The Sleeping Bear

I just read the most depressing book ever. No, it wasn’t The Road. Or the latest 10-year Federal Government budget projections. Or the Bible. It was Linchpin: Are You Indispensable by Seth Godin.

For those of you who haven’t read it, essentially, Godin theorizes that in a post-industrial world, folks who aren’t “artists” are dispensable. Those who get caught up in busywork instead of “shipping” (finishing a project) are dispensable. Those who listen to their lizard brain and are afraid of change are dispensable. Artists – those who invest emotional energy in projects – are indispensable.

Shit. That’s depressing.

I’m guessing that’s not Godin’s intent, but the more I read, the more I realized I was dispensable. An interchangeable part. A cog in a machine that will spit me out as soon as it finds someone younger, cheaper, or more willing to kiss ass.

No longer can I perform busywork and expect to keep a job. Now I have to be an artist. I have to connect with people. I have to solve problems. There’s no more punching the clock, making an appearance, plowing through busywork and getting paid. Results are what matter.

Starting to see my point? Work shouldn’t be so damn much work.

I know, I know, that’s my lizard brain talking. Well guess what, that brain evolved for a reason – to save me from myself. If I told folks at work what I really thought of their crappy postcard, their utter inability to compose a coherent e-mail, their empty promises, I’d be on the first boat off the island.

Plus, Linchpins are dicks. Yeah, you heard me, dicks. I know a few at my current place of employment that are not afraid of change, and you know what? They complain about everything. Godin would say they thrive on change. I’d say they bitch more than J-Lo. If Apple only hired people that challenged the status quo, they’d be making porn instead of consumer devices. Cause that’s where the money is.

Or maybe I’m looking at this the wrong way. According to Godin, if you do something you love and give it away. You’ll be rewarded. Hmmm. I love writing this blog about unimportant things. It’s free to read. So I’ll be rewarded. Fuck yeah, bitches. To quote the great Suicidal Tendencies, send me your money!