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The magazine that brings together the best of linchpin meetups worldwide.linchpinmagazine.comIssue 1 \ Summer 2010 \ $15.00LINCHPIN

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Shipped! Many small gifts of kindness makes one big magazineA remarkable collection of stories from linchpin meetups everywhere

2 LI nch pI n mAgAz I n e \ ISSu e 1

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photos by Taylor D

avidsonWhere is everybody?


Forward

by Seth GodinWhen I created my first book in 1984, I desperately wanted someone fabulous to write the foreword.

Because I had a passing acquaintance with Andy Tobias, a brilliant business writer, I decided to write to him and ask if he’d do it.

A week later, I got a letter back (all we had was letters then, email was merely a good idea). Andy said that he liked my book and that he would have been willing to write the foreword, except that I had spelled it wrong! Because I wrote “forward” instead of “foreword” in my note to him, I was doomed. Game over.

I think about this all the time, even though it was 26 years ago. I think about it when someone asks me to write a ‘forward’, and I think about it whenever I imagine that there’s only one door on the path to where I’m trying to go.

This isn’t a foreword, because I don’t write them (it’s easier to just say no to everyone.) No, this is a forward. It’s a plea to keep moving, moving in the correct direction, which is always forward. The people who created this magazine are doing just that. The people who are showing up at the Linchpin meetup, eager to connect and make something happen are doing just that as well.

Go, ship, make something happen.

Forward!

Brian B

loom


Linchpin Magazine Issue 1

06 Our editorial teamThe editorial team members have never been in the same room but are fans of remote working and collaboration software.

07 Why a linchpin magazine?We made this magazine because we could; to prove to ourselves that all the old excuses have gone away.

08 Linchpin meetups – what’s it all about?What makes over 5,000 people in almost 800 places across the globe decide to meet up on a particular day? On June 14th 2010, people got together to celebrate an idea.

28 expressionsA collection of doodles, graphics and thoughts on and around the linchpin concept.

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34 InspirationsA collection of thoughts and opinions on topics around work and life.

46 charitiesFind out about Seeducation*, the charity we support, and other worthy charities.

50 OutroLinchpin Magazine started as an idea in Ireland that spread to Scotland, Austria, the USA and the Philippines as the editorial team came together. We had a team, a plan and 44 empty pages. What could possibly go wrong?

51Our contributorsWithout our contributors, there would be no magazine. Find out who they are.

*Of the $15 purchase price, $10.40 (at 52 pages) goes to magcloud to print the magazine, leaving $4.60 going to Seeducation.

10 connectionsRead reports from over 30 linchpin meetups worldwide.

This photo and cover photos: David p

u’u


Editorial team

Project initatorKenny [email protected]

EditorCaroline von [email protected]

DesignerKay [email protected]

Web developerTed [email protected]

Project administration and supportLouella [email protected]

When you want to do something, you find a way of achieving it. The editorial team members have never been in the same room but are fans of remote working and collaboration software. We are connected.


Why a linchpin magazine?

by Kenny Whitelaw-JonesOnce upon a time, launching a magazine was a huge, expensive endeavour. You needed a massive advertising budget, sufficient capital to fund large print runs and access to a tightly controlled distribution channel, It took deep pockets to fund the long lead time and high production costs.

This magazine moved between idea and delivery in 3 weeks, with a team who has never produced a magazine before and who have never sat together in the same room. We’re spread from New York to Manila, and we delivered on a budget of $0.

We used one of the team’s existing Basecamp account to collaborate: cost $0.

We used Google apps to communicate: cost $0.

We set up wordpress on an existing server: cost $0.

We used MagCloud to print and distribute the magazine: cost $0.

We used an existing Mailchimp account to send email: cost $0.

We made this magazine because we could; to prove to ourselves that all the old excuses have gone away. “There isn’t enough money”. “There isn’t enough time”. “We don’t have the right people”. “We don’t have enough people”. These made sense in the past, but are no longer real barriers. All that’s left is our own fear. Fear of asking. Fear of looking silly. Fear of failing.

“Nobody will contribute”, we thought.

“We’ll never pull it off”, we thought.

“Nobody will want to read it”, we thought

“What on earth is the point anyway?”, we thought.

But because our fears have been named, the “lizard brain”, we ignored them.

And because our determination and drive and hope and passion have been named, “linchpin”, we shipped.

This magazine cost us nothing but our time to produce, but it’s value is beyond measure.


The idea was that that of the linchpin, someone that does something so important that they cannot be replaced. Seth Godin argues, in his book Linchpin – Are you indispensable?, that the world of work is changing and that we have to change with it if we want to stay gainfully employed. The last couple of years has increased the pressure for us to think about our careers and how we work. The economic climate has had a profound effect on how secure we are in our jobs.

Introducing the linchpinOnce upon a time, the industrial revolution caused a shift in working practices, from individuals crafting individual items to identically skilled workers creating cheap, identical products. To push down cost and risk, every workplace became a factory. Society supported these factories by teaching us to follow instructions, do

what we are told to and behave well. The deal was that in exchange, we would get rewards: a home, food, promotions, more expendable income, a comfortable pension. But the deal is gone. Being compliant and doing what you are told is no longer enough to have a good life. The new market demands people who add something beyond the job specification. Indispensable people. Linchpins.

Being indispensableImagine that you had an important message and you worked tirelessly on spreading it. You wrote your blog daily. It was a good blog and lots of people read it, commented on it, shared it. You wrote a book. People bought it and said great things about it. Then, one day, you suggested that maybe people who understood your message might want to get together to talk about it. And they did. Thousands of them did.

Taking the time to build that tribe and being able to enthuse it is what makes Seth himself a linchpin. It takes more than just being good at your job to get your own action figure. It takes courage and peristance to become a linchpin.

Emotional labourChanging how you work, how you view work in the larger scheme of your life, is not something you do in a minute. It takes time and determination. To change anything we have to overcome the resistance, the little voice that tries to talk us out of taking risks and making changes. This is the same fear that makes us not try all out so that it is less devastating if we fail. Accept the fear and do things anyway. For many of us that is easier said than done but if sitting tight and doing what we are told is no longer the route to success, we have to learn to act despite the fear.

We are not in the school yard any more. It does not matter if people make fun of us when we act with commitment. The deal has changed and we have to work with our emotions as well as our brains and bodies. Make connections, help others, solve problems and move forward, always forward. It pays off. Being a linchpin is not just necessary, it is also much more satisfying than rigidly sticking to the script.

Linchpin meetups – what’s it all about?by Caroline von SchmalenseeWhat makes over 5,000 people in almost 800 places across the globe decide to meet up on a particular day? On June 14th 2010, people got together to celebrate an idea.


Linchpins met everywhereThe Linchpin meetup ball started rolling in May 2010 and on the day of the linchpin meetup, 5,830 people in 90 countries had announced that they wanted to meet other linchpins on the Linchpins are everywhere Meetups page.

The majority of the meetups took place in North America and Europe, but there were also meetups in Asia, South America, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Meetups took place in restaurants and coffee shops, bars and private homes. Some even took place over the internet. There are more ways than one to meet face to face.

The very way the meetups were organised illustrates a point about linchpins. Each meetup needed an organiser. Being an organiser could be as involved as the individual wanted: select a time and place, and leave it at that. Or go further: elect a time and place, spread the word, get sponsors to contribute food and drink, interact with your attendees before the event. The more involved you get, the greater the risk but all organisers faced the same fear: what if no one turns up? If you want to be a linchpin you have to have the courage to put your head above the parapet.

Of course, the purpose of the meetups was not to provide an example but to provide a forum for meetings and discussion. A chance to meet a new network of individuals that share you ideas and goals, that understand your struggles and want to share in your triumphs. People who can motivate you to be generous with that thing that you do that adds value. The things that makes you indispensable.

Talk about yourselfThe pages that follow show what the meetups were all about. Individuals came together with their own agendas and their own desired outcomes. It was up to each individual attendee to make sure that they got something out of the meetup they attended. No one told them what to expect or what to achieve.

Fascinated by the linchpin concept and the meetups, we asked attendees to share their experiences and thoughts from the linchpin meetups. This magazine is the result of their generosity and determination to ship. A 48 hour deadline for delivering magazine content is a tight one. We knew that we were asking a lot and are delighted with the response that we have had.

The stats

continents 4

countries 90

people 5,830

meetups 792

Average people per meetup 7.3

Follow-up meetups 102

most attendees 215, New York

Fewest attendees 0

most westerly meetup Juneau, Alaska, USA

most easterly meetup Hamilton, New Zealand

most northern meetup Stavanger, Norway

most southern meetup Dunedin, New Zealand

Litres of coffee consumed1 1,551.7

calories consumed 1,364,220

calories expended 445,995

1We have no real way of knowing how much coffee or cake was consumed so have made a few assumptions: 75% of registered people actually turned up, drank a 12 ounce coffee or its equivalent volume, ate a standard muffin or other food to an equivalent calorie value and talked for an hour. Just for the fun of it.

We have organised the content into sections:

Connections: reports from over 30 linchpin meetups worldwide.

Expressions: doodles, graphics and thoughts on and around the linchpin concept.

Inspirations: a collection of thoughts and opinions on topics around work and life that people feel passionate about.

Charities: an introduction to Seeducation, the charity we support and, the runners up in the charity competition, Child’s i Foundation.

At the time of writing, 91 follow-up meetups have been scheduled. People got something valuable from the meetings and this magazine allows them to share what that was.

Want to read Linchpin? You can buy it hardback, papaerback or in audio. The audio is read by Seth, which is great, but has the restriction of all audio books – you cannot see the illustrations.

Seth Godin, Linchpin – Are you indispensable?, Portfolio Hardcover, 2010. 256 pages or just under eight hours of audio.


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Shipped from around the world

Linchpins got together in 90 countries across the world, in over 700 individual meetups. Connections brings together reports and impressions from over 30 locations.

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connections

Vienna , AustriaNew ideas in a traditional setting

Andrew nash

We held our Vienna Linchpin Meetup at the MuseumsQuartier. The highlight was meeting a group of people who wanted to discuss Seth Godin’s ideas. On the way home I was amazed to note that three hours had passed, although the fact that they pretty much had to throw us out of the cafe should have been a hint. We decided to meet again in September to continue our discussion with more people.

Can anyone be a linchpin?Can cleaning people be linchpins? We think that it’s possible to bring art to cleaning and cleaners can be an important connection between people working in an office. Our model is not the outsourced cleaning companies, but rather the cleaners who were really part of the organization, like the janitors in our elementary schools in the old days (Mike Mulligan of steam shovel fame). Maybe not forever, but being a linchpin cleaner (to pay the bills) while you are doing some other art at night.

How do you transfer Seth’s ideas to old businesses and institutions? An especially important question in cities like Vienna with long traditions.

Can you be a linchpin in a large business or do you need to work for yourself? Of course Seth discusses this, but it was on our minds. We felt that learning to get along in existing structures can provide you with the freedom to implement innovative ideas. But, it’s a balancing act.

Where’s the fun?We should always ask, “Where’s the fun?” at work. Work should be a playground where you can fail. Interestingly some organizations allow failure but sweep it under the carpet preferring to ignore it rather than learn from it.

What about colleagues to whom work is simply 8 hours plus a paycheck?

Finally, as a mixed German and English speaking group, we had a lot of fun translating and debating how to interpret Seth’s work (starting with “What does linchpin mean?”) in another language.

LinksYou can sign up to the next Vienna Linchpin Meetup on Meetup.com: www.meetup.com/Linchpins-are-everywhere-raise-the-flag/9043

If you are in Vienna and want to visit the MuseumQuatier, you can read more about it online: www.mqw.at

Not heard of Mike Mulligan? You can read about him on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Mulligan_and_His_Steam_Shovel

zurich , SwitzerlandLinchpins are from everywhere

Arjen Strijker

Yes! Even though Seth Godin and the entire linchpin concept is still relatively unknown in Switzerland, we ended up with a small group of 9 people. As it was a good evening, we spent it at our office at www.citizen-space.ch roof terrace.

Who was there?Kris is Swedish and worked in multinational IT firms, but for him this wasn’t satisfying. That’s why he is an independent linchpin. Maria is a job psychiatrist from Romania. Maria was convinced that the Internet is bad for children, but afterwards revised her opinion. Ana Maria is a linchpin, which changed Maria’s life. Aya is from Japan and is interested in the linchpin concept. Sebastiano tried to work at Apple in Switzerland to make changes, but Apple didn’t listen, so Sebi tried other ways. Patricia got involved in an interesting project called hyperwerk.ch to help youngsters in Kabul. Judith is part of the SOMESSO team and will finish her internship this summer. Margrit had a laptop that died, which changed her life. Finally: I am an entrepreneur and I have the mission to change the way how companies communicate and do business.

What did we talk about?We talked about our views on things, what were the rewards for our actions, and what we thought it takes to be indispensable. Life journeys were shared, debated, and somehow changed. It was a very interesting evening and next time I’m definitely there again.

Find the full blog post and pictures on www.somesso.com/blog


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connections

calgary, Alberta, canadaThe currency of life

Bob mcInnes

We have to re-shuffle our notions about security. The danger isn’t where we think it is. The danger is in not being entrepreneurial. If you’re not creating the future, then someone else is, and that someone else will change the face of the world as you know it. But that’s not the greatest danger. The greatest danger is arriving at the end of our lives and feeling like we haven’t really lived. Risk is the currency of life. Without risk, there is no life. We have to be willing to risk failure in return for a sense that we are living. And it’s when we’re really living that we really have a shot at changing the world.

Dan Pallotta, April 20, 2010: Discover your inner entrepreneur URL: http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/2010/04/discover-your-inner-entreprene.html

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’’Tampa, Florida, uSAGetting connected

Brianne Swezey

It was great to meet fellow linchpins. We established that most all of us are successful as separate linchpins but want to unite and conquer the community. Our community problem is that we have all these groups and leaders but nobody is connecting and talking. We need to come up with a way to unite for a common cause to bridge the community and be able to help each other ship so that others don’t do ship off to find this connection elsewhere.

zagreb, croatia Small but remarkable

zeljko markic

Zagreb meeting was little less attended than predicted, but linchpins that gathered were really good and remarkable. Lots of stories shared, tons of stories not shared.

As appropriate everything was better with chevapi and we are looking forward to next year’s meeting ans shared stories around the globe.

enjoying a meeting of minds and chevapi in zagreb.


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Lake county, california, uSASpreading the message

carol cole Lewis

A group of eight Lake County residents met at the Featherbed B&B to take part in “Worldwide-Meet-The-Tribe-of-Linchpins” day on June 14, 2010. Meetups were held in as many as 500 cities worldwide, to establish conversation around the thoughts and concepts raised in the book, Linchpin: Are You Indespensable by best selling author and Social Media guru Seth Godin.

In the synopsis of the book, linchpins are described as “the essential building blocks of great organizations. Like the small piece of hardware that keeps a wheel from falling off its axle, they may not be famous but they’re indispensable. And in today’s world, they get the best jobs and the most freedom. Have you ever found a shortcut that others missed? Seen a new way to resolve a conflict? Made a connection with someone others couldn’t reach? Even once? Then you have what it takes to become indispensable, by overcoming the resistance that holds people back.”

The Lake County participants discussed their individual backgrounds, then used their collective talents to explore solutions towards improving the image and economics of the county. The group, now dubbed the “Lake County Linchpins” agreed in the power of social media to change the world, and looked at possible approaches of using technology and the internet to bring more visitors and prosperity into Lake County. “We’ve got so much to offer” says Tony Barthel, proprietor of the Featherbed B&B and meeting participant. “Our air is the cleanest in the state; the wildlife and natural beauty are amazing. It’s time to stop keeping the secret that is Lake County to ourselves and tell the world what a fine place it is to visit, live, work and play here.”

To sign up for the next meeting of the Lake County Linchpins contact Tony at the Featherbed B&B, 2870 Lakeshore Blvd, Nice, CA, USA +1 707 274 8378. Everyone is welcome to attend, and a small donation to cover dinner is appreciated.

It’s not necessary to have read the book ahead of time to attend, though it would be helpful. Various written and audio formats are available from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. You may also order locally from Watershed Books +1 707 263 5787 or Catfish Books +1 707 263 4454 in Lakeport.

Above: Lake county Linchpins meet at the Featherbed B&B. Left to Right: Rowland, mosser, carol cole-Lewis, Teddie pierce, Bert hutt, Ted herrera, maria giovanni, peggy Barthel. not pictured: Tony Barthel.

Left: a picture of beautiful Lake county.


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connections

Slovenska Bistrica, SloveniaGiving a helping hand

Danilo Tic

In Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenia, there were seven creative linchpins, who were eager to share ideas and discuss collaboration opportunities: Matevž Gragori, Mateja Koropec, Tanja Koropec, Jure Kleindienst, James Marjan Tomazin, Miha Kotnik, Danilo Tic.

Spreading the wordAt the meetup I realized that some of the linchpins didn’t understand the basic idea and power of collaboration. Therefore, I’m spreading the linchpin idea everywhere and everywhen, trying to affect the members of meetup to spread it too and I’m going to organize more meetups in my town, the first one being in autumn.

The tribe gives a handMatevž Gregori is the leader of the Puppet Theatre Cornseed, a director, puppeteer, designer…the heart of the theatre. He’s a mentor of school puppet groups in several primary and high schools. The fundamental reason, that is holding him back from his art and passion, is his existential problem. Having three small children and building a home for them forces him to take and dedicate too little time for his art.

Members of the meeting decided to help Matevž open new distribution channels for his art by recording performances, upload them on Youtube, on local level.

Could linchpin tribe help on international level?

Seven creative linchpins.mateja, James, Jure, Danilo, Tanja, miha, matevž.


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Rotterdam, netherlandsAn idea takes form

Dimitri Lambermont

The idea: Create a platform – www.linchpin.nl

USP: A chance for every person to discover their personal linchpin quality. To get out of the factory. To share ideas. To get inspired. Sharing blogs on Linchpin behaviour, case studies and real life examples.

Message: Make the difference. Linchpins are everywhere. Follow your passion.

Language: Dutch, at a later point English.

Pay-off: Still to be decided.

Goal: Awareness. To create a movement.

Timing: September/October. 10-10-2010.

How will we get noticed? The link to www.linchpin.nl should be featured in the new translation of Linchpin. Social Media channels (Twitter, Facebook). Blogs. Press releases.

To Do: Get the other Linchpins from the Netherlands to share.

manila, philippinesEnergized life

edgardo Dangoy

In two words – “life” and to describe it “energized”. Expectations were shared, and not a single Linchpin present left without the appreciation of support and care of their fellow tribe members.Virtual and live future meetings are expected to sustain the new life we gave breath to.

Ohio, uSAThe Ohio Linchpin meetup

emily L eberley


Ventura, california, uSAA Linchpin sonnet

David pu’u

As my little ocean flavored world rocked with continued news that only seemed to worsen, I watched and listened, as response from Government and Environmental groups created what amounted to an untenable clamor. Finger pointing, conflict, polarization, but no success occurred in fixing the massive calamity of the Horizon well head blowout.

Enviro groups squared off and did what they do: point fingers. Oil Execs circled wagons. Everyone calling for Justice. There was a hole in the Gulf seabed. The Ocean was dying.

Then Seth’s note popped up, about creating a meeting of our peers. A Linchpin meeting. It was followed in short order by a few quotations from Jacques Cousteau found in the course of my regular work study.

I realized, in pondering the two very positive tones of Cousteau and Seth, that the clamor of adversarialism had grown so loud, no one could hear what message was softly, quietly being sung.

The world was missing the point. Again.

“It takes generosity to discover the whole through others. If you realize you are only a violin, you can open yourself up to the world by playing your role in the concert.”Jacques Yves Cousteau

My girlfriend, Donna Von Hoesslin, had immediately launched herself into the task of herding cats, that is getting a group of independently creative people together, into a succinct point in the space and time continuum, for no other apparent reason, than to connect personally. Seth, being an excellent common thread, along with his new book Linchpin, which most of the invitees would have no doubt read, or at the least heard of, created the necessary catalyst.

On Monday, in Ventura California, our Linchpin meeting took place at a grand old venue, that is an Historic Landmark in Ventura, and is now known as Candlelight. Historic and Light. Made perfect sense to hold a Linchpin meeting there.

Garner, who manages Candlelight, had even created, along with Donna, a Linchpin cocktail, which was a citrus flavored, somewhat tart, refreshing concoction served in a martini glass.

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connections


Fifteen minutes into Linchpin 2010, Donna did the spoon to cocktail glass bell call, and our group gathered together in a big circle in the large cocktail lounge. I had found myself standing next to a seated Colin Black chatting about Waterpolo. As the circle of people began to introduce themselves Colin whispered “Oh God, I am the last one. I am going to have to stand up.” At 6’8”, Colin is tall when seated.

The intros gave us a sense of perspective. Funny thing about Linchpins, none of us is boring, and the things which everyone spoke on were a blend of hilarity and inspiration. You could see connection beginning. But as in all settings of this sort, it was not without a little tension. Groups can be like that, no matter what they contain.

As the turns swung round to myself and Colin, I simply stepped on the other side of him, thereby removing him from the obligation of being last. He looked relieved. And as 6’8” stood next to 5’5” (me) and Colin introduced himself, something occurred to me. Many of us are so self conscious we fail to consider that we are made to fulfill a purpose.

So as Colin wrapped up, and it became my turn to speak, I did something laterally, and decided to break group convention and protocol, by simply resting my head against Colin’s side. The elevation difference created a burst of laughter and I then chatted about what I would like to have happen as a result of our

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connecting. “I would like to see you all succeed. That is why I am here.” I could feel the room relax.

Minutes later, we had gathered together on a big bed outside and snapped a photo or two. It was my double entendre message, that image. Our group: Law Enforcement, City Leaders, Chefs, Content Creators, Business People, Corporate heads, Sustainability specialists, what an amazing group of leaders who exemplified a vast cross section of culture. Many change the world in the course of their work, and were all in bed together. Right there. Connected. Everyone mattered on their own merit. But as a group, the potential became something immeasurable and vast.

The world in which we exist will always offer plenty of personal challenges, but it is only in stepping outside of ourselves, connecting, and collaborating, that we will find true, sustainable solutions. If we choose to do that, watch the solutions flow.

It could even save the ocean. We can do that. Us.


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connections

Belfast, northern IrelandWill the linchpins please stand up?

Janet Whitelaw-Jones

The Belfast Linchpin meetup was small, but perfectly formed. There were only two of us, based in a small coffee shop in the student end of town. ‘No, but what do you really want to do?’ was a question we asked at least 50 times. And this is a great question to answer. Because actually sometimes what we think we would really like to do, turns out to be full of disappointment, and then what happens? Well, obviously, you pick yourself up, and go forward. Over a blaring radio commentary on the World Cup we oozed about photography, design, pin hole cameras, printing techniques using egg yolks, skirts and how Peter from Slovakia had ended up in Belfast reading Seth Godin’s books. We both have kids, and a family to support and we tossed the idea about how one really does leave the day job and go for it. Does this work? Who has made it work? More peppermint tea?

Alas, Peter leaves Belfast in 3 weeks to head back to Slovakia to seek out more Linchpins, and then I shall be one of only 2 Linchpins left in Belfast. Belfast Linchpins, we know you’re out there. Stand up!

Japan/pakistan/nova ScotiaLinchpin day around the world

Frances Schagen

My day was very special because I got to experience the new world: a world of borderless friendships and connections, and the ageless world of taking time to discuss important concepts with my friends.

I started Linchpin day by attending the meet up in Tokyo with Bernd Nurnberger in the morning. It took place on a new platform Junto.cc. I got there late, but I was still able to see the chat history with all the great book recommendations and Bernd was gracious enough to give me an overview of their discussion. We briefly explored the topic of the real life implications of virtual connections. There can be a very quick and deep connection on-line because we are able to find people who are very like us without the usual filters of geography and even of first physical impressions.

In the afternoon I was in Pakistan through Skype with host Kamil Ali, and Mirza Bilal Khalid, Shahzeb Irshad, Saira Fatemah, Rafia Toor, Sabeen Zehra, Ejaz Masood. We had great discussions finding out how our cultures shape the way we look at some of the Linchpin concepts.

We talked about how gifts can be seen as the start of a transaction, instead of being given freely. We talked about how they are sometimes used to create obligations so that people become afraid to accept gifts. We talked about how difficult it can be to go against convention, but that it can create opportunities and success in unexpected ways.

Later in the afternoon one of my favourite Linchpins, Lisa Lowthers, came by my office in Kentville, Nova Scotia and we had the luxury of sitting and chatting over tea and cake. We are usually so busy we see each other only at meetings where we focus on the agenda at hand. We deepened our connection and shared our thoughts on some of the projects we are working on together.

My Linchpin day was very special because I got to experience the new world: a world of borderless friendships and connections. I also got to experience the ageless world of taking time to discuss important concepts with my friends - old and new.


Who am I?

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pawtucket, Rhode Island (“Little Rhody”) uSAFirst, learn who you are

Jessan Dunn Otis

There’s nothing, necessarily, remarkable about a few folks sitting in the “Amphitheater” at Slater Mill, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on an early Monday evening in June. The air was somewhat humid, the sun was warming, from time to time a few wispy clouds floated lazily overhead; and, the Blackstone River continued to run to the Atlantic Ocean just down the path from us. Four months earlier that River had breached its banks, thundered ‘til the ground shook and was another kind of water running wild after torrential rains and, what became, a 100-year flood, from which folks in parts of Rhode Island are still recuperating and rebuilding.

Nevertheless, here sat these folks (a few knew each other, a few didn’t know each other) and they began to talk, ask questions, share little pieces of their lives, talk about their “day jobs”, where they’d lived, where they’d worked, what their “take” was on Linchpins, Lizards and Purple Cows. All the while the River kept running.

Sometimes the conversations were easy – with a free and open exchange. Sometimes the conversations turned to “essential questions” – like – “What does it mean to you to be a Linchpin?” and “What brought you to this gathering?”

Someone offered this opinion: “My understanding of being a Linchpin is that, first, you have to truly learn/know who you are in this world; then, you have to recognize and cut through the BS; and, then, you have to do something about that.”

It’s often difficult to know what other folks take away from a first meeting. However, I know that I’ll not forget the air, the light, the River and the questions still unasked and the answers still yet to be discovered and the possibilities still waiting to be set in motion on that day in June.

St. Louis, missouri, uSASharing a desire to connect

John e. Smith

What came out of our meeting was a shared desire to do more than just meet and talk with like-minded folks. We want to connect, challenge, and help each other learn and use the ideas that Seth Godin so memorably preaches.

We gathered and shared, getting to know one another and marveling at the different ways in which the message and concepts in Linchpin and Seth’s blog have touched our lives.

We are an eclectic group, with corporate cube warriors next to ministers, next to entrepreneurs, and a few folks who are seeking guidance on how to become indispensable in a role they have not yet discovered.

No BHAG’s from this meeting, other than to keep doing it and include others - become True Believers for the idea that we really are moving beyond the traditional management and worker roles. We do plan to take advantage of all the energy being generated across the globe by Linchpin Network and other groups sharing this journey.

Our next St. Louis area meeting is scheduled in the Maryland Heights area, but we will try to do even more in other parts of the metro area. If you are a resident or just “traveling through” then, please join us.

We have much to learn, much to share, and are loving every minute of it!

We are organising the meeting using Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Linchpins-are-everywhere-raise-the-flag/9107


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connections

Raleigh, north carolina, uSAJust get on with it!

marianne howell Wright

I found out at the Raleigh linchpin meet-up that linchpins come in all sizes.

Our Raleigh area linchpin meet-up was at the Go Realty office in Cary. I was looking forward to it because to me being a linchpin is hard, and I was curious how others overcome the hurdle of figuring out just what that exceptional, make a difference, idea is.

I had some great conversations with people in many different business and we all had Seth Godin in common. There was a lot of sharing of stories and enthusiasm.

Something that’s been holding me back is an insecurity about my age. I’m approaching 60 and wonder if people might not take me seriously or think I’m “over the hill” and about ready to retire.

Katherine helped me overcome that lizard brain thought.

Katherine is young but she’s a linchpin. Home schooled, Katherine connects by forming online communities and sharing with friends from all over the world. When I told her I thought it is remarkable that she is doing something that most other kids her age don’t do. She said, well, anyone can do it. Of course, they don’t. Her age doesn’t matter to her, she just gets on with it.

It came as a lighting bolt to me. Hey, that’s exactly what I need to do, that I have the same possibilities and opportunities as Katherine and just need to get on with it too.

Thanks Katherine!

South hadley, massachussets, uSAIslands of sanity

martha Johnson

I did it! I hosted a Linchpin meeting! I did it even with mixed emotions, which are not always good predictors for success. Nevertheless, I found strawberries, cheese and crackers and opened my home, without first demanding a visit from the cleaning lady. Three people showed up at the door. The four of us had fun getting acquainted. We shared how we were negotiating the process of both finding our uniqueness and developing the courage to stand behind it. We admitted the challenge of trusting the process involved in making changes. We acknowledged that as we deeply engage in what matters to us, the next questions, the next answers and the next miracles usually appear – not exactly as we expect – but they appear.

We revealed our current dilemmas. Lisa loves making intimate photographic memories (www.lisamerrillphotography.com) at weddings. As it becomes a business, will it remain a passion? Doug loves helping people get the right car (www.merrillauto.com) for their needs at a great price. How can he accommodate his passion for music? Kelly is a devout reader of Seth’s blog. How can she connect with more like-mindeds and do more of what she loves? As a person on the other end of the age spectrum and a semi-retired author of Why Not Do What You Love, (www.whynotdowhatyoulove.com) I wonder how I can offer my gifts of age, experience and wisdom a bit more personally.

As we watched the sunset from the meadow labyrinth, we acknowledged the learnings from our serendipitous connection and knew that we would meet again. The 70-year old host, me, was surrounded by the palpable energy of three young and courageous folks, eager to create islands of sanity for themselves in a world hungry for their integrity and their authenticity.

Yes, I’m glad I did it!! Nobody missed the cleaning lady, and the strawberries were good, too. Most important, I can’t imagine a more interesting and satisfying way to have spent an evening.

montreal, canada Generosity in the air

Welby Altidor

What I liked the most about the meeting in Montreal: there was a spirit of generosity in the air that allowed me to discover things about people rather than just meeting them. One participant I met yesterday put it quite well when he said that beyond anything, the gathering and Seth’s message through Linchpin was a powerful and compelling call to action. An inspired call to ship what we were born to give.


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Katherine does what she wants to do, undaunted.


manila, philippines Manila, Manila!

Louella parañal

The Meetup in the Philippines’ capital did not disappoint. Eight linchpins made it through the traffic and the evening rain and got their expectations at the end of the gathering. Here are some of them:

• provide solutions to other linchpins’ problems in realizing their passion using principles learned from Seth’s writings

• share their passions • brainstorm on ways to spread the linchpin way of thinking and

working in the Philippines • meet people who are interested in Seth Godin’s work • seek partnerships and/or employees • learn new things from other linchpins • network

Our group was composed of an entrepreneur, a marketing consultant/business professor, a TV writer, bloggers, a virtual assistant, an operations manager, and a former employee at a nursing home.

The evening was filled with laughter, ideas, and opportunities. Mike Collins, Richard Cruz, Gladys Hernando, Jam Mayer-Flores, Bryan Danta, Jennifer Silverman, and Eddie Dangoy made the Meetup worth the long trip.

There are plans of finding more linchpins in the area (they’re here somewhere!) and to create social networking addresses where Linchpins from Manila can get together. Also, to continue meeting together and use the Meetups as opportunities to help each other, encourage, and inspire.

chandler, Arizona, uSABe the change

Lisa Takata

Let me confess up front that I had never even heard of Seth Godin before the Linchpin meetup I attended on Monday night in Chandler, Arizona. A friend of mine contacted me with the invite a few weeks ago and said “Just trust me, it is right up your alley.” So I went.

What a wonderful experience to walk into a room of such engaging people from all walks of life whom I had never met before, and spend two hours with them in shared discussions about themes that I have spent a lot of time thinking about and acting upon on my own. People who are like minded about community building and finding all kinds of ways to achieve that in various fields of interest. People who have a common frame of reference and language, thanks to Seth, for discussing their passions and making change happen. People who can openly talk about their struggles in defining their life’s passion and overcoming their fears, with complete strangers (this impressed me most...). People who share a supportive vision of community and can for the most part set aside the need to be credited for what they do. People who are using their life’s journey to, as Gandhi said, “be the change we wish to see in the world.”

I enjoyed the participatory nature of this event, and people’s willingness to listen to and challenge other points of view in the interest of advancing their own critical thinking. I appreciated the generosity with which people offered to contribute ideas and help to enable others to move their ideas forward, and the enthusiasm people had in sometimes literally leaping out of their seats to share with others. It’s not often that you get to see such a sense of wide ranging possibility materialize before your eyes. I’m glad I attended and I know the experience we shared will lead to dynamic change in many corners of our Valley, and beyond.

Thank you Tyler and the Gangplank crew for bringing us all together in Arizona.

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portland, Oregon, uSAHonesty and transparency

megan Strand

Linchpins are everywhere. And so often, we draw our circles so compactly around those with whom we see eye to eye on, well...everything, that we miss out on those who could expand our circle. That’s what Linchpins do. Challenge. Question. Present different perspectives.

The first-ever nation-wide Linchpin Meetup took place June 14th, suggested by Seth Godin but executed by a group of passionate individuals in cities across the continent.

At my local Portland gathering, graciously hosted by Pinpoint Logic, I learned that Linchpins don’t look like I thought they’d look. They don’t talk about the things I expected them to talk about. Some of the Linchpins I met I want to hold close, learn more. Some came from a place I don’t yet understand. But what impressed the heck out of me was the level at which the bar was set for honesty and transparency. Even my own level of honesty was surprising.

Connecting with a group of people around a common but high-level ideal was admittedly somewhat unfamiliar. Uncomfortable, even. But probably exactly what so many of us need. A place where judgment can be suspended and connection can occur on a different level that has more to do with art. And humanness. And respect.

I’m grateful for this space. And for the journey. And for the Linchpins.

new Jersey, uSAI showed up

Khürt Williams

I waited for 30 minutes at the bar. While I waited I talked to a gentleman at the bar about his tree cutting business. He had left corporate America behind to pursue something he enjoyed tremendously. We chatted while I had a wibier.

Later I walked around the bar introducing myself and asking if anyone there had read Linchpin. I walked outside and sat down on a bench watching as people walked by.

Thirty minutes later I went home.

Beer is nicer in company.

milano, ItalyLinchpin Meetup Milano

monica Amarillis Rossi

Only 5 people, because Italy was playing soccer at the Word Cup, but it was a nice evening, where everyone was willing to help the others and everyone discovered something new and useful!


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connections

Toronto, canada The business of philanthropy

paul nazareth

The 25 or so folks who attended were from a diverse background of age, race, experience and profession. Fundraisers, marketers, admin staff, financial advisors, board members and consultants from marketing, management and research. I asked the group to “ship” two answers before they left.

Name that elephantThe first question was: what is the name of the elephant in our room? The resounding answer was “you saw my inner Linchpin, hired me and then slapped on the handcuffs and stood in my way”.

Charities and non-profits were born out of the fires of passion. We are the “roots” in grass roots. But the businessification of philanthropy is quickly wreaking havoc on how charities are managed and what is shipped. We are stuck trying to solve problems based on our ideology, not the real needs of who we serve. Only the hungry have any creative courage, only the slick can capture mass dollars, courageous missionaries of awesomeness are losing to formula-fiends and bottom line bean counters. The truly creative seem to become consultants, leave the sector or ship the same 1980’s begging by mail and phone garbage only to pray for the sweet embrace of death because retirement will soon join the rotary phone and phone book in the ‘what was that?’ category.

What do you want to share?On a lighter note my second question was: what would you like to share with other linchpins? Best answers: be useful or funny. Linchpins have purpose in all they do. Working smarter doesn’t have to smother passionate creativity. I will out-last you, out-live you, out-think you, out-work you, out-care you and WE will have the change we seek.

London, uKSolve problems and see opportunities

Tom Atkins

The London Linchpin meetup served as a living example that the Linchpin environment is the ideal place for airing new ideas, solving problems and seeing opportunities in a new, aspiring community of people who are doing the same. The way of thinking encouraged by Seth Godin draws people from every industry, every discipline, every skill because it speaks truth to all. And that draw is what makes the meetups so important. A great start to a great future!


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no locationEnthusiasm! Passion!

melissa Dinwiddie

I dragged myself away from pressing client deadlines to go. Very unlike me, being an introvert and not always comfortable in group situations with strangers. But the prospect was too intriguing: people brought together on a single night all over the country by the published ideas of one man. Anything could happen!

I planned to stay for maybe 90 minutes, but three hours later I was still there. It started inauspiciously, with introductions all round: two people, then 4, then 8, then 10. A diverse group in age, experience, race, not all of us had even read Linchpin (I confess), but a spark had been lit in every one of us by something Seth had written, and those ten sparks combined to brighten up the late spring evening.

The group conversation eventually broke into smaller dialogues. Enthusiasm! Passion! Connections! I was sitting next to an “Unrepentant Generalist,” and across from a Renaissance man. As a Multi-Passionate Creative Artrepreneur, I felt like I’d found my tribe.

By the end the ten of us were planning future meetings (accountability group? resource group? online group?) and even brainstorming a street performance.

A gift. Thank goodness I decided to play hooky.

The next meeting is on the calendar already, and I’ve got a coffee date with one of our group to discuss our similar interests. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.

chicago, Illinois, uSADynamic and passionate

Sandra Walter

An underlying urgency permeated the event, as if we all knew the changes we sought in our businesses and ventures were not only attainable, but also valuable to the future of our society

The Chicago “Linchpins are Everywhere” Meetup was hosted at a comfortable Old Town bar and attended by a wide array of Linchpins and Seth Godin fans. A mix of writers, filmmakers, marketers, IT pros, nonprofit leaders, environmentalists, bankers, photographers, vintners and Seth’s blog enthusiasts converged over cocktails to talk about their dreams. As we exchanged business cards, introductions varied from, “How did you find Seth’s work?’” to “How are you going to change the World?”

Linchpins are dynamic conversationalistsThe enthusiasm and encouragement people had for each other’s projects was remarkable. As someone who writes about a somewhat esoteric subject, I was thrilled to have meaningful conversations in a matter of minutes with several of the attendees. The flurry of ideas was instantaneous. An underlying urgency permeated the event, as if we all knew the changes we sought in our businesses and ventures were not only attainable, but also valuable to the future of our society. In the course of a few hours I had three deep conversations about the Power of Intention and creating Worldwide change. This does not happen often. Not only were my ideas welcome, but getting linchpins together in the same room created a vivid exchange of solutions, networking, and alternatives to get things accomplished (shipped!).

Some notable linchpin evening attributes• Listening. People were engaged, curious, and truly listening to

each other. • Camaraderie. Linchpins are passionate people. Most of us had

found Seth’s book to be a revelation and a confirmation of our work and life priorities.

• Evolution. Ideas grew as the evening progressed. The meeting was an organism that expanded, learned and evolved in just a few hours.

• Parallels. In one of the last conversations I noted how Seth’s tribal leadership was akin to Eckhart Tolle’s work in The Power of Now. I do think they are both encouraging the same essence of “presence.” Seth is enabling us to exercise presence in the business world, and teaching us to change the status quo by being authentic, accountable, and open to the changes occurring in business. Linchpins celebrate the challenge of change because we are in the “Now.”

More, please!The energy generated by this kind of evening is addictive. While our group is partial to Chicago being the best town to create change, there are already more worldwide linchpin meetups scheduled for the future. As for us, we’re planning subgroup meetups to discuss our individual projects and get things shipped. We won’t be waiting for someone else to arrange a meeting. We’ll be doing it ourselves. After all, we are linchpins.


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connections

Apple Valley, california, uSAFinding likeminded people

Seth neistadt

I only had two people coming to my meet up. As the day for my meet up drew closer I considered canceling it altogether and going to a meet up in a different city. I was frustrated. I kept looking at all of the other cities near me that had so many respondents; Pasadena (13), Los Angeles (98), Santa Monica (33) and then there was me; Apple Valley (2).

I had just come back from New York where I attended Seth Godin’s April NYC session. I met Seth Godin and lots of other amazing people who shared the passion I had for the Linchpin concept but when I returned home I felt alone and deflated. I had purchased 50 copies of Linchpin and I hosted a lunch at one of our finest dining venues. I’d invited the 50 people I thought would enjoy the book the most, but I couldn’t give the books away. People wouldn’t get the message. They were too busy, or forgot to come. They wanted to keep “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. They’d rather post about the superb dinner they ate last night or who’s doing what on the latest episode of “Lost” rather than engage in a meaningful conversation about their art.

Well the day came and I was overwhelmingly surprised to find that the meet up was more than I could have imagined. One of the attendees brought a friend and so the four of us had a three hour discussion that led to a reenergizing of my mind. I was excited again. I didn’t think it would be any easier to reach my region but I knew I had found kindred spirits. I was reminded of Seth Godin’s blog “Driveby culture and the endless search for wow”. He said, as it relates to increasing traffic or changing the way a few people think, “is it better to seek dedicated attention and support from a few who understand the mission and are there for the long haul? … Find the right people, those that are willing to listen to what you have to say, and ignore the masses that are just going to race on, unchanged.” We had four of the right people there that day and together we will continue to share our art. Thank you.

new York, nY, uSALinchpins have class

Ted Kusio

Usually when you see someone famous and want to say “Hi,” you either have to fight a mob or intrude on their privacy. So for me I let celebrities have their crowd or their peace, without me. However when Seth joined us at the NYC Meetup on June 14th, he didn’t hold court with a select few, nor did just say “Hi” to the organizers and leave, so he could officially say “I was there.” No, he made the rounds, walked up to people and said “Hi.”

So this photo isn’t a “Look at me with someone famous!” shot, but a reminder that being a linchpin also means having class. Yeah.

Andrew

miller


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Boston, massachusetts, uSAMaking something happen

Tom catalini

Microsoft New England Research and Development (NERD) Center, Cambridge, MA USA - June 14, 2010

People did not come for dinner or drinks. Nor did they come to see a famous speaker or a presentation on a topic of interest. They didn’t come to see a work of art or a performance. And they certainly didn’t come because they had to.

People gathered in a large grey room with no windows and hard, uncomfortable chairs to explore a shared interest in an idea. Many ideas, actually, around a common theme - deciding to do something. To make something happen.

A woman I met has spent her life living this way. A man I met had just spent six months riding his motorcycle (from New Hampshire, USA to Argentina!) thinking up ideas to act on. Another was from an advanced MBA program from one of the best business schools in the country. Others were in more of a state of flux and exploration. All seemed to see the world in a similar way, though, and to agree that change is in the air. That there is a better way to approach work and life (which should be more similar than different).

Most importantly, many seemed ready to act. That’s the difference. That’s a Linchpin.

edmonton, Alberta, canada Connected!

Lana phillips

Our local Linchpin meetup in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada turned out to be about connections for me. I don’t just care about connecting people, although that is a vital piece of my work in the non-profit sector. I care about the connections between ideas – seeing the different pieces come together in a way that helps make new connections between neurons in people’s brains and challenging them to think and act in a way that will make them more likely to become a linchpin in whatever setting they’re placed.

My partner, who was new to the concepts of Seth Godin’s work, walked out and said, “I felt CONNECTED.” in a surprised tone. I was delighted.

malaysia Malaysian Linchpin Chapter

Victor Liew

We don’t judge, so... No “Should, Could, Must, Have to...” We exist to create a “Lizard Brain Free Zone – Recharging the Linchpin in Us”Facebook group http://bit.ly/dAZeC2


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expressions

TheArtOfReferral

I began to wonder sometimes which was actually my Lizard Brain talking, the one that was telling me to stop, or the one that was telling me to continue !!??

Bob Thepack


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David Cohen

Fish n fowl.

A new mode of transportation.


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expressions

The Linchpin MartiniAs served at the Ventura Linchpin Night.

Shake in a cocktail shaker2 shots vodka1/2 shot O.J.1/2 shot Pomegranate Juice

Strain into a chilled martini glass.Garnish with an orange slice.

Enjoy.

Donna von Hoesslin


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It was 90 degrees F (32C) last week. The traffic cop was sweltering in head-to-toe polyester. I asked, “Don’t you have shorts?” She said, “We do, but we’re not allowed to wear them until July. It’s only May”

Be a lizard. Run the Dept. of Transportation.

Jodi Kaplan

the lowest common denominator is the height of tyranny.Greg Koch

The manager’s roleEngland goalkeeper David James talking about the manager Fabio Capello: “He keeps everything clear for the team, you don’t have any ambiguous situations. He gives the players the environment to work in, he arms us with the knowledge of the opposition and he trusts that the ability we have is good enough to beat that opposition.”

It seems to me that’s a pretty good definition of the role of the manager. I’ve always found that the best managers have a clear vision and provide their people with the tools, knowledge and support to succeed.

Paul Lewis


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expressions

Since I am at the map making stage, I shipped my business idea to other linchpins. I am encouraged, they get it!

Robin Gerhart

AttitudeThere are two types of people in the world… one that throws his hands up in defeat and says “what more can I do?”, and the other that wraps his arms around a situation and says “what more can I do!”. The words are the same, the difference is attitude.Royce Parker


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Sheila O’Shea


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Notes from Bucharest – wouldn’t it be great if…

Angela Agapi

More people would smile all the time.Andrei

We would only meet people so authentic that we could never forget.Angela

I didn’t have to worry about money and could concentrate on bringing value.Catalin

People believed more in themselves.Ciprian H

The world would be more generous.Ciprian R

We could discover and use teleportation.Gabriela

All Romanians were like the people I met.Ileana

People would be more generous. Liviu

I earned a billion dollars and ruled the world.Oana

Lizard marketing

Bernie mitchell

Since reading Linchpin I have given a name to my pain – ‘Lizard Marketing’. My goal is for you to think, it is better you read this than we talk about you when you leave the room. If you ever catch me doing this you are welcome to pull me up, even if you don’t know me. Of course I have NEVER done any of these things (cough).

1. The Lizard Marketer can often be seen scurrying in early to networking meetings to put all their flyers on the table. Then they scurry away like a child who nearly got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Why scurry away and avoid eye contact? Do you really believe in what you do? This is an engagement inward bound world! In marketing it must occur to you to measure what works and what does not. Do you find yourself printing reams of flyers, leaving them on the table by the door and when the event is over they are still there?

2. The Lizard Marketer keeps in touch. One of the biggest letdowns in marketing has to be when you first discover an email manager program and think your time has come! Let’s send out 2000 emails and book tickets to the moon! You excitedly check the click rate, no one buys. You realise that the only person that clicked was your mum. Fear not, the helpful Lizard Marketer sends it again in case people missed it, later they discover social media which means they can send it all day to even less people.

3. The Lizard Marketer usually markets for an organisation that ventures to help business. Usually they are so far behind they think they are first and they are usually Chambers of Commerce. Recently an email arrived from my local chamber saying they were delighted to announce that they were going to start sending a regular email newsletter - great! (I don’t like email but that is pedantic me.) But wait - they run a business influencing forum in the heart of London, a city with a particularly dense concentration (I use the word dense carefully) of ‘mobile enabled social media addicts’ and here are the Chamber advocating email as the next great wave. To mention anything to them at this stage would be like taking an ice cream away from a child.

inspirations


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4. The Lizard Marketer hits every network to sell whatever they have got, usually something to do with the internet or sales. Usually the internet people have done the course the sales guy is selling. Internet guy is a short sighted web designer who is happy to sell you a very heavy and outdated blogging / web solution for 2k that is dependent on their ongoing support. They neglect to mention everyone else uses Wordpress, Posterus or Blogger, well they have to shift what they have got don’t they? It is like working with a never ending garage sale.

5. The Lizard Marketer sees the community as the list to monetise. Run a big online network? Why don’t you let anyone you meet in a bar who offers you a commission leap in and sell to if? (You could call it a strategic partnership). In our London Meet Up organisers group it came up about how to contact people. Meet Up does not allow you to see each other’s emails; I don’t think you need to. When your group is engaging and committed you will get to know people. Unless you intend to solicit people why would you need an email before you meet them? You could find them online if they wanted you to anyway.

6. The Lizard Marketer is an ‘all about me’ person. The real magic only happens when it is 100% about the community. However polished, amazing or apparently helpful you think you are if you are ‘all about me’ it sucks and everyone knows it. Ironically because ‘all about me’ people are so ‘all about me’ they never hear the community trying to help them. Of course ‘all about me’ people will have a string of successes and gloat about their high profile relationships. Really ‘all about me’ people end up annoying more people than they help, fail to evolve and show up unexpectedly when they have a new book to puke on people about.

7. The Lizard Marketer and transparency – nothing wrong with a bit of allure and mystery but the days of secret are over. You can be in something exclusive, like the VIP room of a club but if you can’t tell me about your business, you don’t have a business. You have a racket or a cult. When asked ‘what do you do?’ please don’t say ‘I work with wonderful special people every day’ or if you are in finance or insurance don’t give me some rehearsed scripted evasive answer that you have practiced in front of the mirror (after you did the sales course with the internet guys). It scares me. Being nervous is natural and open – in fact nervous is much less difficult. For example the London Shy Meet Up is much more interesting than all the London ‘I think I am an entrepreneur’ Meet Up’s put together.

8. The Lizard Marketer needs to get in front of as many people as possible. When they see more than three people they pounce in with ‘I’m letting people know about our great offer’ tactic that occurs more as a plea for help than anything else. Want to get in front of as many people as possible? Read in your place of worship or stand at speaker’s corner. Lizard Event people are evil too, they see a Lizard Marketer coming (takes one to know one) and lure them into a ‘pay to speak’ model, allowing them to lecture to a bunch of ‘high profile business owners’ who only turned up for the free drink and to hand out flyers.

My call to action is to watch out for Lizard Marketing! How can we overthrow this? Not by being highly critical and righteous like me. You can combat it all by overcoming bad with lots of good, by keeping Linchpin Meet Ups going and not turning it into some washed out network. Keep it as a cool bunch of “enthusiastic thought leading Meet Up type people” that are addicted to shipping. We just need to support and quietly set an example. Even if half of the people who took part in London came back a second time that would be amazing, in fact it would be a bit scary if everyone did come back! So, are you in?


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inspirations

Trendsetters, Influencers and Connectors

Andrea Baxter

As a businesswoman, more importantly, an entrepreneur, I have come to learn that there are 3 very important people you must surround yourself with in order to help your business grow and make it successful: trendsetters, influencers and connectors. Why? Because these are the people who are going to believe in you, believe in what you are doing and will want to help you grow your business as ferociously as you do.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t something I learned yesterday. Or even 3 years back when I started my first business, the Smart Cookies. I learned this from my parents believe it or not. I watched how they connected with the people around them, how others influenced them both personally and professionally and how they nurtured those relationships to help them get to where they are today. Of course, not without offering the same in return. No, my parents are not celebrities, people in the media or savvy politicians. They are just your average people who have made a difference to others around them, have done the right things all their life and succeeded in doing so. I admired that and I certainly took it to heart as I got older and because I am now a businesswoman.

Throughout my career, I have been able to connect with some amazing people who have helped me get to where I am today (professionally speaking). Now that I am busy running 2 businesses, Smart Cookies and Bratface Marketing, I have come to learn how important these people are to me, my business and how key they are to my success in this fickle world.

In simple terms, here is how I define the difference between all three. You can agree with me or not, but mark my word, you will agree with at least some of what I have to say and I guarantee that you will be able to have 1 if not all 3 of these people in your life to some capacity.

Trendsetters – you probably have heard this term commonly used in the fashion industry. A ‘fashion trendsetter’ can be used to describe Patricia Field, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lady Gaga, but when it comes to business, trendsetters are the ones you want to watch out for, listen carefully to, ‘follow’ if you are an avid Twitter user and trust when it comes to their instincts. These people are the ones who are always on the cutting edge of business, politics, and social media – you name it. They can often be risky and stray from the ‘norm’ (but really, what is classified as normal anymore these days?) but will often take the most risks because they believe in something, and believe in what they are doing and more importantly, don’t care as much about other people’s opinions. Talk about standing by your convictions! Others don’t sway these people easily because they are truly authentic and are not afraid to fail (although, they rarely do). You have to get on the bandwagon early with these folks if you want to be cutting edge and be a part of the trend.

Influencers – these people are who I find to be some of the most important. I have been influenced by many people in my life from parents, grandparents, former employers to good friends. They inspire me and they can often inspire you to do the things you are scared of in life. Taking the leap of faith to quit your high paying job and start your own company; taking a year off to travel and experience the world while leaving behind your security. Whatever it is, influencers will be some of the most amazing people (and best storytellers) you will surround yourself with and if you really want to succeed in life or business, they are the ones that will take you to the next level. If you need a little push in the right direction, start making a list of the best people who can influence you to make that move.

Connectors – from a business perspective, these people will literally rock your world. OK, well they did for me anyway! This is one lesson I learned fairly early on in life: the people who are good at connecting you with people you should know are the people you should befriend and get to know really well. Don’t be afraid to get out there and introduce yourself. Doesn’t matter if you know them or not. One of the best ways you can succeed in business and connect yourself with others is to put yourself out there. Plain and simple. It’s very important in business because as you grow and succeed (whether it be as an entrepreneur or not) these are the people who will connect you with other influencers or people they believe will help you get to that next level. They are the ones who believe in you and have confidence in introducing you to others. One important note I want to mention is to make sure you connect with people who are worth connecting with. Don’t waste your time meeting people just for the sake of meeting people and getting out there. You want to make an effort in finding the right people who have your best interest at heart and will have some sort of a positive influence to your bottom line.

A final note, I wanted to leave you with this interesting point of view. A close friend of mine sent this to me when I asked her opinion on this topic. I agree with her 100% because it nicely sums up what this whole article is about. What do you think? Email me at [email protected] and share your thoughts. You can also check out this article on one of my favourite blogs/websites, at design*sponge www.designspongeonline.com.

“The most important thing is to be seriously interested and curious about other people, believe that everyone has something of value to offer and that each one of us has qualities and/or talents that can assist someone else. Once you realize this it is easy to bring people together.” Karen P.


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A step closer to the life you want to live

Annie Vaughan

I am committed to helping the personal and professional communities I am part of to realise their dreams so they are doing good for others and for themselves.

People are my passion so when I heard about the Linchpin Meet Up I got really excited. A bunch of like-minded people, all in the same place at the same time, sharing big, big dreams, ideas and passions. Sharing the impact they are making and being the difference in a world of sameness. How exciting!

Courage, spirit and passionI love learning what makes people tick and what stops us from fulfilling our dreams. Helping someone overcome something that’s been stopping them (for years sometimes) is just awesome. Watching them transform and start to live the life they’ve always wanted and being happy. Really happy! I am privileged to be in a position where people share their dreams with me every day and I know how important it is to them. That sparkle in their eyes says it all. On Monday, I saw that sparkle, also some confusion but more than anything, courage, spirit and passion. Some have left their jobs and are about to embark on a new journey, others are looking for inspiration. Some are exploring their options and others know exactly where they are heading.

Looking for certaintyDeep down, we know what we need to do, what’s going to make us happy, what’s going to fulfill us and what’s going to make a difference. What we don’t realise is how much we fight to stop ourselves from really feeling what it would be like to succeed and take those first steps towards turning those dreams into reality. I suspect the people looking for inspiration are actually looking for certainty. The certainty that the deeply buried idea they have is in fact a good idea. Not great, not brilliant, not remarkable even, just good! A good idea that will get them a step closer towards the life they truly want to live. Well, I am certain. If that idea is always there, at the back of your mind, waiting for you to set it free, it most probably is good. The fact it’s still there, that your subconscious won’t let go of it and keeps reminding you to notice it, is a great indication to, at the very least, get it out of the darkness and shine a light on it. Examine it, analyse it, explore the possibilities and allow yourself to dream. Who knows: dust it off and you may even find a way to make it a remarkable idea!

Taking the second stepFor many who came along to the meetup, this was their first step. The first step to being in control and influencing how they live their lives and run their businesses. The important thing now is to take the second, third and fourth step so I’m organising the next Meet Up. After speaking to amazing people who have taken charge of their futures and are making things happen, I have learned so much and am deeply grateful to you all for sharing your stories with me, from the guy who’s writing a rock opera to the lady who makes clothes and accessories from recycled men’s ties.

A rewarding and fulfilling life The vision I have for my future is now much clearer and every day, I am focused on taking steps towards it. In fact, I have two beautiful apprentice Linchpins helping me. Conor is 10 and he’s designing new posters and business cards with his sister Tara, who’s 8. They already have a list of 28 local places to put the cards and posters and are helping me put together a ‘vision board’ so I stay focused. Every day, I’ll look at that board and ask if the thing I’m about to do is going to move me away from or towards my vision. I am raising my children to be Linchpins (what a great idea for a book!!) so they also have control and influence over how they live their lives. Being kids, they are mostly looking forward to the $10 reward they each get for every new client I work with as a result of their advertising efforts. I did question whether I’d done the right thing last night though, when Tara was still awake at 9:30pm, asking me to remember her new ideas and working out how much she would get if I got a 1,000 clients from each of the 28 places!

Who would have thought, just being in the same room as a few Linchpins, would have such a profound effect. I am committed to helping the personal and professional communities I am part of, to realise their dreams so not only are they doing good for others, but also for themselves, enjoying a rewarding and fulfilling life in the process. The Linchpin Meet Ups are a great way to support each other and I’m looking forward to continue growing the group and inspiring more Linchpins to join. In fact, at the next Meet Up, I am inviting everyone to come along without business cards. The challenge is to really get to know the people there and find each other afterwards. If we’re remarkable enough, we’ll be found!


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Tribes

Karen Allen

I’ve had several enlightening experiences within the past month relating to connections with my personal tribes.

Connecting with a tribe, with other human beings in a way that changes me for the better, is like hitting fresh asphalt after enduring miles on a gravel road. Within the tribe, all judgment ceases, time is illusionary, and the soul comes alive, seeing far more than the eyes and sensing what the mind cannot put into words—pure, unconditional love.

Within the tribe, no one is concerned about my make or model. No one is truly concerned with where I’ve been, though interested. They’re just glad I’m here, right now, championing my desires for where I want to go next.

It doesn’t matter where I’ve been. The tribe wants to know who I’ve become because of it, and where I intend to go in spite of it. They want to hear how I have strengthened myself because of the tears and hardships I’ve endured. They want to know where I’m going, my intended destination, and are willing to help me get there with the people they have come to know and the wisdom they’ve obtained through their own personal experiences, explorations, and adventures.

I have found tribes to be of a much higher rank than knowledge. Knowledge gained over the years may be power; however, I can’t possibly know it all, no one can. With a tribe and tenacious resourcefulness, I am damn certain that I have the ability to find what I need, or someone who knows what I need to know, in the moment I need to know it.

When I started riding 20 years ago, female motorcyclists weren’t as prevalent as they are today. Semi-drivers honked at me constantly and derelicts would be drooling out the window of their pickup trucks. The surprised looks, gaping stares, honking, has all dwindled over the past two decades. Even though the aging process may be playing a role, seeing women on bikes has become more commonplace. The tribe has grown and so has the intensity of sovereignty emanating from it.

Female motorcyclists are a dynamic tribe possessing a fierce drive for independence. They have chosen to place themselves in the driver’s seat of life, because they know that the power to ride it the way they desire lies in their own hands. Like all tribes, they know that when they choose to bring their soul to the table, they make a difference because they’re doing something that really matters. It doesn’t really matter what they do or where they go, they just want to be making a contribution to the tribe. We have an innate need for connecting with like-minded individuals. We want to feel that we have a special place in this world, that we fit in somewhere with some bodies, who will support our thoughts, words and deeds.Get out this week and connect with one of your tribes and watch your spirit soar. You may even find your Life taking off in a direction you never even imagined.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”Dr. Seuss


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Why I did NOT go to my linchpin meet up

Dr. mani Sivasubramanian

Well, eventually, I did NOT go to my LINCHPIN meetup! When Seth first announced the LINCHPIN meetups, I was excited. Searched for the nearest one to mine. Signed up to attend. And watched as the number of members grew, from 3 to 9 and ultimately to 34. But on the day, I didn’t attend. Several reasons, mainly logistical, were the final straw – but the deeper reason was different.

In his book, 3 Cups of Tea, social entrepreneur Greg Mortenson talks about how he once gave a lecture to a nearly empty hall. Of the expected 300+ guests, only 2 showed up. And one promptly went to sleep when the lights were dimmed! Greg spoke for the full 40 minutes, and at the end, the last guest walked out of the room, saying nothing. Heart heavy, benumbed by the experience, Greg walked around the room, folding and putting back the dozens of chairs he had filled the room with, just a few hours back. When he arrived at the chair the elderly gentleman had occupied, he saw an envelope. Inside it was $5,000 in cash. It was a donation to his non-profit foundation!

That story always reminds me that it’s not about how many, but who is in your audience. But I’m also pragmatic enough to understand that this kind of thing is akin to winning a lottery. And that, all other things being equal, there’s a critical mass below which the chance of a ‘chain reaction’ is minimal.

I’ve always preferred to know who is on my contact list, including my email subscribers. In nearly 15 years, I’ve only got a few thousand readers on my list. In contrast, people who started online marketing at the same time as I did now boast of email databases that have 700,000+ subscribers! But recently, one of my friends shared an experience from one email promotion. His mailing to a huge list got 440 clicks. I get 25% as many from every mailing – with a list that’s almost 50 times smaller!

Also, as a student of marketing maven Jay Abraham, I’ve learned about leveraging connections to the point that cold calling and door to door prospecting can be bypassed by the simpler alternative of tapping into a network. This background explains my decision to not attend my LINCHPIN meeting.

First, I didn’t know what kind of people would be there, and how enthusiastic or energetic they were about Seth’s concepts. If I had known them inside Triiibes.com, it would be a different story. But no, I was guessing. I had very briefly met only one person in the list of registrants - and didn’t know how many would eventually turn up at the meetup.

Second, I had to try and gauge the value of this meetup in terms of the ‘cost’ of traveling halfway across the city and spending at least 3 hours, maybe more. A hard choice, especially when my schedule is already crowded with important things to do which are taking me towards a pre-chosen goal. (Specifically, a friend and I are working on a ‘surprise’ fundraiser - the idea just came up in an informal discussion – which, hopefully, will raise $10k for my non-profit.). Serendipity is uncertain; therefore it had to be subordinated to a clear plan.

Third, there was no qualifier for attendees. I’ve been in many online communities, and precious few are like Triiibes.com. True, the pre-selection process for this tribe was as simple and non-specific as paying for a book (Tribes), but the result has been amazing.

Maybe that’s what drove Seth to try this LINCHPIN meetup experiment. But like Greg Mortenson’s experience, there’s an element of pure chance and sheer randomness that such synergy will ever happen - and that becomes a factor in such a decision.

What might have made a difference? Knowing SOMETHING about the people participating in the meetup.

How to achieve that? With a pre-qualifier. Just a simple hurdle, such as a mandatory submission on why they wanted to attend, and what they hoped to get from being there, would do wonders in showing motivation, enthusiasm and energy levels of the attendees. Otherwise, it’s just like stepping into a club or bar, and taking one’s chances that the company will be good.

And while that definitely IS an option for exploration, this meetup was (in my mind, at least) viewed more like a planned ‘business’ networking event - where the agenda is to do with LINCHPINS.

I’m sure this will be the first of a series of similar events. And maybe the experience was just great for those who actually quelled the lizard and went to a meet-up – though I doubt if, in my case, it was the ‘lizard effect’... but hey, isn’t that always the argument one uses to oneself?!


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Chocolate linchpins

Robert Longley

Linchpins can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and flavors. The idea of the corporate rock star probably makes the best stories, but there are different types of linchpins. Let’s say you work in an environment that is a little less evolved on the enlightenment journey. The opportunities to shine are limited but you still have a commitment to the job and the people you work with. So how can you be a linchpin?

See that the needs of those around you are met. For some it may involve being a sounding board. For others it may involve helping to improve communications. Or ensuring new people have the right information as they are thrown into the deep end of the pool.

You can also create reasons for people to come together, or to come to you. If you stop by my work area, you will see the wall lined with chocolate. Sometimes I have dark chocolate, sometimes crispies. I believe the flavor of the week is Irish cream. Sometimes people who might otherwise be reluctant to stop and ask a question, will stop for a chocolate and then ask the question, or start a conversation. That ability to further communications is ultimately what I think being a linchpin is all about.

What flavor linchpin are you?

The fire of a linchpin dance teacher

Vincent Leleux

Today most people have the possibilities and potentialities to make their dream come true. But a long time ago, they forgot how to dream. The Linchpin meet up was one of two hottest moment in my life. I can remember only another similar one 8 years back when I met Biodanza (dance of life), a dance from Chile that has changed my life so dramatically and lighted a fire in me in such a way that I am now a Biodanza teacher.

Being a linchpin demands listening to yourself and following what you feel in your guts. In my personal experience and as a Biodanza teacher I meet people all the time who don’t feel anything, or just don’t listen to their feelings. Merely because for generation after generation, most people just followed instructions. It seemed so easy and comfortable. The situation today is that most of people have the possibilities and potentialities to make their dream come true. But a long time ago, they forgot how to dream.

The question is then: What can help them to dream again? What can help them to reconnect with their feelings, with the fire inside, with the passion in their guts. So my participation in this evolution is helping people to reconnect to their own feelings, so they are able to listen to themselves and therefore they also can do what is good for them.

“People will forget what you said and they’ll forget what you did, but they’ll never forget what you made them feel and what you inspired them to do.”Maya Angelou, improved by Anne McCrossan: my tribute to the Linchpin meet up organizer

To reconnect to your feelings you have to contact the energy in your guts, and actually that’s the best way to defeat the lizard brain. Seth Godin wrote about in Linchpin: “To connect to your feelings, you have to move. Literally. Dancing is nothing else than this: a meaningful movement to music.” About music, isn’t it also the best way to reconnect to feelings and life? That’s where Biodanza comes in: this dance system created in the 60s is much needed today to help people reconnect with oneself, with others and with the group and the world.

One of the feedback that I can hear most often from the people doing Biodanza is “Here in the class, in this group, I can be myself.”Imagine the world if everyone was exactly himself/herself and nothing more, nothing less than him/her self. It is here and now the greatest opportunity of your life to be truly, totally and simply yourself.

Let’s start the dance. Let’s light the fire.

Accompaniments to my motto

martin zeeman

After reading Linchpin and attending the meetup, my motto ‘Do the work that matters’ can be nicely accompanied with two other key messages. Ship and Know your trade!


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The hitchhiker’s guide to Belgium –proceedings of the Leuven Linchpin Meetup

Wim Van edom

Promoting hitchhiking may be a new way to connect people, however briefly. It may fill the gap between public transport and private driving.

It’s Monday night and Mondays at work are famous for their dehydrating effect. So here I am, posted in front of my favorite pub. Nothing to set this situation apart from similar Mondays in the past, except for the sign I taped to my regular table. Today I’m not simply quenching my thirst; I’m looking forward to my very first online dating experience. I’m not waiting for miss perfect but I’m getting the feeling I’m waiting for Godot, sitting amidst a crowd of impatient soccer fans.

Actually, that’s pretty close to my intention since I’m waiting for Godin, or rather, waiting for my fellow linchpin devotees, hoping they’ll flock to the front page of Godin’s book I’m using as the aforementioned sign. By the time I’ve drowned half of today’s hardships, I see four guys approaching, lacking the scarves and caps mandatory for genuine soccer fans:

“Hi, I’m Dirk Remacle, this is Bart Haedens.” “I’m Wim Van Edom.” “Anton Delbarre.” “I’m Olivier Vanhaelen, nice to meet you.” “Soooo…”

Hatching an ideaSo, we’re here to pitch ideas, to “ship”. Let’s ship some art, connect people, and pool generosity. After “pitching” and “thrashing” to our heart’s content, we decided to lift hitchhiking from the slump it has sunk into. Hitchhiking no longer has the appeal it had in the sixties. Hitchers are few and far between and are considered relics of an era long gone. Rare sightings are met with amazement from approaching drivers who are a distant speck on the horizon again by the time the concept dawns on them.

There’s the safety aspect, of course; more often than not, trampers are by rule confounded with tramps and their backpacks hold everything short of nuclear warheads. Similarly, those brave enough to give this lot a ride, must be planning a one way trip to nowhere, with a short break at “Bad Intentions Beach”. Then again, sharing a car and a destination is a great way to connect, be generous, overcome the lizard brain impulses and, who knows, “do some art”. You’re definitely “shipping”, in more senses than the conventional one alone.

Hitching a rideSo what’s the idea? Designate spots to pick up people, free of charge, and mark them with a sign such as this one:

As these spots become an idea virus, hikers might use them more often and drivers might anticipate a companion for the ride. They can even order a window sticker (or furry dice, for that matter) with the same icon, to indicate their support. Hitchhikers can put the same symbol on their destination boards, their backpacks, their foldable zippered bags… Free of charge of course, it’s all about generosity.

Building a better societyTo address safety and logistics, to smoothen the process, we would, no … we WILL provide a website/texting service, so hitchhikers can text their pick-up location and license plate of the driver. This also ensures the hitchhiking points can be mapped, tracked and reviewed on the website. Registered users can gather “frequent hiker miles” or “frequent transporter miles”. People can share their experiences, elaborate on the idea (carpooling, bike-sharing, take the idea abroad…). A community can be formed.

We believe that a coordinated effort to promote hitchhiking may be a new way to connect people, however briefly. It may fill the gap between public transport and private driving. If successful, it may be a step towards the underlying goal of building a better society. No less.

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Creating Linchpin groups that makea difference that matters

Dr. ed Brenegar

A Linchpin Group is just like any other networking group. It forms around an idea. In this case, the idea is the celebration and exploration of what it means to be a Linchpin as described by Seth Godin in his book Linchpin: Are You Indispensible?

The key to creating a group that makes a difference that matters is to focus on relationships first, and group activities second. Here are three steps to as a place to start.

Step One: ConnectAt the beginning of a group’s experience with each other, if you are the Linchpin for the group, take some time to reach out to each person individually. Make it personal, so that each person knows at least one person. Even if that one person is the Linchpin.

Step Two: DiscoverTypically, an initial networking event is a lot of storytelling, identifying connections with other people, and sharing contact information. The next step is to formalize introductions. Take time for each person to introduce themselves to the rest of the group. Have them describe their passion, and how being a Linchpin is expressed in their life and work.

It is important that the group defines what their group is to be. Have each person share what their expectations are for a-group-like-this. Create the structure that meets those expectations. Have the group share responsibilities for its functioning. Ask people to take on responsibilities of the group. For example, have a different person host the group’s meeting each time. Define these hosting responsibilities upfront, so that everyone knows what is expected.

Step Three: GiveThe best networking groups are oriented toward giving, not getting. Come to share, to support, to help, to give your best to the group’s success, and no spamming.

Solidify an ethic of giving through an activity that benefits someone or some cause. Set up an online meeting space where participants can contribute to help each other’s work through solving problems, exploring issues and providing encouragement.

Measuring the Success of a Linchpin Group? Here are two ways to understand this.

Participation and contribution: Successful groups have high participation and contribution rates. Having a clear purpose, low barriers to contributing, and lots of affirmation for participating are the keys.

Three Goals: Participants, typically, want three results from their involvement. They want it to be Personally Meaningful where their values are respected and relevant to the group. They want the group to be Socially Fulfilling where the relationships are trusting and caring. And, they want the group to Make a Difference that Matters.

Put relationships first and activities which support the group will come naturally.

For additional resources for creating a collaborative network group contact Ed Brenegar at [email protected] or http://edbrenegar.typepad.com

Being a linchpin isn’t a fixed state

Tom Bentley

It occurred to me while we were discussing what makes a linchpin in our meet-up was that being a linchpin wasn’t a fixed state, but an ongoing process. In other words, there wasn’t a linchpin mountain you climbed and once ascended, you became a linchpin, and then cruised merrily down the rest of your days. Talking about the “linchpin nature” with other meeting participants brought it closer home to me that linchpins show up, and they continue to show up, day after day, presenting ideas, taking risks and being willing to fail.

Rosa Parks was a linchpin before and after she decided that on this bus ride, those aching feet were just going to stay put. She continued to place those feet one after another the rest of her days, walking her linchpin walk. Of course, even linchpins like to dangle their toes in the pool and have a beer now and then, and that’s how it should be. But they’re up again in the morning, tilting those toes toward the challenge of being real and making a difference.

Linchpin: it’s a verb as well as a noun.

Thanks for what you’re doing.


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A manifesto for better business education

David chouinard

The evidence is explicit: achievement in business school is not correlated in any way with success in business. In fact, holding a business degree does not increase likelihood of success, increase either starting or ongoing salary nor increase happiness. And yet, business education has grown exponentially in the last decade.This is a manifesto for a new generation of business schools, the first of which is planned to launch in October 2010. Here are the founding concepts:

No full-time professors. Telling people what to do full-time and doing nothing yourself is bound to corrupt your thinking (no matter how top-notch your research is). To keep teaching, professors must prove they continue to build outstanding and challenging businesses.

If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything worthwhile. Too often, school is about suppressing mistakes and about making sure you follow the tried-and-true route. We disagree. To graduate from our school, you need to prove you’ve contributed to society in a meaningful way and built a sustainable business. That’s it. Take the time you want, we’re here to help. The school is part-time only.

The Internet is changing the way we see the world. We’ll make available plenty of TEDTalks and lectures from Khan Academy and Academic Earth. Stand up, discuss and defend your opinion, you’ll develop an understanding of the world like never before.Meet amazing people. We think school should be about building genuine and long-term relationships and people you care for. We’ll make sure that happens.

It’s a miracle if curiosity survives formal education. That’s Albert Einstein speaking. We’re looking for diversity, creativity, people who get excited and passionate about their projects. And we strive at bringing back the “learning” part of education.

You can read more about what we want to do online. Read a blog post on tumblr: http://tumblr.com/xzqbfvon1 or vote on ChangeThis: http://changethis.com/proposal/show/56

Do not read this book

mark Romney

Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos has a new book coming out in June. Here is what I learned:

I just finished this book for the second time and was wondering who this guy thinks he is? Happiness at work? Building a brand through culture, interaction, transparency and creating loyalty as well as personal relationships? Taking care of customers in a way that WOWS them and creates a reason to return?

This has got to be STOPPED! We cannot tolerate this type of behavior! Allow our employees to think and voice opinions? Making decisions and taking calculated risks? What’s next, provide a nap room and an onsite counselor?

Doesn’t he realize that we as corporate leaders know more than the cumulative brainpower of the collective?

Please help me spread the word, this has to stop, and stop now. Before you know it, the underlings will all be looking for more than a paycheck; satisfaction and a great work environment are not to be allowed. Thinking will result, and sooner or later tattoos of the corporate logo on the ass will disappear.

Join me in putting an end to this kind of thinking. If not now, when? If not you, who?

The lizard king must rise again!


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Pakistan Linchpin Meetup – quotes from the proceedings

Kamil Ali

There are no maps. Sometimes we’re not sure why we are doing this specific thing. When we give gifts in our society people think we’re doing it selfishly, to get something back. Sometimes people refuse the gifts because they think that this will create some sort of obligation. Linchpins give gifts with an open heart. They don’t expect something back.Frances Schengel

I guess being a linchpin has close relation with motivation. That drives you to ACT as a linchpin. Does outside motivation work too or it’s just the inside one? Does getting motivated from someone else fit the scope of LINCHPIN?Saira Fatehma

We all want to be connected. We need to have these meet ups to share and generate ideas forever.Kamil Ali

I have been facing many office politics and accept that we have to live with that. For years we didn’t get any increment and incentives. Even then I’m working because I think in the end work will count, money is not always everything. Ejaz Masood

It’s great to explore a Linchpin in yourself. Linchpins help others. The more Linchpins we have in our society, the more the society would excel in every walk of life as being a Linchpin helps you perform at tremendous levels. Thus, pulling the entire society towards a win-win situation.Saira Fatehma

When I learnt (about linchpin), I felt that linchpin thing is already surviving inside me. I shared many examples and found that I really am a linchpin. This conversation makes me stronger.Mirza Bilal Khalid

If you have the will power you can achieve anything. Shahzeb Irshad

pakistan Linchpin meetup participants: Frances, Kamil, ejaz, mirza, Shazeb.


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charities

Seeducation

noam Kostucki

What’s in it for you?Dream 2 RealitySome people want to lead social change. We believe in creating this pressure cooker environment in cooperation with as many organisations as possible to deliver the best intense 1 year programme to learn how to successfully run a sustainable social entreprise and lead the social movements that will make the world a better place. We will pay them to attend this course as they need all the support possible.

We are looking for people to help us launch this course before 2011.

Free Learning HubIntellectual property and keeping knowledge in the hands of the powerful has always been the way to keep the status quo. We believe that everyone should have access to all knowledge, and especially the one needed to lead social change. With the amazing communication and social technologies that exist we are building a hub where people can find all the different free resources available to lead a movement.

Please help us collect, create and share 10,000 hours of free learning material by 2011.

Support ProgrammeWhen starting a movement or a social enterprise, the most important is often getting support, knowledge and skills. The intrinsic problem with starting is that there’s no money to pay for the training, coaching, mentoring and consulting needed. We help social enterprises become successful and sustainable for free in return shares so that thanks to our collective successes, we can put more resources into helping others for free: pay it forward.

We aim to support 100 projects by 2012 and we are looking for brilliant ideas as well as help to help more people.

Build the Tribe, Lead the MovementWe believe that all the solutions are out there, and that there are so many amazing people doing amazing things! Alone what we can do is limited, but with your help, we can achieve anything! How we can do what we do better?

If you have ANY idea on how to improve educationor of a social enterprise that can help change happen, contact us. We will find ways to help you make your idea come true and/or get support you in creating a new Seeducation initiative!

Why?We believe that what we need is a peaceful, organismics and chaordic revolution. We are creating a movement; we want to bring together people who believe social change is possible and give them the support and tools to make it happen sooner than later.

We see a world in which individuals coagulate into communities, and behave as though they were all actually part of one body; every cell and organs has a unique purpose, which alone has no meaning, but together can achieve literally anything its collective will wishes.

How can we get there? We all know that part of the solution lies in education: we need to teach everyone how to make a living from doing what they love, while having a positive social impact.

If you are the kind of person who likes to see change happen, and who believes that tribes can bring us into a new golden age; if you want to live in a society that has a higher level of social consciousness, we want to connect with you.

Organismics is the word that describes life as the interdependent relationship between the parts and the whole when the parts are dependent on the effective functioning of the whole of which they’re part of, while the whole relies upon the parts... like our cells, organs and body. This term is championed by Rob Weston, serial eco-entrepreneur.

Chaordic [kay’-ordic], adj. fr.E.chaos and order 1. the behaviour of any self-governing organism, organisation or system which harmoniously blends characteristics of chaos and order. 2. patterned in a way dominated neither by chaos or order. 3. characteristic of the fundamental organizing principles of evolution and nature. This term is championed by Dee Hock, founder of VISA.

Our first TeDx in Warsaw in February 2010

“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.”Kelly Vesta


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The original founding team registering Seeducationand Seedpro in summer 2009. From left to right: Tal Wolgroch (now at Techlightenment), Seb powell, Ruben Kostucki and noam Kostucki.

We are thrilled by the opportunity that you have given us Kenny: a massive thank you to Kenny Jones for making the Linchpin Magazine happen, to Wojciech Szywalski and the whole Linchpin tribe who’s welcomed us with warmth, passion and joy! We are so happy to have joined the triiibe :)

Make change happen!

• Find more info about who we are and what we do at www.seeducation.org

• Send your ideas, how you want to help, the skills you have and tell us about your passion for change to [email protected] and we’ll ALL receive your email!

• Join the conversation on our Facebook group, request an invitation to our LinkedIn group called “Better Social Entreprises” or use the “feedback” button on our website to share your thoughts.

“@Noam: I don’t know you.. but when i read bout Seeducation i felt like, this is the thing which i also want to happen... kudos to your efforts... and all the best... :)” Ronak Modi

So how do we make change happen?English 2.0First we need to open minds. Language and words shape the world we live in, so we need to bring to people words that will help them see and imagine the world in a different way. We call it English 2.0 http://bit.ly/englishreviewed

Teach a man how to learn how to fish, and he’ll adapt to any circumstances. That’s our approach to learning. We need to give people the tools to make change happen: social entrepreneurship, understanding how to start a movement, communication and how to cooperate with people all around the world.

One spark lights a room full of darkness. We must inspire and show that change is possible. We should celebrate the fabulous case studies of what’s happening… from Jamie Oliver to Wikipedia, passing by Seth Godin, Matt Ridley, Jon Bird and Kevin Kelly, the list is long: we have a truckload of amazing examples to follow.

Our longest lasting supporter, and Trustee who inspires us to keep moving forward: Oliver mack, curriculum Director at common purpose.

Seeducation coaches the organisers and trains at the London School of economics International challenge featuring Business Angel, Richard Farleigh.

Dominika martincova, Recruitment consultant at modis International is our most active volunteer: thank you for all your help!


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charities

Child’s i Foundation

Anne mccrossan

We’re opening up a mother and baby crisis home and drop in centre to give vulnerable mothers the chance to keep their children instead of feeling they have no option other than abandoning them.

Uganda has over 2.3 million orphans. Searing poverty and the horror of HIV/AIDS results in hundreds of babies as young as a few hours old being dumped by their desperate mothers – in toilets, car parks, or on roadsides. With all the current care homes full, life often looks bleak – and short – for these very young, vulnerable babies.

Helping abandoned babies and vulnerable mothersChild’s i Foundation was founded two years ago by Lucy Buck who’s part of Seth Godin’s community Triiibes. Together with everyone involved in Child’s i, Lucy’s developed a ‘Baby Abandonment Project’ to tackle the crisis of child abandonment in Uganda on a number of levels.

Child’s i’s ’Malaika Babies Home’ is providing life-saving care for up to 24 abandoned babies. Next month we’re opening up a mother and baby crisis home and drop in centre to give vulnerable mothers the chance to keep their children instead of feeling they have no option other than abandoning them. We want to teach these young women to be good mothers and give them the vocational skills to enable them to keep their children.

We’ll also be implementing a family placement programme, so children who are abandoned get the chance to grow up in a loving family, rather than living out their childhood in an institution.

Child’s i’s and ‘charity 2.0’ We don’t ask people simply to put money in an envelope and forget about it. We want to create meaningful relationships and a connected global community of support with people who are giving love, time or money for a cause we all share and care about. As an unstructured kind of organization everyone can get involved with the Child’s i Foundation. Our supporters help us complete our to-do lists, volunteer their skills, raise funds and are a part of what we’re doing. You can see change happening right in front of your eyes on our website, through videos, emails and blogs.

www.childsifoundation.org

Offering a new chance to life for children in uganda.

Founder Lucy Buck.


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Extraordinary Ones

charlotte Linacre

Imagine that every time you eat out 20 pence goes automatically to help end world hunger. 100% of the customer donations go to the charities we support who feed people and help them find sustainable ways out of poverty and hunger.

When you eat, they eat!20p is small change to us but can make a big difference to people facing long term hunger in the developing world: it’s enough to feed a child in a developing country. 16,000 people die everyday from persistent hunger – its no longer news worthy but it’s still unacceptable. There is a solution. There is huge potential here in the UK. Did you know that London alone serves more than 1 billion meals every year: 3 million every day?

Don’t be ordinary - be Extraordinary We are starting a trend that will feed the soul as well as the stomach. And by being involved you could help us create something wonderful. You can join us online to show you support the idea and even ask your favourite restaurant to join. I’m sure there will be a Linchpin who has an awesome idea or connection to share. Imagine if we could all contribute to the end of world hunger when we buy a meal and the legacy we could leave in the world. There is no cost to the restaurants to join and we work to promote the restaurants involved to increase a restaurants footfall as more socially minded diners look at what eateries are doing for others.

Of course Linchpins really get the idea that “doing work that matters” to connect to others and be a change maker makes sense. It makes you feel alive. It is such a small amount there is no reason to say no. It’s irresistible so our idea can grow big and be win-win. Giving tiny amounts adds up and I think the joy of giving is a reward in itself.

Extraordinary Ones started in Holland months ago where top hotels and Fifteen restaurant are now members, is being featured on the top radio station and by celebrity chefs and broadcasters who have rallied to support the concept. In the UK we have the same aim to spread the movement, I really believe that everyone wants to know they are making a positive difference, it just needs to be easy.

www.extraordinaryones.co.uk


Outro

By Caroline von SchmalenseeLinchpin Magazine started as an idea in Ireland that spread to Scotland, Austria, the USA and the Philippines as the editorial team came together. We had a team, a plan and 44 empty pages. What could possibly go wrong?

Deciding to put together a magazine is a scary thing. Deciding that all of the content should come form people you don’t know, don’t have a formal agreement with, haven’t met or even heard about yet, is a very scary thing. What if no one wanted to contribute? What if we sat there with our 44 shiny, empty pages and no one wanted to write for them, doodle for them or take pictures for them?

We put the fear aside and trusted in people’s willingness to share their experiences and their ability to ship. We depended on the generosity of strangers. And it worked.

We want to thank you, our contributors, all the generous individuals that filled our empty pages with glorious content. Thank you so much! Thank you for writing about the meetups you went to. Thank you for making interesting artwork to adorn our pages. Thank you writing about the things you are passionate about. Thank you for sharing a point of view.

This is the magazine we made and these are the people who made it.

Not everything made it in. Sorry, but we had to make a selection. The material that didn’t make it into the magazine can be found on the website www.linchpinmagazine.com.

We don’t have every contributor’s portrait or contact address but if you’re a contributor, thank you – you know who you are.


Contributors

Greg KochCEO Stone Brewing Co.Stone Brewing World Bistro & [email protected]

Janet Whitelaw-JonesThe Happy Skirt [email protected]

Jessan Dunn OtisIndependent Writer/[email protected]

Jodi Kaplankaplancopy.com

John E. SmithDirectorThe Strategic Learning Group LLC, Intentional Learning for a Changing [email protected]

Kamil AliMarketing and Advertising KamilAli.com [email protected]

Karen Allen www.motorcyclemedicine.com [email protected]

Khürt [email protected]

Lana PhillipsColdwell Banker HPW, Chapel Hill, NC, USARealEstateIsHungryWork.comHowRight.commarianne.howell@[email protected]

Lisa TakataRelentless OptimistLisaTakata.comLisaTakata.etsy.com [email protected]

Louella ParañalQueen of Getting Things Done [email protected]

Dr.Mani [email protected]

Marianne Howell Wright BrokerColdwell Banker HPW,Chapel Hill, NC, USARealEstateIsHungryWork.comHowRight.com

Mark RomneyOwner and Chief Marketing Engineerwww.atomicpenny.com

Martha JohnsonTime for Youwww.whynotdowhatyoulove.com [email protected]

Martin Zeeman

Megan Strandwww.InCouraged.com [email protected]

Melissa DinwiddieMulti-Passionate Creative ARTrepreneurmelissadinwiddie.com [email protected]

Monica Amarillis Rossi [email protected]

Paul NazarethManager, Planned and Personal Givingsites.google.com/site/paulnazarethtoronto [email protected]

Paul Lewis

Robert LongleyConsultantintuaction.com [email protected]

Robin Gerhart [email protected]

Royce Parker Marketing & Business DevelopmentUnited Inspection & [email protected]

Sandra Walterwww.sandrawalter.com [email protected]

Seth NeistadtPresident/CEOAxiom Media, Inc.www.axiommedia.net [email protected]

Sheila O’Shea (the Wonderbink)Wonderbink Artworkswww.wonderbink.com

Taylor Davidson http://www.taylordavidson.com

Ted Kusio (AKA “SlowX”)Digital Creativewww.sxp23.net [email protected]

TheArtOf Referralwww. TheArtOf Referral.com

Tom Atkins [email protected]

Tom BentleyThe Write Word Writing and Editing Servicestombentley.com [email protected]

Tom Catalinitomcatalini.com [email protected]

Victor [email protected]

Vincent [email protected]

Welby Altidor [email protected]

Wim Van Edom Leuven, [email protected]

Zeljko [email protected]

Andrea Baxterwww.bratfacemarketing.comwww.smartcookies.com [email protected]

Andrew [email protected]

Angela Agapi [email protected]

Annie VaughanBusiness Coach www.Management-To-Leadership.comanwen@management-to-leadership.com

Arjen Strijkersomesso.com/blog [email protected]

Bernie Mitchell Bernie HQ Clerkenwell [email protected]

Bob [email protected]

Brianne SwezeyPresidentTampa Graphic Design Meetupmeetup.com/[email protected]

Carol Cole Lewis [email protected]

Danilo [email protected]

David ChouinardPublic Relations & Marketing DirectorTEDxConcordia [email protected]

David Cohen equationarts.com [email protected]

David Pu’u www.davidpuu.com/blog

Dimitri Lambermont Allround Copywriterdimitri@klankenwoord.nlklankenwoord.nlvancopytotcontent.blogspot.com

Donna von HoesslinBetty Beltsbettybelts.comthebettyblog.net [email protected]

Dr. Ed Brenegar Circle of Impact Guide [email protected]

Edgardo Dangoy [email protected]

Emily L EberlyPresidentFirstPlanetSoftware.com [email protected]

Frances Schagen Crystal Clear Bookkeeping LtdBusinessOwnersSuccessClub.com [email protected]

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Prepared by MagCloud for Randy Lariar. Get more at kaykoyamagore.magcloud.com.

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