smoking, or how an obese person who clearly knows better can persist in eating "just one more doughnut." In the face of greed or fear from the amygdala, an untrained person surrenders".
Fear comes up for all of us often at the expense of logic, talent and potential. Seth Godin goes to great lengths in Linchpin to help us zero in on how these phenomena are at work in our lives and what we can do to make a dent in the situation.
Attributes of the lizard brain listed in the book:
"The Lizard Brain on top of your spine fighting for survival...
"Wants to eat and be safe...
"Will fight to the death if it has to...
"Would rather run away...
"Likes a vendetta...
"Has no trouble getting angry...
"Cares what everyone thinks...
"Believes that status in the tribe is essential to survival...
Shenpa*
Here is the definition of the term Shenpa, used by Godin to describe phenomena produced by the Amygdala.
*A t term discussed in "Don't Bite the Hook: Finding Freedom from Anger, Resentment, and Other Destructive Emotions, by Pema Chodron
[...]
Here is an everyday example of shenpa. Somebody says a mean word to you and then something in you tightens-- that's the shenpa. Then it starts to spiral into low self-esteem, or blaming them, or anger at them, denigrating yourself. And maybe if you have strong addictions, you just go right for your addiction to cover over the bad feeling that arose when that person said that mean word to you. This is a mean word that gets you, hooks you. Another mean word may not affect you but we're talking about where it touches that sore place-- that's a shenpa. Someone criticizes you--they criticize your work, they criticize your appearance, they criticize your child-- and, shenpa: almost co-arising.
Having our ego bruised is familiar to us all. Why do we go over and over it and over it? The amygdyla, our fight or flight mechanism has been triggered.
Some quotes from Linchpin that I find helpful
"Nip it in the bud. If you cant teach the world a lesson, accept it. Don't get attached to a different outcome, sit with the anxiety".
"If you boss has some critical comments for you say `Thanks for the feedback', and repeat the feedback to him in your own words. It only takes 3 seconds and you avoided an hour of pain".
"The quiet strength it takes to withstand the urge to flee builds confidence in those around you".
Seth Godin sat in a meeting with the itch and the squirming for two days. "The "resistance" (another name for the lizard brain) realized he wasn't going to change his position".
"Never let the lizard send an email".
"Accept that human beings are difficult to change. Embrace the uniqueness that everyone brings to the table".
"Perhaps it's not your job to change what can't be changed".
"Particularly if working on that change harms you and your goals in the process".
"Attachment to outcome blinds one to the available choices".
"What's scarce is a desire to accept what is and then work to change it for the better, not deny that it exists".
"Art, generosity and brave action are in demand."
"Do your art only for people you like, people you enjoy."
"A gift is a signal of surplus."
"Giving a gift with no expectation of reciprocal implies abundance. The power lies in the creation of abundance."
"Generous artists aren't easily replaceable".
Regards, Jennifer
Excellent Book on Getting Things Done July 22, 2010
Randall Degges (Los Angeles, CA)
Seth Godin's book 'Linchpin', is a great addition to any hardworking person's book collection.
As a programmer for a small company, who is very interested in entrepreneurial and startup related information, I was able to extract a lot of great information from Seth's writings.
In summary, his book teaches you how to be more successful--at everything. Seth explains how today's world demands more dynamic workers, people who are able to think critically, and use their creativity and passion to make their work truly priceless.
So often, we are taught by schools, society, and even our families, that we must simply 'fit in', and go with the flow. We are trained to follow orders, stifle our inner passions, and just 'work' in a factory. Seth's book challenges this philosophy, and suggest rapid paradigm shifts to re-structure yourself, your thinking, and your habits.
I'm giving Linchpin 5 stars because it is well written, contains extremely valuable information, and is really enjoyable to read.
If you are at all interested in bettering yourself, and becoming an invaluable asset to your company, then this book should be on your shelf.
Real inspiration, new ideas, some disagreement, a bit too american July 21, 2010
Carlo De Marchis (Torino, To Italy)
I found this book really inspiring, at some point I thought it was written for me, I recognize myself in many behaviors that Seth is promoting in the book. I also found a lot of new ways i can explain those concept to people around me.
A lot of things are what I'm trying to push to people in the company.
Some parts are also a strong challenge to the way I act and behave, to be honest i think the lizard brain is always ready to fight my innovative ideas.
I find one limit in being a bit too individualistic, everything is about YOU and YOU and YOU (this is why i say it sounds a bit too american for an european - Italian).
I always found that most of my innovations and creative ideas come from crossover, connection, fights and open debate with other individuals, not just from myself. I also have a lot more fun interacting with people and finding new ideas together than in isolation.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 261
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