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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Linchpin summary
Are You Indispensable?
12 mins
Brief summary
Linchpin by Seth Godin is a business book that challenges readers to become indispensable by embracing their creativity and doing work that matters.
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Linchpin
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Today, if your job involves just following instructions, you are replaceable.
Hector has it tough. As a day laborer, he and many others wait on a street corner in Queens every morning for contractors to drive by and choose a few of them to do a day’s work at minimum wage. From the contractors’ point of view, all these workers are the same – they have no differentiating skills – so there is no special reason to pick Hector over any of the other laborers there. Hence, Hector will be lucky to get chosen.
The industrial revolution was sparked by the discovery that highly skilled people are not necessarily needed to manufacture complicated products. Instead, almost any production process can be split into steps so simple that relatively unskilled workers can do them. Adam Smith wrote that ten barely trained – and hence poorly paid – factory workers could produce a thousand times more pins than one highly skilled pin maker.
This is why many manufacturing jobs are simple, requiring only that employees show up and follow instructions precisely – like cogs in a machine. If you are such a worker, the problem is that you are easily replaceable and certainly in no position to negotiate a raise. Consider how manufacturing jobs in the West are being outsourced to China and India, where people are equally capable of following instructions but for a fraction of the cost.
Today, even supposedly outsourcing-proof, white-collar jobs are under threat. Stock brokers, travel agents, secretaries and other professionals who were used to just showing up at work and doing what they were told are all finding themselves more and more replaceable and outsourceable. Jobs that involve purely following instructions can be done by anyone, anywhere.
Today, if your job involves just following instructions, you are replaceable.
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What is Linchpin about?
Linchpin explains why you should stop being a mindless drone at work and instead become a linchpin – someone who pours their energy into work and is indispensable to the company. It is not only better for your career but it also makes work far more enjoyable and rewarding.
Linchpin Review
Linchpin (2010) is a book that challenges the way we think about work and our place in the world. Here’s why it’s worth reading:
- With its innovative ideas on the changing nature of work and the importance of being indispensable, it will inspire you to step up and become a linchpin in your field.
- The book offers practical strategies for standing out and making a difference, helping you to break free from the traditional 9-to-5 mindset.
- Combining thought-provoking insights with relatable stories, it keeps readers engaged and motivated, proving that work doesn't have to be boring or mundane.
Who should read Linchpin?
- Anyone who feels they are not giving their all at work each day
- Anyone worried about their job security
- Anyone who ever dreamed of doing something more meaningful than the standard 9–5 grind
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Linchpin FAQs
What is the main message of Linchpin?
The main message of Linchpin is that every individual has the ability to be a linchpin, someone who adds unique value to their work and is indispensable.
How long does it take to read Linchpin?
The reading time for Linchpin varies, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Linchpin a good book? Is it worth reading?
Linchpin is definitely worth reading. It offers valuable insights on how to stand out in a crowded world, be indispensable, and find fulfillment in work.
Who is the author of Linchpin?
The author of Linchpin is Seth Godin.
What to read after Linchpin?
If you're wondering what to read next after Linchpin, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Start-up of You by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha
- How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport
- So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport
- The Startup Playbook by David S. Kidder
- The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin
- Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
- The First Minute by Chris Fenning
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin
- Deep Work by Cal Newport