Seth Godin Interview And Review Of Linchpin

I received a review copy of Seth Godin’s new book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?. (I say this just to be compliant with the new FTC regulations.) Let’s see if I can do the review in his signature style: short, bright, and to the point.

Linchpin is different from his previous books such as Tribes (link to my book review), which was about the new meaning of leadership, and Purple Cow, which was about new type of marketing. Linchpin is about being a new type of employee, who is “indispensable”.

So? He is still talking about new concept, right? And there is certainly a market for this book as the unemployment rate is high and so many people are afraid of becoming the next victim of downsizing.

Well, I see the difference in empowerment. Upon reading Tribes, I understood I didn’t have to have a certain title or status to be a leader; I can just start leading, and the point is if I can form a tribe. That was empowering. His marketing books are also empowering to me as an entrepreneur because they help me see and do marketing in a new meaningful way.

Linchpin, however, requires an evaluator, someone who decides if he is indispensable or not. So the power is not in the hand of the linchpin really.

I’m not saying being an employee is no good. The world needs organizations and team members. Great team members, in fact. I just feel it is very difficult to be truly empowered as an employee.

My last corporate job was assisting a president of a midsize manufacturing company which was part of a global conglomerate. This position gave me the opportunity to meet indispensable linchpins — for instance, a brilliant design engineer with unique vision and expertise (who used to work for our competitor — we were so excited to get him). My boss was a linchpin, too, who literally resurrected a near-death company and therefore saved several hundred jobs. Yet the engineer was practically demoted when the company’s business direction changed … I’m not sure if he is still there. When my former boss leaves, his boss will surely replace the position, or may even do away with that position. That’s how corporate world works.

When David, the linchpin worker at the posh Dean & Deluca cafe leaves, Dean & Deluca may loose some customers, they probably suffer from some operational difficulties, but soon enough, they will find a replacement. No one is really indispensable in the corporate world. Of course, in the meantime, David can leverage his linchpin value and get a better job — good for him.

How do you become a linchpin? Here is a list from page 218:

1. Providing a unique interface between members of the organization
2. Delivering unique creativity
3. Managing a situation or organization of great complexity
4. Leading customers
5. Inspiring staff
6. Providing deep domain knowledge
7. Possessing a unique talent

We are each on a different path of evolution. If you are working for someone, read Linchpin. If you aspire to be a leader, read Tribes. Seth Godin has something for everyone, and together we can make this world a better place.

Now a bonus to this book review. I had the honor to interview Seth Godin by email.

Akemi: We all know you are a prolific blogger and author, but will you tell us the whole scope of your business?  Do you still take marketing clients and if so, do you choose your clients in some ways?  Or are you more about public education now, doing speaking, seminars, etc?

Seth: I’ve actually never done consulting. I do speeches, write a book now and then, run some seminars, help a few non-profits and cook dinner.

Akemi: Oh, that’s interesting. I always thought you are first and foremost a marketing consultant. So you have been in education (in the big meaning of it) always.

I think you are a change agent.  Will you tell us your vision of the world we are creating?

Seth: I fear we’re creating a long term world as an accidental by-product of a short term future. It’s not good. On the other hand, there are plenty of individuals making great art.

Akemi’s note: The concept of “art” is discussed further in Linchpin. He means a lot more than paintings.

Do you have technique or daily practice to stay creative? Or do you think creativity is a talent and you are just blessed with it?

Seth: Writing a blog post every single day is amazing therapy. Everyone should do it.

My gratitude and blessings to Seth Godin for this interview.

Starseeds: Mintakans (Orion)

Here is a new post on starseeds. A note to new readers — if you find this too New Age, don’t worry, I will be posting more practical, inspirational posts, too. If, on the other hand, you find this intriguing, please check the linked article for the overview of starseeds.  (Photo credit)

Mintakans come from the star system of Mintaka, located in the constellation of Orion in its belt. Many Mintakans intuitively look to the Orion because of this. Their home star had multiple suns, so it was always bright and warm. It was a beautiful star of water, where the water was so clear that you could see miles away through it. I have the feeling they were living in the water like dolphins. I know there are many people who feel close to dolphins, and I wonder if they are Mintakans — I don’t know until I read their Akashic Records. I do know, however, Mintakans are large group among the starseeds.

Mintakans’ ideal

Mintakans see the world with their optimistic and idealistic eyes. Even when the going gets tough, Mintakans don’t stay distressed too long. Soon, they start thinking, “Okay, what can I learn from this?” rather than carrying their anger or sorrow. They always see the glass half full. This is wonderful — the world benefits from Mintakans’ positive attitude.

I don’t know, however, if Mintakans have a common ideal or vision they are working on as a group. To me, they seem to be just moving forward with their cheerleader-like attitude without the clear vision of where they are going.

On the personal level, Mintakans do have a common dream. I call it the Mintakan dream of working from home. Mintakans love their home. This is because their home star is no longer inhabitable and they cannot go home. Mintakans feel this loss on the deep level and have this unexplainable “homesickness” even when they are right at their earthly home. Many Mintakans become nesters, decorating their home beautifully, to ease this strange longing of true home. And they love staying at their beautiful home. To the point they want to work from there.

Mintakans’ gifts

The best gift Mintakans bring to this world is their never-ending cheerfulness and positivity. Mintakans are willing to see the good in everyone, and give second, or third, or fourth chance to others. Mintakans are friendly and happy to help others. My advice to Mintakans is to keep the positive cheer while paying due attention to whom they are giving energy to. (Remember the discussion of darkworkers?)

Another unique gift Mintakans have is the non-linear way they approach to life. Most of us are linear in our thinking — we tend to think one thing happens after another, and another, in a linear manner. So we approach life in a linear way, doing one thing, completing it before we start another.

Not with Mintakans. Mintakans do one thing, and before they complete it, move on to another, and then to the third, come back to the second project . . . and it all makes sense in them. Mintakans typically have many hobbies and totally enjoy dipping their hands in many things. This is how Mintakans are developing spiritually.

We can learn this approach from Mintakans. At the same time, Mintakans might want to show some consistency in their way of doing things when other people are involved because they have a hard time understanding what is going on. (“Where are we going for vacation? I thought you wanted to go to Hawaii. Now you want to go to Disneyland? I’m okay either way, but . . .”)

Oh, speaking of vacation, being close to very clear water is deeply nurturing for Mintakans because it reminds them of their home star. They might even want to live near the clear water.

Mintakans’ challenges in loving relationships

Mintakans are happy chatty type and easy to get along. It doesn’t take long to get to know Mintakans. In fact, I’m surprised how open and outspoken some Mintakans are. These are the ones who start telling me their love and sex life within ten minutes of the phone session. Mintakans talk (or even write) with lots of “!!!”

So Mintakans have many friends. But what about romantic relationship? I think the key challenge in Mintakan romance is to find a quality date — which is a challenge indeed when they have so many friends and constantly distracted with so many interests. As I review my clients file, I see some are happily married, some dating on and off, and some single. I honestly don’t see particular pattern here.

Mintakans’ challenges in career and finance

Again, Mintakan dream is to work from home, which often means starting their own business. (Hope they enjoy my eBook on self-employment.) This yearning seems to get only stronger as they get older.

Finance — I’m not so sure if Mintakans care about financial management. I’m not saying they cannot do it. Some of my clients are in management positions and I guess they are good at what they do, including managing money. Deep down, however, I have the feeling Mintakans enjoy spending big time.

Mintakans’ role on Earth

Mintakans have a wonderful way of lightening up people, and this world. They are well aligned with Divine Light. I guess Mintakans are great networkers among Lightworkers, supporting Ascension is a grass-root manner.

How To Meditate

Meditation helps to balance the body, mind, and spirit. It allows you to be who you really are — the spiritual being in your body. Consequently, meditation brings various benefits such as improved health, clearer mind, better performance in your personal and career life, and even psychic development.

There are many techniques and approaches in meditation. In this article, I’ll introduce you to the basics of meditation so you can start it right now.  (Photo credit)

1. When & Where: Choose the time and place you can enjoy quiet solitude. First thing in the morning is a great idea — it starts your day right. Meditating when the stomach is full may be difficult. But of course, meditating any time is better than not meditating.

2. Position: There are two basic positions, open position and closed position, and various variations of each.

To meditate in open position, choose a firm stable chair. You want to keep your lower back straight while you meditate, so reclining chairs and soft sofas are no good. Office chairs with wheels are not recommended, either. A firm upright chair or bench is good. Adjust the height or use foot rest so that you are sitting with your knees at the right angle and your feet comfortably landed on the floor. Think of ancient Egyptian figures.

To meditate in closed position means you sit on the floor. You don’t have to do the lotus or half-lotus position. You can just put one leg in front of the other. It helps you to use a firm pillow under your butts, but not under your legs, so that your butts are plopped up to the height of your knees. Some yoga stores sell “meditation pillows” for this purpose, but any firm and large pillow works. It helps you to relax your leg joints and to keep your back straight.

In both cases, you want to keep your upper body upright and straight, but relaxed. Place your hands comfortably on your lap without stretching your shoulder joints. There are many hand gestures used in meditation, as you see in Buddhism arts, and each has different effects, but for now, let’s just place your hands palms up and form circles with your thumb and middle finger.

Be sure to loosen up your belt. Tight underwear are no good, either. Close your mouth and keep the tongue touching to the ceiling in your mouth. It probably helps you to close your eyes even though there are techniques to keep them “half-closed”.

3. Breathing: Now breathe in to the count of four, hold, then breathe out to the count of four, hold, and breathe again. This breathing patten helps you to bring your focus to breathing. It also regulates the breathing — the point is to take about the same time breathing in and out and to have a short period of holding in between. You only need to count your breath for a few minutes. As you progress in your meditation practice, you will notice your breathing slows down naturally, and this is very good. It means your body is getting adjusted.

I tried to count my breathing to share as a reference. I cannot count right when I’m meditating — I can only check my watch right after meditation, and as soon as I do this, I can feel my breathing start to speed up a bit. But just as a reference, I think I breathe about 3 times a minute when I meditate. On good days, maybe 2.5 times a minute.

4. Mindset: But don’t force yourself to do this. Don’t force yourself to achieve anything in meditation. Just be. The various benefits may happen, but chasing them is counterproductive.

Most of the time, we operate from our head. By not thinking anything particular, we give rest to our logical mind and let our soul come through. When thoughts try to distract you in meditation, don’t fight it. Fighting and trying to push away your thoughts only gives energy to the thoughts and let more thoughts come to you. Just gently let them go. Notice that you are noticing the thoughts — you are not your thoughts, the true you (your soul) is noticing your thoughts — and sit quietly there without chasing them. This way, they will go away. And yes, more thoughts will come to you, almost constantly, but keep releasing your thoughts.

5. Experience: As you get more experienced in meditation, you will reach a quiet state of no thoughts and no words. At this point, trust whatever happens in your meditation is good. Let your soul be in full control rather than judging with your mind.

Also, because meditation is about both body and soul, you may experience physical change while meditating. For example, your body might start swaying without your intention. If the movement is too much and uncomfortable, stop. But if it’s a gentle swaying, let it do what it needs to do. You may also see unusual vision or sense your spirit guides around you. I also heard men get election due to increased blood flow, but I haven’t made sure about this.

6. Closing: Don’t force yourself to meditate, say, for 30 minutes. Just meditate for the length of time you are comfortable with. 10 or 15 minute meditation is great.

When you want to end your meditation session, don’t suddenly get up. Gently come back to this world, open your eyes, maybe shake your hands gently, and then get up.

7. Additional ideas: You may like to do the visualization of self-protection at the beginning of meditation session. Visualization of a grounding cord, stretching from your first chakra to the center of the Earth, is also helpful.

I like the simple and open-ended meditation I just described, but if you want to do more extensive visualization, that is fine. Just don’t overload it and make meditation yet another project in your life.

Do you meditate? Please share your experience in the comment. Thank you.

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