Comments on: Review: Linchpin

By: SLCCOM

SLCCOM — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:55:13 +0000

You have to have a boss who is sufficiently secure that you can act as a linchpin. Many will fire you if they feel threatened.

By: Amy B.

Amy B. — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:28:03 +0000

Thanks, Trent. I will look for this one. Sounds like what I have experienced in most of my work career. Every workplace needs a team, and the trick (as an employee and a manager) is to get the right mix of people with the right skills, traits and personality to make the team a success. Often, these don’t make for a good job advertisement or a “road map” for how to do your job as it is constantly in flux.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:19:25 +0000

Standardized ests are crippling our nation’s youth. I am a teacher–I see the effects first hand. Tying teacher incentives, bonuses and pay will only make the problem worse. We all need to stand up together and let the powers in charge know that this isn’t right and that we won’t stand for it any longer. that’s the only way things will change. otherwise, America will keep falling further and further behind the rest of the world in terms of skilled citizens.

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:13:55 +0000

Define “unique.” It’s too general and too unspecific to be meaningful in the real business world. Unique is relative to a market, to a product category, to a type of service. And unique is not always profitable.

Most businesses do not succeed on the bulk of employees being “unique.” If anything, too much “unique” gets in the way of the mission/work in a typical corporation, where there is a system/process in place to ensure product/service quality and consistency.

And let’s face it, how many really unique companies are out there, let alone “unique” products.

I like Seth Godin’s work, even though a lot of it is really clever packaging rather than new information, but this book really seems to be a rehash of some commonsense anyone who has worked a bit already knows.

And FYI, NO ONE, repeat: No. One. is indispensable, especially in today’s work world. No matter who you are or what you do (Yes, you can be sure there are people who can do what Steve Jobs allegedly does, for example. They just aren’t seen.)

So what he’s really saying is do your job well. Which, as we know, again, means nothing in today’s market. NADA.

By: MP

MP — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:44:46 +0000

Interesting about the education system. When standardized testing became in vogue, many warned that education would become all about teaching to the test – rote, repetitive and removal of critical thinking. The biggest backers of standardized testing? Corporations, the political right of all stripes, and parents who bought the line that scoring high on standardized tests would open doors for their children in the future.

By: Moby Homemaker

Moby Homemaker — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:39:41 +0000

It sounds pretty common sense orientated.
I agree, sounds like a good read for recent graduates…

By: Brittany

Brittany — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:39:03 +0000

Sounds wonderfully Marxist. I like it. I especially like the part about the educational system. So true, so true. The history of American public education (and the motivations behind it) are fascinating.

By: Noah

Noah — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:35:50 +0000

The fact is, the world needs 9-5 folk as much as it needs visionaries. I think our society puts too much emphasis on your career being the source of your emotional well being. I understand this book is essentially saying how not to get fired, but as you say, too much persistence on the linchpin route will put you there anyway. If you’re going to make the conscious choice to take on this role, fine, but I don’t find issue with someone wanting to be the linchpin of their domestic life rather than their professional one. There are only so many hours in the day.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:09:37 +0000

I would not buy it. I got it out of the library. It can be boiled down to the review here.

The outlook on an informational society versus an industrial society was a good overview of the current workplace and where the good jobs of the future are. Second second part is work hard. Seems people forget this part.

By: John

John — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:22:51 +0000

I’ve been looking forward to this book review. Thanks Trent!