I ended up reading it in a blind heat. And I was totally blown away. I ended up tweeting much of what I loved about the book. I was so blown away, that I instantly thought we need to read this in College Comp 2. It is a great follow up to Sir Ken Robinson's The Element, which we read in College Comp 1. Fortunately, Mr. Zutz was able to get me some funds, so I was able to order a classroom set.
What is so amazing about the book? Oh, where do I start?
I think it's an excellent read for my seniors who are going to be entering college next year because it makes them think about what kind of impact they are going to make not only in their jobs but also on their worlds.
First, what's a linchpin?
In Godin's own words, here is what he calls a linchpin: "the one person who can bring it together and make a difference."
Well, that's all good and fine, you might say, but what about those basic jobs where you show up and don't have to think? What about those jobs where you're just a cog?
That's what I thought too. But then Godin makes an excellent point: there aren't many jobs anymore where you can just show up, do your job, and not have to think. The majority of those jobs are done in India or China. Not here. That grand age of industry has passed in America.
Do you want your mechanic or doctor or insurance agent to just be a cog in the machine? Or do you want them to have some passion, some personality, and some caring? Sure, I want a mechanic to fix my car, but I'd also love it if he could put it in layman's terms (or at least terms and English teacher could comprehend). I'd love it if he told me how to avoid the same problem in the future and how I might go about preventing it myself.
That kind of service would bring me back again and again, even if I had to pay more.
This kind of service made me a devoted customer of our Hardware Hank store in town. A few years ago we had water running down our basement steps from our back yard. I could have gone to Wal-mart and probably gotten everything much cheaper. But I chose to go to Hardware Hank where I had a salesman (who is now actually my neighbor) who told me exactly what I needed. And he backed it up with his personal experience. And he said if anything doesn't work, bring it back and they'll give me a refund. In 15 minutes I walked out of Harware Hank with a heavy duty hose, pump, and outside extension cord.
I could have gotten each of those cheaper at Wal-mart. But I wouldn't have gotten service like that. I certainly would be able to return everything to Wal-mart, which takes back nearly everything. But when I left HH, I had this feeling of confidence and reassurance that I'd be able to solve the problem. All because of the personalized service.
That instance has gained HH hundreds of dollars from me over the years.
That salesperson was a linchpin. He could have acted like a cog, but he didn't. That's vital for any business and any position.
As a teacher, I could just show up at 7:45 and stay until 3:45. I could follow the textbook dutifully and hand out the worksheets that go with the textbook. I could give notes and keep students quiet on and on task. I could be a cog.
But I choose not to be. That's why students can text me. That's why I send out postcards to students who have done well. That's why students Tweet at me on Twitter. That's why I have students who have graduated stop back and visit me when they can. That's why some of my former students are now keeping their own blogs. Or telling me about a book that they are reading in college (or a video they saw) that they think I'd enjoy and maybe use in class. I like to think that's why I have several former students who are going into not only teaching but actually English teaching.
I want to make an impact. I want to change the lives of my students.
There's nothing special about what I do. That's what I love about this book. Anyone can do it. All you have to do is care and work at it and think differently.
And that's why Godin wrote this book.
This book fits well with Thomas Friedman's That Used to Be Us, which I read this summer. One vital aspect of that book that I loved was when he talked about how everyone needs to think like an immigrant, an artisan, and a waitress at Perkins.
Thinking like an immigrant -
When our ancestors came to this country, they had no legacy position at Harvard waiting for them. Many didn't even speak English. All they had was a work ethic and hope for a better life for their family. Friedman argues that we need to return to this idea. Don't expect to live beyond our means or that a college education should be given to us or that a profitable job is just waiting for us.
Thinking like an artisan -
In Feudal society, artisans were so proud of their individual work, that they often would hand craft their initials into their work. In this new knowledge economy, that's how we have to think of our work. At the end of the day, are we proud of how we worked? When Kenz and I left Dr. Conley's office, she was smiling and laughing and cradling her Brave stickers and chomping on her sucker. Anyone who has taken their child to Dr. Conley would be able to tell that he had worked his magic on Kenzie. Could another doctor have put her dislocated elbow back in. Yes, but not with the care and passion and persona touch that Dr. Conley did.
Just ask anyone who has my sister for a safety presentation. She puts a passion and energy and personal touch into her slideshows and persona that people remember and respond to. She doesn't need to do that. If you have ever had the gentleman who also conducts those safety training sessions, you know what I'm talking about. His presentation (on basically the same info) is devoid of everything that makes my sister so successful at what she does.
Now, I know I'm blessed in that I often get immediate feedback on the work I do and the impact I've had. But even if you don't get immediate feedback like that, it doesn't mean you can't discern the excellent job you're doing.
Do customers constantly seek you out or breath a sigh of relief when they get to work with you instead of someone else or does your boss trust you with tasks that she doesn't trust anyone else with? Those are all signs you are a linchpin.
When my students read this book, I hope a light goes off for them about becoming a linchpin. Even if they have a mundane job. But, better yet, I hope they have some real inspiration to go out and - again, as Thomas Friedman says - invent the perfect job for them. In this flat world, creating a business has never been easier. And Godin is clear on this - it's never been easier to make an impact and change lives.
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