Linchpin vs. The System

 This week I've been reading Seth's new book Linchpin. I believe it could be a far more important book than even Seth realizes. The book asks the question, "are you indispensable?" In the same way that Purple Cow encouraged companies (and individuals) to be remarkable, this book encourages the reader to be indispensable. This is a very dangerous book.

Now that I'm almost done with the book, I'm wondering, was this a very bad time for me to read this book or was this the absolute perfect time? Much of the angst expressed in this blog over the last few days has come because I so closely resonate with the things he says in the book that I'm frustrated about the system by which we have to find work…and more importantly, to find purpose.

I'm not going to even try to highlight the portions of the book that speak to me most here in this blog. Seth has done a great job of writing and I absolutely think you should get the book–whether you are dissatisfied with your job or not. He says things much better than I ever could. But I was reminded today why the book speaks so clearly to me.

Today, I got my first "Dear Applicant" email.

To be fair, this wasn't a rejection letter, merely an email telling me that they had received my resume. But the part that got me was the fact that this wasn't through one of the big online job posting services. This was a local outfit. And this letter was not auto-generated. Someone actually took the time to write this letter to me and yet chose to refer to me as "applicant" instead of Michael. And did I mention that this is a ministry? Gee…yeah…let me come to work for you. It's obvious that they are banking on my desperation for a job by just treating me as one more applicant. At this point I can think of several dirty words I'd love to mix-in to a reply letter.

The glaring fact is that the system is no longer designed to find the talented, the gifted, the special one that will come in and change the game. They system is designed to find someone to fill the cubicle and do the job. In Linchpin, Seth says that a resume is just a list of reasons for someone to reject you. Maybe you went to the wrong school or maybe you don't have the right degree or maybe you have only 4 years experience instead of 5. They are evaluating me based on the words on a page. And the crazy thing is…in many of these cases there aren't even human eyes looking at the page! It's merely an algorithm looking for certain key words. Now doesn't that make me feel special.

I've heard that simply sending out your resume and cover letter is the worst way to look for a job. Well, fine. I certainly feel like it's wasted time, but I pursue it anyway because I want to convince myself (and those in my life who are keeping score) that I'm "doing all I can." But I'll be honest, I just don't feel right groveling for a job I'm not convinced I want anyway.

So where does this leave me at the end of week three since being let go? It leaves me with plenty of resumes "out there" but no real prospects. It's times like this that I have to believe that God does indeed have my steps ordered. That He does have a plan for me. That He does have just the perfect place for me where I'm not a number or an "applicant" but a valued member of a team.

I believe I'm a linchpin. I believe I can make a difference. I believe I'm uniquely talented and indispensable. I believe there's a place out there who doesn't want just "someone," they want me.