I am currently reading Seth Godin’s new book Linchpin which is so compelling and purpose-filled, that I wanted to share an excerpt. The American Dream was:

Keep your head down
Follow instructions
Show up on time
Work hard
Suck it up
…you will be rewarded.

That dream is over.
“The new American Dream, the one that markets around the world are embracing as fast as they can, is this:”

Be remarkable
Be generous
Create art
Make judgement calls
Connect people and ideas
…and we have no choice but to reward you.

The American Dream

Seth has a point. Organizations seek and reward employees with passion and energy and are flexible in the face of change. Employers want their employees to be indispensable. The linchpin has power! “When your organization becomes more human, more remarkable, faster on its feet, and more likely to connect directly with customers, it becomes indispensable.” So what the boss really wants in an employee is an artist who changes everything and makes dreams come true, can see the reality of today and and describe a better tomorrow. What the boss really wants is a linchpin. If he can’t have a linchpin, he’ll have to settle for a regular cheap drone. Are you a linchpin or a drone?