We've mentioned Seth Godin, his thinking and his work, before on our blog. I hesitated to post another blog about Seth, but he's just released another book, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
It was of particular interest to me because the topic of Linchpin is one of the major themes in my decision to figure out a new way, a better way to live life on my own terms. It was as if I woke up one day and my career had been replaced with a part-time job where it was abundantly clear that I was replaceable by anyone willing to do the job for less, (or faster, which is really the same as less) but NOT better. There's no money in better.
So what to do? Well I did something drastic. I quit. But a more realistic solution would be, and no doubt will be, for me to embrace the gig-nature of my industry and the economy in general. Just because it used to be a great living doesn't mean that it ever will be again. So turn it into what it is -- one gig. Be ready to branch out and try new things -- new gigs. String 'em all together for a living.
I'm still not sure what our lives will look like at the end of this year. I'm not sure how much TV post production work I'll do when I return. I'm already planning a period of work in Los Angeles in April while Brenna and the kids continue traveling, and instead of feeling anything like defeat, it's completely the opposite. It's one job -- one gig, but not the only job.
When I left LA last June the prospects of making the same kind of living doing what I'd done for the past twenty years had more or less vanished. It was exactly as Seth Godin just said in this interview. How the hell can't I read this book.