Seth Godin is definitely a linchpin. He is indispensable. Why?  He knows he has something of value to offer to the world. Because of this knowledge, he ships -> he gives what he has to the world, and as a result thousands of people and organizations are in a better place. If he didn’t give what he has away, it would be to the detriment of all of those people and organizations. This makes Seth indispensable.

This book will at least give you the inspiration and motivation to become indispensable, of course,what you do with the knowledge gained through this book is what will actually matter. My summary of the book: Stop doing things that anybody else could do, and start doing things that will make you stand out, that make you indispensable. To do anything else is a waste of your talent, time, and to be honest, your life.

This was one of the best books I’ve ever read. If you’re plan on doing anything with your life, including actually having a job, you need to read this book.

Final Grade: 10/10   Buy It Here: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

Here are some of my highlights:

• You can train yourself to matter.

• The only way to grow is to stand out, to create something worth talking about, to treat people with respect and to have them spread the word.

• “Not My Job” Three words can kill an entire organization.

• What They Should Teach in School Only two things: 1. Solve interesting problems 2. Lead

• If you can’t be remarkable, perhaps you should consider doing nothing until you can.

• If you don’t have a résumé, what do you have? How about three extraordinary letters of recommendation from people the employer knows or respects? Or a sophisticated project an employer can see or touch? Or a reputation that precedes you? Or a blog that is so compelling and insightful that they have no choice but to follow up?

• The linchpin says, “I don’t want a job that a non-linchpin could get

• ”A day’s work for a day’s pay (work <=> pay). I hate this approach to life. It cheapens us.

• It’s okay to have someone you work for, someone who watches over you, someone who pays you. But the moment you treat that person like a boss, like someone in charge of your movements and your output, you are a cog, not an artist.

• I think the discipline of shipping is essential in the long-term path to becoming indispensable.

• If you are working only for the person you report to according to the org chart, you may be sacrificing your future.

• If your agenda is set by someone else and it doesn’t lead you where you want to go, why is it your agenda?

• Linchpins don’t need authority. It’s not part of the deal. Authority matters only in the factory, not in your world.

• Mentoring is rarely about the facts of the deal (the facts are easily found), but instead is a transfer of emotion and confidence.

• When you meet someone, you need to have a superpower. If you don’t, you’re just another handshake.

If you would have asked me 3 months ago about the Kindle, I would have told you, “It might be cool, but I love actual books. I like the feel, I enjoy highlighting, and building my library.” Then 2 of my friends got them and got hooked, so I started looking into e-readers. After my research and talking to my friends, I decided I’d get one, and actually ended up getting one as a gift for Christmas. Here are my thoughts on the Kindle so far:

1.) It is very Convenient – No more packing 3-4 books in my computer case when I travel and no more going to book stores to buy books. It’s a great size and you can order practically any book you want and have it ready to read in seconds.

2.) Filing is Easy - Highlighting takes less time than it would in a actual book. The Kindle automatically takes all your highlights and saves them into a file called my clippings. When you plug it into your computer, you just open the file, and copy and paste your highlights into a word document.

3.) Battery Life – One charge will last for days – rarely have to worry about recharging it.

4.) Ability to Read Faster- After talking it over with my friends, we all believer we’re able to read faster with the Kindle.

5.) The Dictionary - The Kindle has a dictionary built into it, just point the cursor to a word and it’s definition automatically comes up. This will definitely help me expand my vocabulary.

6.) The Options – You can choose your font size, have it read to you audibly, make notes throughout the book, and a few other options.

7.) The E-Ink Screen - At first I thought it was lame that the Kindle didn’t have a color or touch screen. Someone explained to me that the reasoning behind it was to make it easier on your eyes so you can read as long as you want. I don’t enjoy reading on my computer or iphone that much, but I can read the Kindle for hours without any irritation.

8.) The Kindle is Redefining my Library - I literally am going to take my library and rip all the pages out of the books that I’d like to file, and then chuck them. Books will soon be a thing of the past, whether you like it or not.

Unless I have to for a class, I won’t go back to regular books, ever again! I love the Kindle and love the potential e-readers have for the future of everything we read.

Kindle Grade: 9/10  Buy it Here