There has been a lot of interest in the blogosphere about this book – Linchpin – and I want to add my tuppence worth.

I confess to being in awe of Seth Godin. I follow his blog, read his books and wish I had his amazing mind and eloquent writing skills. In some ways I have allowed his genius to demoralise me. When Seth is your benchmark very little seems to make the grade.

Picking up the book my interest was immediately piqued by the unusual table of contents. It’s more like a Google listing. A title and a commentary. Some entries made me think. Some made me smile. Already predisposed to like the book – I knew I would be reading it in one sitting.

The first paragraphs of the introduction opened a door of possibility in my mind.

‘No one is a genius all the time,’ says Seth.

‘They’re not?’  Thought I.

‘…all of us are geniuses sometimes.’

The discussion in the book continues around the tragedy of our upbringing and conditioning; the training that contains, suppresses and discourages our individual genius. If we have been through mainstream school this is very hard to avoid.

Throughout the book Seth refers to some of the seminal works on socio-economic theory. The bibliography is made real and amusing by his commentary. I was pleased to read Seth’s take on the e-myth books. How many business consultants hold these up as THE manual for small and startup businesses? I suddenly felt validated in my own thinking about the books – albeit a trifle sad that I needed such validation.

Throughout Linchpin the reader is encouraged to wake up and appreciate that we do all have a choice – although Seth also reveals why we are likely to resist and even possibly denounce his ideas. In fact, if you find your monkey mind nay-saying his words, Seth and I both urge you to turn to page 101 and simply read the chapter on The Resistance.

We don’t have to do what we have been trained and conditioned to do. The world is changing, has changed, and if we sit where we have always sat waiting for it to change back we’ll have a long wait.

Rather than being threatened by changes in our socio-economic world Seth asks us to see the changes as opportunities. We now have the chance to act and live as the individuals we are; to create, invent and even to rebel. We simply have to grasp the opportunity. No-one is going to tell us what or how – not any more. We get re-invent ourselves and finally fulfil the promise we were born with.

As an aside, it’s easy to now understand, having read Linchpin, why people continue to repeatedly buy in to ‘how to do it’ schemes (the more cynical might call them ‘get rich quick scams’). These are the people still looking for the old way. Those who have been brainwashed into thinking we have to be told what to do, that we have to follow instructions.

We weren’t born to be average. We weren’t born to be ‘replaceable cogs’ in an economic machine – a machine that is now creaking and failing. We were all born with unique gifts and talents. We have an innate curiosity and a drive to learn and grow. It was society that turned us into Joe and Jane Average. Conditioning by our environment, school and peers that taught us to do just enough to fit in, to conform, to lower our expectations, to be ordinary. After all, that’s safe. Right?

As Seth points out, the old model has broken and people everywhere are facing changes. It’s our individual choice whether we cling to the past, fearful of an unknown future or whether we unpack our individuality and dust it down ready to grasp every new opportunity.

The Internet has changed the way we work and live. It has given everyone access to the insider knowledge that many traditional businesses traded in. Seth uses the example of travel agents. We can now all choose to go direct to the airlines and hotels to search for best prices and make our bookings – we don’t need the middle men.

The connectivity of the Internet has made it possible for previously disparate groups to come together and network, sharing intelligence. Excellence and individuality and authenticity is recognised, applauded and rewarded. Mediocrity and ordinariness gets trampled under foot.

There are risks to being different. Being remarkable. Breaking free of the conditioned masses. Linchpin discusses these risks and celebrates the rewards of overcoming a physiological resistance to become someone who does stand out, who is indispensable, who is a genius (even if it isn’t every day).

If you haven’t grabbed your copy of Linchpin yet I urge you to. If you click on any of the links in this article you will be whisked away to Amazon to make your purchase and my Kiva account may even earn 20cents or so as a result. Thank you. If that offends you, go to your local book store, Barnes and Noble, Waterstones or make your own way to Amazon. Buy the book. Read. Re-read. Think. Take notes. Come back and comment/discuss and most of all prepare to have your mind opened to the possibility of a different future. It’s there for you to choose.

I’d like to talk to you about a book that isn’t yet a book in that you can’t pop across to Amazon and get yourself a copy. Not yet.

Lost and Found, written by Ron Rink, is a memoir wrapped up in a novel. The story of Ron’s life is grippingly and heartbreakingly true although he has fictionalised the characters in the book.

Ron is publishing his book chapter by chapter on his blog at www.wecould2.com and delivering new chapter notifications by email.

The story of Ron’s life makes for compelling reading. I have found myself on a swingboat of emotion as I have read. What is so remarkable to me is that the Ron I know (and adore) lived all of this. The Ron of today gives no hint of being the Ron of the street fighting days (and I shall say no more for fear of ruining the plot). It highlights for me that whilst we may sometimes walk a very uneven and uphill path every step is creating another stitch in the rich tapestry of our individual lives.

Ron’s tapestry is multi coloured, warm, wise and glorious.

At one point Ron stopped writing. I was fearful that the book wouldn’t be finished. Now I am sure it will be. There are too many who want to know how he got from where he was to where he is today.

Lost and Found by Ron Rink can be found at www.wecould2.com with an index to the chapters published to date found on the left hand side of the site. Enjoy!

I read The Celestine Prophecy back in the mid 1990s and to be brutally honest I was a bit ‘ho-hum’ about it all. I found it an entertaining read, but the content did not touch me.

Browsing through bookshelves in a period of insomnia driven wandering last night, I came across the book and settled down to read it again.

From cover to cover I think it took a little under 3 hours but it was probably the most worthwhile 3 hours I have spent for a while!

If you have enjoyed Eckhart’s book A New Earth, I really recommend that you also read (or re-read) The Celestine Prophecy. I’ll be interested to know what you take away from it?

If I have mentioned this book to you before, I make no apology for mentioning it again.

My copy is already looking slightly battered where it has been read, re-read and carried around as a constant companion.

It appears that having faith in natural laws and trusting that the universe will send what we need, when we need it, is justified. There have been an extraordinary number of happenings recently which I can only put down to synchronicity.

One such event is my introduction to A New Earth.

In addition, there has to be the largest book reading group ever meeting weekly to discuss the book with Eckhart and Oprah where you can watch weeks one and two before joining week three on Monday 17th March.

I don’t want to spoil A New Earth for you by attempting to discuss it here. I simply want you to know what a profound effect it has had on me and how much it has helped me to reframe recent (and historic) events in my life, which in turn is allowing me to move on.

I have a well thumbed and well read copy of this book to which I have recently returned.

It is a favourite that digs me out of the holes I dig myself into.

The book takes me back to basics each time and brings sense and creativity back into what has usually become a fragmented existence. It’s a shame that, like the worst kind of wayward child, I then determine that I know better and saunter off doing my own not so sweet thing again!

Julia believes that we all have a deep well of creativity within us that has been pinched, pummelled and punished to the extent that it is frightened to show itself. You can use the book in whichever way suits you best although it is laid out as a 12 week program, there is no requirement to work through it in any particular order.

There are just 2 requirements. One is to commit to a routine known as Morning Pages which you will buck against and find irksome in the extreme, but, trust me, it is one of the most profoundly beneficial practices you can introduce into your life. The second is the Artist’s Date, which is nothing more than a weekly hour or two spent with yourself doing something inexpensive but meaningful.

It may be that you have no desire to explore the creative side of your potential but I would still assert that there is benefit to be gained from working through the book. Some of the exercises are like guided missiles directed at the areas of your being that need the most attention. It’s almost spooky how it works!

I confess to being a complete philistine when it comes to poetry.

For someone who likes to read so much, I’ve found my aversion difficult to understand and have attributed it to uninspiring teachers of English Language from school days.

However, I was recently introduced to a series of books edited/authored by Roger Housden. Ten Poems to Change Your Life is the first of these.

Mr Housden takes ten poems and brings them to life with his narrative and explanations. His love of poetry and his willingness to give the reader tantalising glimpses into his own life is a real treat.

If you, like me, have previously struggled to appreciate the poetic form of the written word I urge you to borrow or buy a copy of this book. I think you’ll find it makes all the difference…..it has certainly removed a mental block which existed for me!

There’s a challenge!

I’ve been reading an interesting book on relationships by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks – Conscious Loving.

To where I have read to date, the message is that we need to become conscious about our relationships otherwise our unconscious mind will automatically be attracted to situations which we have faced in the past in an attempt to get the resolution we sought then – now. If that makes sense.

So the son who lost his mother at the age of 3, who was then fostered by an aunt who died, now finds that he terminates every relationship he has with a woman because at an unconscious level he wants to avoid being abandoned again.

My question is, how do we become conscious; how do we become more self aware without becoming self obsessed? Surely too much navel gazing is as bad for us as not enough?

Perhaps I should finish reading the book and hope that all will be revealed

In the past I have worked with women who have been victims of abusive relationships (and I know men are also abused…….I just have no first hand experience to quote from there, but I would consider it an honour if you would join the discussion here) and have been saddened to watch them apparently heal and do so much inner work only to almost instantly fall back into the victim cycle once again.

I think, unless this is something you have experienced yourself, it is hard to appreciate how it can possibly happen.

So, I can accept that a heightened awareness is required and that a level of consciousness is required but I do not want to spend all the time thinking about myself and my own needs, hence my original question.

Any suggestions?

I’m still not quite sure how I stumbled upon this book. Another example of being sent what’s needed, just when it is needed perhaps?

Michael wrote Drop Your Goals in the mid 1990s having been through a difficult period in his own life. For those of you who associate Michael with the sales world of copywriting and marketing, you may find the ‘take’ of the book a little surprising.

The book begins by looking at what success actually means and explores the tenuous link between success and happiness. It’s not at all what I expected it to be!!

For anyone struggling to live their life in accordance with their values; who possibly feels that they are on the corporate treadmill going nowhere, this book offers a refreshingly different perspective and for that reason comes highly recommended.

Even better, follow this linkand obtain your copy free of charge from Michael’s site.

Oh, and do pop back and leave a comment when you have finished reading…..I’d love to know how this amazing book has affected you……

I was recently recommended to the work by Esther and Jerry Hicks – The Astonishing Power of Emotions.

I have long had an interest in the emotion/body connection and have practised using my body to lead into a new emotional state. This book has taken my appreciation for emotions to a new level.

Esther Hicks has channeled the book from her guide(s) to whom she refers as Abraham. I appreciate that some will not be comfortable with this way of writing but I would urge you to overcome any discomfort you may feel and grab yourself a copy.

The first nine chapters set the scene about being in the ‘flow’ and how we experience challenges in life when we attempt to reach something that is ‘upstream’. The remainder of the book gives examples of how we can choose emotional rsponses to events in our lives that will carry us ‘downstream’ to the place where we are destined to be.

(My apologies to Esther, Jerry and Abraham if my words are an inadequate summation of the content of the book)

This has been another example of the Universe sending exactly what’s needed at the time it is most required. Amazing.

Yesterday was a day of glorious, unashamed inactivity.

A book that had been recommended to me was delivered from Amazon and as I tore off the brown cardboard wrapping all thoughts of work left my mind.

It was a chilly, grey day so armed with hot tea and warm blankets I curled up in a chair and began to read.

Moving only for more tea and pitstops, I read through the day and into the night.

The book? Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert charts the progress of this remarkable woman as she recovers from a life crisis. If you are seeking inspiration I heartily recommend this book. It is uplifting and invigorating.

If you just want a good read, this is also the book for you as it is beautifully written with such creative use of the English language I wanted to weep with jealousy and frustration at the author’s penmanship.