Book 280 - A Year of Magical Learning

Reflection Title: Message Received Universe!

Book – Linchpin: Are you Indispensable? By Seth Godin (Part 1 of 3)

Book Description:

Few authors have had the kind of lasting impact and global reach that Seth Godin has had. In a series of now-classic books that have been translated into 36 languages and reached millions of readers around the world, he has taught generations of readers how to make remarkable products and spread powerful ideas. In Linchpin, he turns his attention to the individual, and explains how anyone can make a significant impact within their organization.

There used to be two teams in every workplace: management and labor. Now there's a third team, the linchpins. These people figure out what to do when there's no rule book. They delight and challenge their customers and peers. They love their work, pour their best selves into it, and turn each day into a kind of art.

Have you ever found a shortcut that others missed? Seen a new way to resolve a conflict? Made a connection with someone others couldn't reach? Even once? Then you have what it takes to become indispensable, by overcoming the resistance that holds people back.

Reflection:

Man, I already REALLY love my new boss in my new job!

The first book he recommended to me, The Dip, inspired me to put in my resignation and leave my previous job to join his team. The second book he recommended, Linchpin, is literally the book I wish I could have written myself about not being afraid to bring your art to the workplace.

As I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but to think that this is EXACTLY the message that I want to empower my team with as well to give them the comfort and freedom to be themselves. I plan to have my new team all read this book together as our first adventure we take as a team to set the tone that bringing your unique art to this job is not just a nice to have, but a must have.

As I was visualizing how reading this book together as a team would play out, I kept thinking about how amazing it was to find a book like this that says exactly what I want to say at the exact right time. It was such a relief to know that I could depend on a 3rd party like Seth Godin to deliver the message and let my new team absorb it without my interference. I know if I tried to tell them all to “bring their art to their job” they would have thought…what the hell is he talking about????

With Seth’s ideas starting the discussion and planting the seeds in their minds, now all I have to do is facilitate the discussion and set the stage for them to figure that out to bring their art to their job on their own. I get to be the gardener that I want to be and not the Moses, like we learned about from the book Loonshots.

As I was thinking about all this one day, a thought hit me like a ton of bricks and made me literally laugh out loud. The revelation was that my boss was doing the exact same thing to me in this very moment that I was planning on doing for my team. He had recommended this book to me for a reason, I have to imagine. He is encouraging me and giving me the freedom to bring my unique art to this job and to not worry about the consequences, just like I plan to do with my team.

It's crazy how this world works sometimes.

Remember from The Alchemist, when you want something the whole world conspires to make it happen. I wanted to find a way to express my art and make my work more meaningful while helping others to do the same. Shocker, the universe delivered me this opportunity and this leader to encourage me to do so.

Message Received!!!

Question: How can you use the ideas of others to help illuminate the path forward?

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Links:

What is The Year of Magical Learning? An Introduction

YOML Podcast Discussion - Coming Soon

YOML Bookstore - Linchpin by Seth Godin