Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?- My musings

I just finished Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin. This book talks about being the Linchpin (The pin that holds things together). If you are a Linchpin you become indispensable because you are that factor that keeps things going, growing, gripping in your job or life. You become an artist who gives gifts because you are self-less and have that certain je ne sais quoi. Seth Gives numerous examples of real-life Linchpins and goes so far to say there are two kinds of workers- The Cog (a worker who does simple tasks with direction) and the The Business Owner (who wants people to be cogs so they can make the most profit). Do I want to be Indispensable- YES, ABSOLUTELY. I let my previous jobs go and didn't have the passion anymore to keep everything together (therefore dispensable). This is an eye-opening book- I related to the sections about the resistance, how the lizard brain takes over and the disconnect I had to my previous job (lack of passion- lack of being that artist). Because of reading this book: I plan to throw out my resume, I maybe proficient in those things on my resume but most of it is not who I am. I have been all over the map throughout my adult life because I wasn't mapping, I was just following paths that were given. Now is the time to sit and map out my own life. I am not going to map out what makes the most money or what is a quick fix today. I need to map out what will stick with me in the long run, do what I love to do, become happy with life again, give selflessly and without expecting something in return and become fearless. Things that will make me a Linchpin AKA Indispensable. Time for me to go to work now. Read this book and you know what I am talking about. Keys: More Cowbell, destroy your Lizard Brain, defy resistance.

My Sort-of-Resolutions

I am not sure if resolutions work so I will make some sort-of-resolutions. Not total promises but just some thoughts to put in front of my mind for 2010.

1. Run One 5K- Already signed up for this in April. Something to look forward to.

2. Start going to gym when I drop of kids to school, I need that extra motivation not to return home from dropping them off. It is usually a mile and a half 3-4 times a week.

3. Pursue my amovieaday.wordpress.com project. One movie a day for 365 days, I did 2 movies today. So I guess I can bank "Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen". Crappy Movie with Special Effects.

4. Eat healthier, try to hit the farmers market more. Cook more

5. Try to use coupons if possible. I don't bother to collect or look for them. Maybe, I can save money to travel more.

6. Think about buying stuff. Do I really need that shirt, trinket, stationery, cute on sale thing at Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters? Where will it be in six months? I know this may work for some things but not others.

7. Go to the dog park more. Dogs need exercise too...
8. Go out once a week with friends/or have them come to me

9. Clean off desk once a week so it doesn't build up and I won't become one of those people on Hoarders.

10. Time Management- Read, Watch, Internet, Learn.

11. Enjoy Life- don't obsess about having to find a job that I will dislike... accept my life as a consultant, Stay-at-Home Mom, Volunteer.

Early Sunday Morning- UPDATE as of 3/12

Getting up in the middle of the night is becoming a huge habit. Stuff in my head that keeps popping up. Maybe there is not enough time in the day. So here are my thoughts for now. Things in my head to get accomplished:

1. gut and redecorate my office -  NOT DONE YET

2. look into running the r and r marathon....4 months to train is doable.- NIX

3. learning how to fuse plastic bags into plastic material using plastic bags and old magazine clippings to make things like wallets and clutches. - NEEDS PRACTICE

4. still the sewing debacle- NEED LESSONS AND A MACHINE

5. printmaking class- SOON

6. setting time aside for self-taught french lessons- NOT YET

7. watching films I like to be inspired. - GETTING THERE

8. being more productive yet rested.

9. Sleeping through the night

10. better at the volunteer service thing.....