This is not a book review. This is a statement. A confession. A call-to-arms.

I am a Linchpin. It took years to become one, but only minutes to learn what we’re called. My friend Mike Sutton told me last summer I should read the book, but some things need their right moment in time…

I started listening to Seth Godin‘s book “Linchpin—Are you indispensable?” two weeks ago. I basically started my year with it. And I can not remember any non-fiction book resonating as strongly with me. I’ve given away three copies of it to friends and recommended it to numerous others since. And I have not even finished it. That’s why I decided that this year, 2011, my year, is going to be the year of the Linchpin.

Last week, I started to look for Linchpin references on the web—among other reasons to look for a German translation of the term. I stumbled upon the following text, here, written by Seth “for posting, sharing, emailing or instigating”:

Yes. Now. I am an artist. • I take initiative. • I do the work, not the job. • Without critics, there is no art. • I am a Linchpin. I am not easily replaced. • If it’s never been done before, even better. • The work is personal, too important to phone in. • The lizard brain is powerless in the face of art. I make it happen. Every day. • Every interaction is an opportunity to make a connection. • The past is gone. It has no power. The future depends on choices I make now. • I own the means of production—the system isn’t as important as my contribution to it. • I see the essential truth unclouded by worldview, and that truth drives my decisions. • I lean into the work, not away from it. Trivial work doesn’t require leaning. • Busywork is too easy. Rule-breaking works better and is worth the effort. • Energy is contagious. The more I put in, the more the world gives back. It doesn’t matter if I’m always right. It matters that I’m always moving. • I raise the bar. I know yesterday’s innovation is today’s standard. • I will not be brainwashed into believing in the status quo. • Artists don’t care about credit. We care about change. • There is no resistance if I don’t allow it to defeat me. • I embrace a lack of structure to find a new path. • I am surprising. (And often surprised). • I donate energy and risk to the cause. • I turn charisma into leadership. The work matters. • Go. Make something happen.

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