Linchpin and the Freak Revolution
by Pace on January 25th, 2010 @ 9:30 am in
Ethical Entrepreneurs
Tags: book review, linchpin, seth godin
In his new book Linchpin, Seth Godin convinces you to become a linchpin — someone who’s indispensible. How do you do that? By being a freak and a revolutionary.
I’m not even kidding.
Seth doesn’t use those exact words, but this book is about the Freak Revolution. It’s about how we can revolutionize the job culture and thereby the world.
Be a freak (what Seth would call a heretic) because the old way of doing things is broken. The freaks are the only ones who are willing to break the rules and step outside the box.
Be a revolutionary (what Seth would call a leader) because no one is going to tell you what to do. There is no map. It’s up to you to step up and change the world.
Like we’ve been saying. (:
p.20
There’s a revolution going on, baby, and things ain’t never gonna be the same. It used to be that you could make a good living being told what to do (control paradigm), but in the new world of work, it’s all about creativity and authentic human interactions (connection paradigm).
It reminds me of all those sci-fi stories about the future economies that arise after all our basic and comfort needs are trivially met by a workforce of robot drones. What do those sci-fi economies value? Art. Delivering unique creativity. The future is closer than you might have thought.
It also reminds me of Atlas Shrugged 2: One Hour Later. (:
p.46
Public school teaches you to conform and obey. Seth doesn’t talk explicitly about homeschooling or unschooling, but we’re on the same page when it comes to our opinions of public school.
p.158
Gifts build connection. Gifts build tribes. A gift freely given is rooted in connection. A “gift” with expectation of reciprocation is rooted in control.
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p.138
Mark Silver says that everything is going to be okay.
Seth Godin says that “No, everything is not going to be okay.”
I completely and wholeheartedly agree with both of them.
As with most things, it depends on what you mean by “okay”.
Seth is right that you can’t depend on physical or material safety. Seth is also right that you can’t depend on emotional safety, unless you’re perfectly armored or perfectly enlightened.
But Mark is right that you can depend on spiritual safety. If you know that you are Loved, if you know that your Self is far more than your circumstances, if you know that there is love available even here… then you know, deep in your heart, that everything will be okay, no matter what.
Yes, you might face hardship. Yes, your project might fail. Yes, people might be cruel to you.
Yes, there is love available even here.
p.106
Well, I’ll be! Seth Godin is talking about the triple soul! He labels Higher Self daemon, and Fetch lizard brain. He only mentions Talking Self implicitly (as the part of us that strives to bridge the two other parts) but it’s fascinating to see it from a different perspective.
pp.32,175-178
I’m always amazed by Seth’s talent for brevity with impact. He summarizes four entire chapters of The Usual Error in four pages. The usual error, it’s not all about me, the lollipop, and part of rephrasing things positively — the part that talks about how “I can’t” is a cop-out. We can always come up with excuses to limit ourselves and make ourselves feel comfortable and safe, but don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s anything but your own choice.
pp.31,105,116,129
Real art requires imperfectionism. Delegate wholeheartedly. Always have exactly one mid-boss. Seek out discomfort. No one actually knows what to do. “I’ll do what I love later” never works. Accept that you might step on a snake.
We tell ourselves stories in which we play the part of the hero: the iPhone effect. This particularly amuses me because I thought the iPhone effect was inspired by a post Seth wrote, but it wasn’t. And now he finally writes about it in Linchpin.
Growth can be painful. You may lose friends and loved ones. But you will gain new ones. (This, on page 31, was the first point in the book when I cried. The way Seth talks about this is so kind and compassionate.)
p.236
“The result of getting back in touch with our pre-commercial selves will actually create a post-commercial world that feeds us, enriches us, and gives us the stability we’ve been seeking for so long.”
Yes, that quote is from Linchpin. Doesn’t it remind you of something that could have been written by Daniel Quinn in Beyond Civilization?
pp.59,71,108,234-236
The control-based job culture sucks your soul.
People are starving for authentic connection.
It all comes down to fear and love.
Be an edgewalker. Break the rules.
Change the world.
Follow your heart.
Shift the paradigm.
Despite the fact that it’s only January, I hereby give Linchpin my Best Book of 2010 Award.
Read it.
Then live it.
11 Comments!
#2 Posted by 
helen on January 25th, 2010 11:28 am | link
Hey, Pace! Thank you very much for your review of Linchpin. I am a huge fan of Seth Godin.
But I wanted to shate something else with you. Since you talk of sci-fi movies. Have you seen Avatar? I believe it represents exactly the connection paradigm. But through the means of art. As we know from ancient times, stories (parables) are never to be underestimated.
cheers!
helen´s last blog ..Mr or not Mr 
#3 Posted by 
Pace on January 25th, 2010 2:09 pm | link
@Julie: The Freak Revolution is kind of Seth Godin meets Mark Silver meets Thorn Coyle meets Daniel Quinn. An odd mix, to be sure. (:
@helen: I haven’t seen Avatar, because it’s more violent than we’re comfortable with. Can you tell me more about how it illustrates the connection paradigm? And I totally agree about the power of stories.
#4 Posted by 
Anne McCrossan on January 25th, 2010 3:17 pm | link
Great review Pace!
Anne McCrossan´s last blog ..Linchpin and the missing link
#5 Posted by 
kate on January 25th, 2010 11:48 pm | link
i have totally been lurking for the last few months for a number of reasons, but i had to say THANK YOU for this review and reminding me of all the stuff i keep saying i don’t have time to think about. all teary and motivated (in a good way lol)
#6 Posted by 
Michelle on January 26th, 2010 12:08 am | link
Great review – this makes me want to read it! I have Purple Cow on audio, but despite loving all of the talks I’ve seen by Seth, I haven’t listened to it yet! Need to get on that. And buy this book.
Michelle´s last blog ..Marvelous Monday!
#7 Posted by helen on January 26th, 2010 4:32 am | link
Hey again! Well, it’s difficult for me to present a three-hour movie here. It is symbolic. But the symbolism is pretty obvious. Actually, I’ve been thinking lately about this shift in popular books and movies from the classic sci-fi genre of the last century when the whole world was very scientific in their approach to a more mystic / supernatural / spiritual perspective. I believe it represents a change in common consciousness.
As for the movie – the control paradigm is represented by the Earth people – army, corporation and scientists. The last ones hold some middle ground in between the two paradigms. The connection paradigm is represented by this whole new planet. What I like best about it is that the natives use some special “threads” at the end of their hair to connect with some animals (like you know horses or dinosaurs) and then to become one. Also when they meet they greet each other with: “I see you” – that is they see each other for their true self beyond the form of the body – be it human or “avatar” one.
I recommend for you to see the movie to get a better idea of what I am talking about. I am very intolerant towards violence in movies or books or news but this one was OK. It is very beautiful at the same time. Very colourful.
Also I promise to write a blog-post in English and to link to it here in the comments :)
helen´s last blog ..Mr or not Mr
#8 Posted by 
Leah/DefytheBox on January 26th, 2010 11:51 am | link
Hi Pace,
Great post…I am spreading the love all over Facebook. ;-)
This is all about what the Defy the Box message is too…embrace what makes you different so that you stand out and shine..but also it feels really good to be fully you and know that you Rock…and being you and totally Rocking make you valuable to other folks too.
As always..Big Love to you!
Leah
Leah/DefytheBox´s last blog ..How you know when to “Suck it up Princess” or choose something else?
#9 Posted by 
Andy Hayes on January 26th, 2010 6:44 pm | link
Did somebody say Atlas Shrugged? :-) *inside joke*
Wow, I’ve seen some of the blog posts and interviews Seth has done and they’re brilliant. This, however, was AMAZING. Thank you.
Andy Hayes´s last blog ..One Happy Island in Aruba
#10 Posted by 
Mark Silver on January 27th, 2010 9:42 am | link
Did I ever say everything was going to be okay? I thought we were all doomed… thank goodness that’s not true…
I like the balance you caught here. Because the spiritual search is not an excuse for complacency. But, action that comes from reaction/fear/panic isn’t often very effective either.
Can’t wait to get my hands on Linchpin. I tend to really like his ideas. Although Godin’s writing tends to light up a place in me that feels panicked/perturbed. I rarely feel good after reading his books- but his ideas are so clear.
Mark Silver´s last blog ..When Business Gets in the Way of Doing What You Love
#11 Posted by Pace on January 27th, 2010 9:48 am | link
@Anne, Kate, Michelle, Andy, Leah: Thank you!
@Helen: Thanks! That is interesting and you’re right, may be relevant.
@Mark: *smiles* One of the things I learned in your Heart of Money course is that everything is (spiritually) going to be okay. That even if I run out of money or lose my home or possessions, that there is love available even here. It gives me a deep sense of peace, and amusingly, since I accepted that, our financial situation has been improving quite a bit. (: And I’d love to hear your thoughts after reading Linchpin!
#1 Posted by
Julie on January 25th, 2010 10:54 am | link
Okay, I love it when all of the different threads of my freaky life come together! You, Mark Silver, Thorn Coyle…. Fabulous!
Julie´s last blog ..Should he go to graduate school?