Career Linchpins

Seth Godin's 2010 book, Linchpin, changed the way I look at my career. It forced me to question what strategy we should use to build the most meaningful, fulfilling career possible. The thesis of the book resonated with me. Become indispensable, become a linchpin.

Linchpins do what is needed for their organization and do it with generosity. They don't focus on what they get out of their career, they focus on what they can do for others. If you focus on being indispensable, you can't help but build skills that will serve your career in the long run.

Instead of worrying about what technical skills to build, which technologies to learn, or what online courses to take, you focus on doing what's needed for your team and company right now. You find points of friction and remove them. You identify cumbersome processes and automate them. You make the lives of your coworkers easier.

How would your career change if you focused on being a linchpin? Would you have more purpose? Would you be more willing to help others? Would you have less anxiety and stress?

There are infinite things you can focus on in your career, why not try to focus on being indispensable?