Have You Got What it Takes to BE a Linchpin?

Becoming a Linchpin

A linchpin is an unassuming piece of hardware, something you can buy for 69 cents at your local hardware store. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. It holds the wheel onto the wagon, the thingy onto the widget.

Every single organisation has at least one linchpin; some have dozens or even thousands. The linchpin is the essential element, the person who holds part of the operation together. Without the linchpin the thing falls apart.

The easiest linchpin examples to find are CEOs and entrepreneurs, because they’re the ones that get all the press. Steve Jobs from Apple, Richard Branson from Virgin etc. We look at these leaders and say “of course they’re linchpins. The organisations wouldn’t be the same without them.”

But what about the great guy down at the local cafe? You know the one who makes it worth a special trip each morning to pick up your take away coffee? If he left the place would go downhill and you’d stop going. All the rent, all the inventory, all the investment – they’re worthless if he leaves. As far as you, the customer, is concerned, he’s indispensable.

Every interaction you have with a co-worker or customer is an opportunity to practice the art of interaction. Every product you make represents an opportunity to design something that has never been designed, to create an interaction unlike any other.

The linchpin, the artist and the map

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.

What does it take to lead?

The key distinction is the ability to forge your own path, to discover a route from one place to another that hasn’t been paved, measured and quantified. So many times we want someone to tell us exactly what to do and so many times that’s exactly the wrong approach.

Effort can change things

One of the fascinating aspects of business and organised movements is that there’s some correlation between passion and effort that people bring to a project and the outcome.

The challenge is in understanding when our effort can’t possibly be enough and in choosing projects and opportunities that are most likely to reward the passion we bring to the situation.

There is a difference between passively accepting every element of your environment (and thus missing opportunities to exploit) and being wise enough to leave the unchangeable alone, or at least work around it.

A concert isn’t merely about music, is it? And a restaurant isn’t about the food. It’s about joy and connection and excitement.

The funny thing is that learning how to add joy, create art, or contribute humanity is a lot easier than learning how to play the guitar. For some reason, we work on the technique before we worry about adding the joy.

If you’re going to go to all the trouble of learning the song and performing it. Then SING IT. Sing it loud and with feeling and like you mean it. Deliver it, don’t just hand it over like a bank teller. When you answer the phone or greet me at your office or come to a meeting or write something, don’t bother if all you’re going to do is it. Sing it or stay home!!

Book Review

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. To check out Seth’s work, go to: http://www.sethgodin.com

So until next week,  you remember to keep struttin your stuff!

Kylie Bartlett – The Web Celeb!

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