This is Seth Godin’s new book. It was a quick and easy read! If I had to summarize the book, I would say it is the sequel to Seth’s last book, Linchpin (which is a must read). Seth continues to encourage and inspire people to start and do great work. To ship. To make a difference. To make their lives count.

Personally, I don’t think we can read enough of books like these until we’re so convinced we can do something great that we actually go out and do it. It’s only 96 pages, you can read in one sitting. I’d encourage you to take the time to go through it! Then go start something! Ship!

Some Highlights:

• The first rule of doing work that matters Go to work on a regular basis. Art is hard. Selling is hard. Writing is hard. Making a difference is hard.

• When our name is on a project, our ego pushes us over the hump and drives us to do even better work. Ego drives us to seek acceptance, to make a difference, and to push the envelope.

• One way to start every morning with your team is to have everyone check in. Go around in a circle and let people update and contribute. It’s not a silly exercise if it helps people speak up and it communicates forward motion.

• Please stop waiting for a map. We reward those who draw maps, not those who follow them.

• I think we might be afraid of how much freedom we actually have, and how much we’re expected to do with that freedom.

• If you had a chance to do a TED talk, what would it be about? What have you discovered, what do you know, what can you teach? You should do one. Even if you don’t do one, you should be prepared to do one.

• If you don’t ship, you actually haven’t started anything at all.

• the best way to become an insider, a leader, someone who matters, is to initiate.

• Keep starting until you finish.

• If you can’t fail, it doesn’t count.

This video from Seth Godin really challenged me on social networking this weekend. I’m really re-thinking the way I do social networking. This statement is what challenged me the most:

“Networking is always important when it’s real and it’s always a useless distraction when it’s fake”

Here are some questions I’m asking myself. In the future I’ll post about my social media strategy. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these questions:

• How can we use social media to make real connections?

• How can we really add value to people through social media?

• How do you measure the success of how we use social media?

• Are we really making a difference through our efforts?

• How much of the way I use social media is a useless distraction?
  

Thoughts?

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.