Hi All
I've been away from blogging for awhile but am now committing to posting each week.
This week, I'd like to share a very interesting book that I've just finished reading called "Linchpin: Are you Indispensible" by Seth Godin. After reading it, I am convinced that it is a must read for our high school graduates. The author speaks about the rules of the past that are no longer the rules of today. In the past there were two teams, the managers and the workers. Things have changed drastically, partly because of the internet and the access that everyone now has to the public, Given that the rules of yesterday have changed, and in essence the rule book has been thrown out, how do we become indispensible in today's world. It is much easier than you might think.

Linchpins are the building blocks of great organizations - and the organization is meant as a word for the place where you work - could be large or small. According to Godin, people who are indispensible get the best jobs and have the most freedom.

What makes a person indispensible, the glue that holds the organization together, is what Godin terms emotional labour. How to connect to people, solve conflicts that others have been unable to solve, or find solutions that others have not yet been able to find.

There are many educational implications in this book - some obvious others less so. As such, this book can be a great starting point for our students who will soon be entering the world of work. It's not just about being mediocre, it's about being indispensible. Perhaps one of the most important points in the book is that mediocre is running rampant. This makes it all the more important to go that extra mile to get the job done even if you're completing a task that isn't officially part of your responsibility.
And it doesn't have to mean owning your own business. It is about engaging in emotional labour, that connects you to others. It is also about how to follow your dreams and get things done, without possessing the fear that often holds people back.
Read it and enjoy. Share your thoughts.