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.

Review: Tribes By Seth Godin

I like Seth Godin. Although he is considered a marketing guy (maybe I should say The Marketing Guy), I think he is a lot more than that. His blog brings daily inspirations for me about life and people. His latest book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us is also a lot more than just about business.

The difference between leadership and management

Even though leadership and management are usually used synonymously, Seth Godin defines them differently.

A manager is appointed by the “king” of the organization. Their job is to keep the status quo of the organization according to the rules. No matter how they sugarcoat it, managers are fundamentally against change. In other words, their change has to be approved by the king and has to happen according to the rules.

A leader, on the other hand, is anyone who steps forward with an idea. The idea doesn’t even have to be the leader’s original. (Muhammad Yunus wasn’t the first person to do microfinancing and Al Gore didn’t discover global warming.) The important point is that a leader takes the initiative to make the idea happen. A leader is all about change.

Are you a manager or a leader? Or neither? This defines your basic driving force in life. And how you relate to others.

A manager and the people who are managed live from fear. Because they are against the natural flow of life, the change. A manager’s job is to get as much work done by the employees as possible at the lowest cost. Managers push and then exploit.

A leader and their tribe members, on the other hand, are inspired with love, the passion to make something happen that was not before. A leader leads with their message and also offers a platform for tribe members to communicate with one another. Leaders give.

The internet and social media are just tools

Seth Godin emphasizes that forming a tribe is not about getting as many people as possible to sign up for, say, their Twitter or newsletter. The internet and its various social media tools have made it possible to form tribes across the globe, offering cheap (often free) and fast ways to communicate, but they are just tools. It takes a leader to utilize them.

And it’s not a number game. A large number of people is not necessarily a tribe. A tribe is a group that are united by common vision, a group of active members who connects with the leader and other tribe members. When this criteria is met, yes, a bigger tribe means more powerful tribe, but quality comes before quantity. Seth Godin even recommends tightening the tribe as a way to stay meaningful.

My takeaway of the book

This book made me think. In fact, I’ve been thinking and I haven’t come to a neat conclusion yet. I know there is something in me that wants to come out, some messages that I really think important for many people. This is why I write on this Yes to Me blog. I write about a lot of things in life. But what is my core message? In other words, what kind of movement am I trying to form?

I have messages — like, lightworkers can be successful entrepreneurs (please check my free eBook) and we can defy aging. I have a vision of the New World. But I still think there is something more. Or maybe I want to put something in a more actionable movement. . .

I hope you start thinking about these things, too, about your own life. I mean, if you don’t want to live as a manager or their herds. If you want to stop “sheepwalking” (this is the term Seth Godin uses. I call the same mentality “slave mentality” I guess I may be a bit harsh. . .)

We have the power to create our lives and this world. The most important question is: WHAT do you want to create? What do you want to change?

Here is Seth Godin talking at TED about tribes (HT: Marelisa Fabrega):

It’s 18 minute video, but trust me, it’s worth it, and you’ll have some good laughs, too.

Are you leading a tribe? Are you a member of tribes? I’d love to hear from you — please leave a comment.