This is my Linchpin mind map about the basics of what the book Linchpin was about.

Seth also wrote a shorter version of this book titled Brainwashed: 7 ways to reinvent yourself. At the same time be was helping to compile What Matters Now – a compilation of 70 big thinkers writing thoughts to help jump start your ideas, and hopefully your actions.

In Brainwashed and in Linchpin, the main message is Do Work That Matters. The 7 concepts are as follows:

1. Connect
2. Be Generous
3. Make Art
4. Acknowledge the Lizard
5. Ship
6. Fail
7. Learn

My take-aways were that this book followed his others, including Tribes, The Dip, Meatball Sundae and Purple Cow. A Purple Cow is something Remarkable. It’s not a commodity. It’s something that gets remarked about, talked about, word-of-mouth, stories spread (The IdeaVirus).  Seth says that we all have Genius but the Lizard Brain has stopped us from producing our Art. We aren’t using our SuperPowers to make Art, to ship that Art. By shipping our art that has been produced with Emotional Labor. It’s our Genius at work, when we can get the Lizard to shut up.  Also, there is a Generosity Economy that rewards people who create and share their Art and their gifts. (Think about the Freemium business model).  To be  Linchpin, you need to be an Artist, Generous, but also you have to be a Leader of your Tribe. Leaders Connect People. That too is an Art – and a Gift. See how all that works out?

Seth Godin called for a Linchpin Day on June 14, 2010. You can find a local Tribe of Linchpins meeting up on that day in over 500 cities worldwide.  “Chemistry happens when people interact…” That’s why Seth encourages  face-to-face meetings whether it is Linchpin Day, his Day Long Seminars, or his World Tour.

Tampa has 20 people attending its Linchpin Day at the Ideafield Offices. Details here.

What will people do that day? A little speed networking, talk about all the great ideas in Seth’s books, and maybe discuss the following: “How to advance “leadership” in Tampa Bay. In tech, culture, economy, urban living, and sustainability.”  Will you be there? Are You a Linchpin?

Marketing is about spreading an idea.

That idea can be a service, product, a goal or an actual idea.

It only spreads if it is worth talking about. To spread it, you have to tell a story. You only get to tell the story to people who are listening to you.

Who is actually listening to you? Why are they listening? What story are you telling them?

Seth Godin talks about ideas that spread at TED Talks.