Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

In another of his amazing books, Godin implores folks to create "art." He defines art not as painting, etc, but in being unique, meaningful and indispensable in whatever industry you work in. A great read!

I think this book is highly over-rated. I bought it after reading one of Seth Godin's shorter treatises "Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent Yourself," which was refreshing and exciting to read, but alas, any hints that Godin might be on to something of substance, appear to be a mirage. Godin's writing reminds me of Malcolm Gladwells, and it's probably no accident. This guy wants to point out how the "world really works" and convince you to re-evaluate your place in the economy. Not bad advice, in general. But his arguments are circular, and almost approach a psychological style spin on how to become an "indispensable" member of the workforce, to do "emotional work" and be an "artist". However, besides finding the book an unsatisfying waste of $9.99 (Kindle Edition), I disagree with his entire premise that school teaches people to be "obedient cogs" and that one can simply follow Godin's advice and craft his or her own way into becoming an invaluable part of an organization. Certain people grow into their success because of a combination of inherent traits (intelligence, talent, people skills), who they know, their education, and a lot of luck/circumstance. Mr. Godin writes well, cogently and convincingly, but he's also a circular bore whose advice won't help you much, except perhaps to generate yuppy style coffee table discussions about the "new" economy.

This fantastic book, a declared American best-seller, merges together many methods and messages. Everyone knows Seth Godin and his life philosophy is everywhere to be found, from the web to the media. Many reviews have been written so I would like to review this book, that I enormously enjoyed, in a slightly different perspective.

First it is a book of its times. It would have never been written probably if America and the world hadn't gone through the recent economical crisis. The crisis in itself is the principle reason I think for the re-evaluation of the meaning of creative work. The competitiveness of working market pushes people to differentiate themselves as to their peculiar and special talents, or to the energy and the creativity they put into old and a little worn out patterns. If you have to survive, Godin is telling us, you must differentiate yourself from others. And how can you do this, only relying on your individuality and you own personal charismas. After ages of homologation (and here we have a definitive criticism of Marxist and communist culture) there is a return to individualism, but individualism American style, individualism that is absolutely compliant with societal work requirements. Nothing like Chris Guillebeau's The Art of non Conformity (which is also very fun to read), where it's the world that must come looking for you, while you are doing "your thing".

To start believing in yourself and your talents, which are defined as Art, you have to overcome resistance, which is delightfully designed as "your lizard brain", even if at a neuropsychological level the identification of resistance with the amygdala is not completely sure yet. This chapter is one of the most convincing and inspiring of the book, really a gem!

Follows the culture of gifts. Also this concept is elaborated from the basic Hebrew-Christian values that represent the foundation of our culture. There is a very famous Italian poet not well known in the USA, Gabriele D'Annunzio that wrote a verse: "Io ho quell che ho donato". I have only what I gave away. That in a way resumes the idea that our treasures will be in heaven according to the Gospels. Your art must be a gift, because only from a gift you can acquire that extra-value that somehow, even if this somehow is not so clear but relies only on the faith that it will happen, or on the concept of positive sum games, will make your work more satisfying if not more productive and appreciated.

To get on with life change of being a linchpin one must design map (do a little programming) but this is often impossible, because many of these work patterns are new and have not been institutionalized yet. This chapter on map drawing is very short, but I am sure that in a future work Godin will have something to say about it, like today he analyzes the reason of success of many people.

Godin seems to be inspired by the Asian culture and especially Zen. But if you read the book carefully what at least stemmed out for me was the rereading of our evangelical biblical roots in a non transcendental fashion. For example the leader as a server of his group is typically evident in the Gospels when Jesus washes the apostles feet!

The bibliography is very down to the point and important texts are cited. The style is fluent and it is difficult to put the book down. The reasons for its success are all there and it is anthropologically a very interesting experience.

Again. Definitely one of the best books I have read over the past couple of years. Seth will make you think. His writing style reads like a blog with nuggets of wisdom and inspiration all along the way. Linchpin is a treatise on how to become indispensable. He describes how to make a difference in your work life. Full of great stories and examples, reading this book will provide you with plenty of ideas and examples about how to improve not just how you work, but why you work.

My favorite part is his description of what we teach in schools. After a long list of things that include "how to use a number two pencil" and "how to not stand out," he then states what we should teach in schools and lists two things we should learn how to do in schools: lead and solve interesting problems. Imagine what our schools would look like if we took that advice. We just might make a difference in the world around us.

This is one of those books that you slow down near the end because you don't want to finish it. Oh well, you can always read it again.

Linchpin is a must read for any knowledge worker active around the world today.
In Linchpin, Godin makes the case for a return to the essential value of the gift as an enabler to make a difference. In its simplicity, the ideas contained in this book ring true and appear very obvious. The working of the lizard brain, which I was aware of after reading The War of Art, really became clear to me.

In essence, what Godin (yet again) does with Linchpin is like inventing the cat flap: really obvious once it's there, but very difficult to come up with in the first place. He is a quintessential thinker, a meta linchpin (the linch pin to linch pins everywhere) and he makes the way I look at the confusing world around me a bit better.

Thanks Seth, and looking forward to other great books.

Ben Broeckx

Even the way the store gives me suggestions as to how I can review this book, reminds me that Seth's words are relevant; we live in a world obsessed with the short term; outlines, directions, and everything that doesn't make meaningful, unique, compelling interactions with each other, a commercial world obsessed with supressing artistic self-directed decison makers.

Honestly, by far the most powerful books I have ever read. It hit me in all the right places. We are all artists, and we need to ship out all those moments of being a genius. Tell the lizard brain to shut up, and be a linchpin. Highly recommend this book for all who are wanting to be inspired.

Jorge Harrington

Very generic business book. Good for young people (I guess?) or for people that have just realized that they need to work for a living. Otherwise, it's common sense stuff packaged as wisdom, pretty disappointing overall.

The books actually highlights the several things that might be wrong not only with society today, but also with the people working in it.

The book gives you a great starting point on where you should head, and gives the right tools to consider.

Yes, there are no practical examples on what you should do, but that is the point, people are differ t and are in different situations, hence these will change for any person reading it.

This is Godin's Masterpiece.

Want to change your life?
Still thinking the factory may be coming back to town? It's not. While you're waiting around, people are becoming linchpins. Don't miss the boat.

This is your chance to reinvent yourself and become indispensable. Do it. It's your only option!

Once again, Seth Godin has turned, what should have been an essay, into a book.

While his points are very valid and worth reading, he has a way of stretching the​m out to 256 pages. I could sum up all of his points in under a page and could probably include most of his relevant supporting history and stories in under ten pages for a comprehensive essay. I guess he does this since there is no demand for essays, and few people would be willing to pay for them. He's a great blogger, but I have yet to be impressed by any of his books. They just seem to drag on after the first 10 pages.

This book is chocked full of inspiration and insight. I suppose if you read It straight through it will seem like he is belaboring certain points.
I chose to read it just a few sections at a time on my train commute, and it turned out to be a great source of daily inspiration.

Very inspiring book that makes one take a serious look at themselves and ask the questions "how am I impacting the day/lifes of those who are affected by my work?" "when I leave this situation (job) will it matter that I'm gone?". For a business owner, this book provides insight into the importance of empowering employees to use their "art" to become indispensible to the success of any business. This is the first book I've read by Seth, and I'm very happy that I started with this book. The book begins by telling the reader that they are a genius - then defining a genius as someone who finds a short cute that no one else could find, or a solution to a problem that has other stumped. Everyone has done these things at least once - and no one is a genius all the time - so if you've ever done something or solved a delima that had others stumped, you're a genius! The book then moves on to inspire the reader to leverage that inner genius (your talents, gifts, passsions - your art) to create a powerful and meaningful life. I would like to see this book and Vaynerchuk's book "Crush It" become required reading for high school seniors and college students. They definetly will be given to my 17 yr old!

Learn to ship. Learn to give information on what are an expert in. Create and solve problems whether you are asked by your boss or organization. If you create a job around a passion it is easier to grow, succeed and solve problems.

In this ultra-competitive marketplace, one must differentiate themselves and become indispensable or else so valuable that others will pay good money for your talents. I have recommended this to several other managers and sales representatives that I have worked with over the years. I also highlight certain passages for quick review in the future.

With Linchpin: Are You Indispensable, author Seth Godin makes the case that we need to stand out from the crowd and be indispensable to be successful. While I appreciate this concept and believe that it's true to a certain point, Mr. Godin did not make a very strong case for it in this book, which is repetitive and unorganized.

The book begins by stating that we are all cogs in a giant machine, too timid to stand out from the crowd and be noticed. In fact, one of the early headings in an early chapter reads "We are Surrounded by Bureaucrats, Note Takers, Literalists, Manual Readers, TGIF Laborers, Map Followers, and Fearful Employees." While I agree that some people are 9-to-5ers, just doing what it takes to get by, I have a hard time believing that the majority of people are like that, although I admit that my perspective might be skewed by having worked in higher education for 30 years, as opposed to the corporate world that Mr. Godin is clearly referring to.

Another concept that I had trouble with is Mr. Godin's idea of art. He constantly refers to the goal of becoming artists, no matter what our job. A Starbucks barista is an artist when he goes above and beyond his responsibilities by making customers feel welcome, etc. I don't think this analogy was necessary, and strained his argument somewhat. Mr. Godin's main point is that people need to stand out, put more effort in, challenge the rules, offer edgy solutions, etc. to make others (i.e., management) notice them. If their solutions or creativity aren't rewarded, they should leave and find a company that recognizes what they can offer.

Mr. Godin devotes a chapter to what he calls The Resistance. This refers to our basic animal nature, the lizard part of the brain that is full of fear and afraid to do anything worthwhile. I also found this completely unconvincing. Admittedly, we all have some anxiety about taking risks in the workplace, but his indictment of people's reasoning and rationalization for inaction was overblown and overstated.

Finally, I found the book to be poorly organized. I read it over the course of three days, including a plane ride from Minneapolis to Albany, and over a weekend. It felt like I was reading a brain dump of overgeneralizations that were grouped together somewhat by chapters. It was repetitive and filled with anecdotes that weren't very convincing. It could have used the skills of an editor, although Mr. Godin does provide a long list of people in his acknowledgments, all of whom presumably read it and gave feedback. I really wanted to like this book, but in the end, it's not a strong contribution to the business self-improvement or management literature.

As someone who has spent the last 26 years waiting for others to tell me what to do this book has changed everything. Before reading this book I knew my approach was wrong and I knew I needed to change it to be successful in my job but I didnt know how. This book changed everything! It all makes sense now! It doesnt give you a step by step set of instructions but it explains why that's never going to be possible and what an amazing opportunity it is.

This book has given me such fresh perspective and answered so many of my questions. I am grateful to Seth for overcoming whatever got in his way to writing this book. It has changed my life.

Many thanks!

My original review can be found at: [...]

The best summary of the message of Linchpin can be found on page 174:

"You must become indispensable to thrive in the new economy. The best ways to do that are to be remarkable, insightful, an artist, someone bearing gifts. To lead. The worst way is to conform and become a cog in a giant system."

This is, at some level, rather obvious, of course. Seth spends a lot of time explaining the gift economy and the lizard brain and what he means by making art. And all of this is pretty good stuff. But what it all comes down to is this: If you want to succeed as an employee, as an employer, as a person, you need to stand out from the crowd by exceeding expectations and giving freely your best work, even if less will do. Hardly earth-shattering stuff, but worth repeating.

A problem Seth has with his books is that he rarely tells you how he thinks you can achieve the very high bars he sets. Just that you need to meet them. Somehow. This is a problem that Seth himself mentions in Linchpin:

"One of my favorite negative reviews of my book Tribes: 'Godin doesn't explain how to go about doing the actual hard groundwork of leadership. He makes it sound like anyone with an idea and a cell phone can rally thousands of people to their cause in minutes if they just realize it's not hard'. My response: Telling people leadership is important is one thing. Showing them step by step precisely how to be a leader is impossible."

Linchpin works the same way. He tells you that *being indispensable* is important, and why, but stops short of telling you how. That would be impossible. Which makes Linchpin much more of a "get off your butt and do something" inspirational-style book than a "here's a bunch of things you can do to make your life better" self-help book.

The linchpin idea resonated, hence the reason that I bought the book. I've only read a couple of Seth's books and I now remember why...for me, he's all over the map. He "sold" me early on, but it seemed that he just kept trying to "sell" me over and over again by rehashing the same arguments over and over in a different order. I'll accept that this may be more about me than him.

This book is inspiring and encouraging. He shows how all of us can make more connections, more art, more passion and let go of being a robotic cog. Reading this couldn't have been more perfectly timed for me. I highly recommend this book!

Godin pushes the reader to think differently in this book and questions many traditional thoughts about education, work, and business. I really enjoyed this book and I think it is his best book I've read so far. I highly recommend this book.

For those of us who are creatives (artists, writers, musicians) and have always operated outside the box, putting our craft/art first no matter what society says we're "supposed" to be doing, this book is validation...at last. It turns out we've been doing the right thing all along. Who knew? Seth Godin did.

For those bored with their careers, weary of being a cog in the system, overwhelmed with how business/marketing/commerce has collapsed in the last five years, Godin offers a way out. Become a linchpin. Become the artist of your life and career.

But be warned. The path of the linchpin takes great courage. You'll be bucking the system. You'll be operating with heart. You'll be putting humanity back into the business equation. You'll be turning your life and career into a work of art.

And in the process you'll be making a difference. You will. Not only will you bring joy to every business transaction but you'll also achieve the kind of success you've always dreamed of. Who knew, right? Seth Godin did.

Grab this book and go for it. It's worth it. It truly is!

Seth Godin has written several Awesome books. He is the father of Permission Marketing. He asks the question "Are you invalable (to your company)?" If you answered "no" or "I don't know", read this book and Seth will teach you how to become invaluable . . a Linchpin! Sign up for Seth's blog for a daily dose of his wisdom delivered to your Kindle.

Seth Godin has become a staple in my life/library. I was recommended Linchpin from another person in my creative field (Motion Graphics/Media Arts) and I finally picked up the book. I also bought the audiobook. Then purchased other books he wrote. Then purchased Linchpin for friends and passed them out. Needless to say, I'm a fan. Pick up the book and read/re-read it.
(If you get hung up on the language, I did at times, just pull for the Concepts. They are perfect for moving forward.)

Seth Godin has become a staple in my life/library. I was recommended Linchpin from another person in my creative field (Motion Graphics/Media Arts) and I finally picked up the book. I also bought the audiobook. Then purchased other books he wrote. Then purchased Linchpin for friends and passed them out. Needless to say, I'm a fan. Pick up the book and read/re-read it.
(If you get hung up on the language, I did at times, just pull for the Concepts. They are perfect for moving forward.)

This book was a "Blinding Flash of the Obvious" for me. I have never thought of myself as an Artist, although some unkind critics may have referred to me on occasions as a B.S. Artist! I appreciated the explanations about the two brains - very useful! It's one of those books that is worth reading twice.

Highly recommended book on the macro dynamics at play in our current economy and how they translate into a new approach to individual's careers. It gives perspective and broadens our view. Do not expect recipes for success here (it goes against the core message of the book, that being indispensable cannot be scripted).