On Linchpin

I just finished reading Linchpin – Are You Indispensable? by Steh Godin. A Linchpin as the author defines him/her is a person “who owns their own means of production, who can make a difference, lead us, and connect us.”

Such individuals are indispensable to the organizations that they work for – and help drive and deliver outstanding value. The book goes on to explain what makes, and drives Linchpins and how they execute and deliver. The main focus is how these employees are artists rather than machinist workers and as such they deliver fluid gifts as opposed to trades to their organization.

The central idea/concept presented within the book is one which will continue to drive our future careers. From a written piece perspective, I personally felt that some sections of the book could have been further compressed without loosing the essence of the ideas being presented. Overall a good read!

Below are excerpts from this books that I found particularly insightful:

1- “Abundance is possible, but only if we can imagine it and then embrace it.”

2- “Organizations that earn dramatic success always do it in markets where asymptotes don’t exist, or where they can be shattered.”

3- “Work motivation factors (top ten in order): 1-Challenge and responsibility 2- Flexibility 3-  A stable work environment 4- Money 5- Professional development 6- Peer recognition 7-Stimulating colleagues and bosses 8- Exciting job content 9-Organizational culture 10- Location and community.”

4- “The hybrid economy we’re living in today is blending the idea of capitalism (“do your job and I won’t fire you”) and the git of economy (“wow, this is amazing”).”

5- “Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. An artist is an individual who creates art. The more people you change, the more you change them, the more effective your art is. Art is not related to craft except to the extent that the craft helps deliver the change. Technical skill might be a helpful component in making art, but it’s certainly not required. Art doesn’t have to be decorative; it can be useful as long as the use causes change.”

6- “A trade leaves things as they were, with no external surplus. A gift always creates a surplus as it spreads.”

7- “The people you work with won’t change if you don’t believe. The communication and leadership starts with the gift you give, not with the manipulation you attempt.”

8- “Here is one way to think about the list of what makes you indispensable: 1- Providing a unique interface between members of the organization 2- Delivering unique creativity 3- Managing a situation or organization of great complexity 4- Leading customers 5- Inspiring staff 6-Providing deep domain knowledge 7- Possessing a unique talent”

9- “The vivid truth is this: now that we have the freedom to create, we must embrace the fact that not all creations are equal, and some people aren’t going to win. That doesn’t mean you’re a loser. It might mean that you’re making the wrong art, drawing the wrong map. If your’re not winning as a stick-broker, perhaps your art lies somewhere else. The challenge lies in knowing your market and yourself well enough to see the truth.”

Regards,

Omar Halabieh

Linchpin

On Winning

I have just finished reading Winning by Jack Welch. This book summarizes the key learnings of one of the greatest CEOs of all time in Jack Welch. As the book title indicates, it is about winning in the corporate world and getting ahead. It is divided into four main parts: the first called “Underneath it All” in which the foundational elements of a successful company are laid out – mission and values, candor, differentiation, and voice and dignity. The second, “Your Company” discusses the mechanics of an organization – leadership, hiring, people management, parting ways, change and crisis management. The third part of this book is “Your Competition”, with topics discussed such as strategy, budgeting, organic growth, mergers and acquisitions, and Six Sigma. Finally the last section of the book “your career” focused on one professional life with topics such as – the right job, getting promoted, hard spots, work-life balance.

What makes this book unique is the breadth of topics discussed. It really serves as a primer for anyone looking to navigate his way through the corporate world. While it is hard to summarize the many learnings contained within this book, below are some excerpts which I found particularly profound:

-”When you are an individual contributor, you try to have all the answers. That’s your job…When you are a leader, your job is to have all the questions.”

-On Change ” 1- Attach very change initiative to a clear purpose or goal. Change for change’s sake is stupid and enervating. 2- Hire and promote only true believers and get-on-with-it types. 3- Ferret out and get rid of resisters, even if their performance is satisfactory. 4- Look at car wrecks.”

-” The 4-E (And 1-P) Framework – The first E is positive energy. -The second E is the ability to energize others. – The third E is edge, the courage to make tough yes-or-no decisions. – Which leads us to the fourth E – execute – the ability to get the job done. – If a candidate has the four Es, then you look for that final P – passion.

Given the scope of the book, one can’t expect that it covers each of the topics in depth. What it does though, is server as an eye openers on areas/aspects of one’s career that were perhaps missed/over-looked.

If you had to read one book this year, I would recommend Winning!

Regards,

Omar Halabieh

On Grad School

A few days ago, I was asked to participate in nominating my graduate supervisor at the University of Waterloo for an award on excellence in graduate supervision. This event, together with a few conversations with some of my colleagues, lead me to reflect on my graduate school years. Particularly, I have been contemplating about how graduate school has contributed to my professional career development.

If I had to summarize my findings I would say that the most valuable skill acquired during that experience is that of working independently.  What I mean by that is given some very high level objectives, it’s the ability to define concrete steps and deliver on them to successfully complete the objectives . More importantly, working independently also requires the ability to be self-driven and self-motivated over longer period of times despite the ups and downs along the journey. In the corporate world, individuals who have this skill require very little management and build a very trustful relationship with their manager. Over time, they will attract more and more challenging tasks that will further accelerate their development.

Regards,

Omar Halabieh