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Linchpin looks back to move forward

Sometimes, extraordinary things simply come together. But not without creativity, insight from others and the past, commitment and much work along the way. 

Looking back and reflecting on a flight from Captiva to San Francisco in April 2010, those ~6 hours of reading Seth Godin's Linchpin -- and some invaluable time to really think -- had a significant impact on me and what's to come moving forward. It's a timely book for executives, teams at work, families, college students, community groups, etc. 

Instead of posting a long point of view here, I included links below to some other readers' reviews. And if you're feeling tired or are short on time right now, The Linchpin Manifesto will provide some inspiration. Click, print and post on your wall if you want a reminder of Linchpin beliefs and actions:

Intrigued? These posts provide a glimpse of what the book covers and how others perceive the value:

• Joe Woolworth - Morrisville, NC: Linchpin by Seth Godin Seeks a New Revolution
• Drea Knufken - Boulder, CO: Are you indispensable?
• Squidoo community: Linchpin - Your reviews

If you read Linchpin and have a life-changing experience, please share your thoughts here or on one of the friendly sites above. Yes, now is the time.

Cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence

Why don't we get the best out of people? Sir Ken Robinson argues that it's because we've been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Students with restless minds and bodies -- far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity -- are ignored or even stigmatized, with terrible consequences. "We are educating people out of their creativity," Robinson says. It's a message with deep resonance. 

A visionary cultural leader, Sir Ken led the British government's 1998 advisory committee on creative and cultural education, a massive inquiry into the significance of creativity in the educational system and the economy, and was knighted in 2003 for his achievements. His latest book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, a deep look at human creativity and education, was published in January 2009.

In this poignant, humorous follow-up to his fabled 2006 Ted Talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning -- creating conditions where kids' natural talents can flourish; this video clip is just under 17 minutes and worth the time to watch and share:

What do you think about this topic? 

Think like a tribal leader to create change.

Seth Godin argues, with a sense of humor and insight that only he can deliver, the Internet has ended mass marketing and revived a human social unit from the distant past: tribes. Founded on shared ideas and values, tribes give ordinary people the power to lead and make big changes. Successful (tribal) leaders today tell meaningful stories, connect people, lead a movement and create change.

I read Seth's book "Tribes" last year during a memorable trip to Tennessee for Thanksgiving with our extended family. This video recorded at TED in February 2009 is a fantastic summary of the book and Seth's ideas on how to lead today... 

Are you leading a tribe? If so, please share your thoughts, ideas and links so others can learn from your experiences.

The Living Climate Change initiative. Worth sharing for your kids.

I couldn't resist two nights in a row of IDEO posts. I think this topic is worth learning more about and sharing because we all have a stake in our climate, especially if you have children. Tune into Tim Brown's brief video about the Living Climate Change initiative: 

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