Linchpins are everywhere: Walter Pike

Walter Pike, Johannesburg, South Africa

Walter Pike

Website/email/twitter
Blog: walterpike.com
Web: pike.co.za
Email: walter@pike.co.za
twitter: walterpike

Linchpin Meetup venue and time: Johannesburg, South Africa.
Primi Extreme, Design Quarter, William Nicol Drive, Fourways.

How many people are you expecting?  30 – 40

Why did you decide to organize a Linchpin meetup?  Seemed like a good idea at the time.

What are you hoping to get out of the meetup? Really just meeting other people with a similar mindset and to help and inspire

Are you a linchpin? I do things, I have lots of people who support me, I take many risks and have made a difference - I think

Linchpins are everywhere: Andrew Nash

Andrew Nash, Vienna, Austria 

Andrew Nash

Website/email/twitter 
Website: www.andynash.com
Email: andy@andynash.com
twitter: andrewbnash

Linchpin Meetup details:  Monday June 14, 2010, 20:00. Exact venue to be determined. (You’ll find out about the venue on the Linchpin Meetups page for Vienna.) 

How many people do you expect: 10 

Why did you decide to organize a Linchpin Meetup? Linchpin helps explain what’s happening in the world and what we can do about it. Part of being a linchpin is creating a community to expand and support these ideas. 

What are you hoping to get out of the meetup? We hope to learn more about being linchpins, how we can support each other in our efforts to becoming linchpins and how to spread the message. 

Are you a linchpin? There’s a famous expression in Austria: NaJa … literally No-Yes … that sums up how I feel about whether or not I am a linchpin. 

A big thank you to Andrew for being our first featured organizer. More will follow.

(Like Andrew’s portrait? Read all about it.)

150 people per day signing up for linchpin meet ups

In the last 24 hours the number of people signed up to attend Linchpin meet ups went from c. 5,200 to 5,350 across 766 meet ups. Of the 10 largest meet ups, only 2 are outside the US, London and Vancouver. The 10 largest meet up account for 17% of those attending. There is a very long tail  – 653 meet ups, 85%,  have 10 people or fewer.

Although I’m signed up to go to the London meet up, I think it would be great to go one of the smaller meet ups. To spend the evening in the company of 4 or 5 linchpins and really get to know them – I think that will be a special experience. I’m looking forward to reading about those experiences in the magazine.

While I was writing this 3 more people signed up – 5,353 and counting.

The next time two people meet, the result could be different . . .

From Theodore Zeldin:

It is in the power of everybody, with a little courage, to hold out a hand to someone different, to listen, and to attempt to increase, even by a tiny amount, the quantity of kindness and humanity in the world. But it is careless to do so without remembering how previous efforts have failed, and how it has never been possible to predict for certain how a human being will behave. History, with its endless procession of passers-by, most of whose encounters have been missed opportunities, has so far been largely a chronicle of ability gone to waste. But next time two people meet, the result could be different. That is the origin of anxiety, but also of hope, and hope is the origin of humanity.

Over 5,000 people registered for Linchpin meet ups

It’s really quite phenomenal. With around a week and half to go until the meetup, there are over 5,000 people registered. If everybody attends for 3 hours, there will 625 ‘people days’ of conversation. Think of the energy and inspiration that can be transferred between humans in that time.

If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas. George Bernard Shaw

What to contribute? Some ideas to get you started . . .

To get your creative juices flowing, here are some of our thoughts on ways that you could contribute to the Linchpin Magazine.

It’s not enough just to have ideas though – you have to commit to producing something remarkable, and then follow through. See this post by Seth.

There are many, many ways you could contribute to the Linchpin Magazine and these are just a few. We know that you’ll suggest lots of others because that’s the kind of people you are.

• Send us a photograph of your meet up and tell us who was there.
• Make a point of writing about one person that you meet – it can be two sentences, two pages, one word.
• Write about an idea that was shared with you. Or an idea that you shared.
• Write about what you’re doing to do differently because of something that happened at the meet up.
• Be honest – write about why the people you met didn’t inspire you – don’t be nasty but do tell us what you do need to get inspired. Then go make that happen.
• Take your video camera and interview some of the linchpins you meet (video and audio content will be in the ‘extended’ online version of the magazine on this website)
• Find out from somebody you talk to what’s holding them back from doing their art, following their passion. Write about it so that the tribe can help.
• Draw / doodle / sketch your idea
• Find out how the linchpins you meet have overcome their lizard brain
• Ask everybody you meet to finish the sentence “Wouldn’t it be great if . . . ” and write down all those ideas
• Ask everybody you meet to tell you the thing they wished they had started 2  / 5 / 10 years ago
• Find the linchpin at your meet with the most unusual job and get them to write about what it’s like trying to be a linchpin in that job

Over to you . . .

Frequently asked questions

1. Why a Linchpin Magazine?

The  linchpin meetups are an unprecedented global sharing of creative energy and building of purposeful relationships. Sadly however, due to the laws of physics, when we interact in the real world each of us can only be at one event, and there’s only so many people any of us can talk to in a few hours. I’m going to attend the meet up in London, but I’m just as interested as what linchpins in Moscow, Lahore, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Chicago and Manila have to teach me.

The purpose of the Linchpin Magazine therefore is to create a curated space to share ideas and experiences from the meetups, to bottle some of that creative goodness and pass it round. We want to make it into a physical publication because for us, this is art. We want to be able to hold it, touch it, scribble on it.

2. Is Seth Godin involved in the Linchpin Magazine?

Seth has very kindly agreed to write the forword for the magazine. He has no other involvement.

3. What’s going to happen to this website after the magazine has been published?

The website will become the extended version of the magazine containing elements that could not be included in the publication such as video and audio. As to what happens after the meet up material has been published – we’ll see. The website and the magazine are collaborative efforts by a group of dedicated individuals for whom this is art. Nobody is being paid. Nobody is making any money. We’re doing it because we can, and because it’s the right thing to do right now. If there is still art in it after the event, we may continue. We’re open to suggestions.

4. Who’s involved in making this magazine?

See the team page.

5. Where will I be able to buy the magazine?

We’ll be publishing the magazine on MagCloud and you’ll be able to buy the magazine directly from them.

6. When will the magazine be available?

We’ve set ourselves the goal of submitting a completed layout to MagCloud one week after the meetups. We are a small team, and we all have demanding jobs, but that’s our target and we intend to meet it. It will help us hugely if you send us your contributions within 48 hours of the meet ups.

7. Who gets the profits?

We’re going to add a small mark up on the production cost and give it all to charity. Stay tuned for an announcement on our charity partner.

8. How do I contribute?

We’ll be providing detailed instructions shortly about how to submit your contributions. In the meantime – check out our rules for contributors. If you haven’t already joined the mailing list do so now, it’s the best way to stay informed as the project develops. We’ll keep your details to ourselves and will only email you about the Linchpin Magazine project.

If you have any other questions please contact us, or comment below.

Commitments to contribute from around the globe

We loved how much excitement there was on the original Linchpin Magazine squidoo page, and how many of you committed to making a contribution to the magazine.

We believe in holding each other accountable for making meaningful contributions to our communities and delivering on our promises. We’ve therefore pulled in a list of commitments that were made on the squidoo page.

If you are planning to write, draw, photograph, film, sing, dance, paint or play for the magazine, we encourage you to make a commitment by leaving a comment here. Sometimes it’s good to say things out loud and be heard.

Cherie Faiella: Attending in Zurich, Switzerland – very happy to contribute photos and report!

Peter J: We’ll help from Reading.

Sonali Mahajan: this sounds really exciting. i can’t wait to meet a whole bunch of new people here in Pune, India. will love to share my experience, new ideas and thoughts with all.

Elicia: Thanks for sharing, such a great idea. Look for a report/photos from the Louisville, KY meetup! We’re up to 12! Yay!

Staci Diamond, Chicago: Can’t wait to submit!

Tim Martin: I’m in Sandpoint, ID too. Looking forward to finding the other Godin readers here in

North Idaho. The air is clear up here, so we’ll have some thoughts that are definitely out of the ordinary context of how things “should go”. We’ll share.

Grant Simmons: Look forward to contributing with experiences from the Santa Monica meetup

Mark Phillips: Great idea! Look forward to helping.

Kathy Anderson: Looking very forward to the Des Moines meetup. Great idea. I’ll be sure to send my thoughts in.

Laurie Johnson: While we only have a couple signed up so far, I am excited about this idea and plan to send you a piece shortly after. Great idea – why should I be surprised?

Dawnya: Sandpoint, Idaho has 3 confirmed attendees (yes it is a wee town, but with a great spirit). We will drop a line or two about our meetup. Thanks for doing this.

Paul Nazareth: What a great way to keep this going! Our group, one of four now in Toronto Canada, is actually dedicated to Linchpins in non-profit/charity. We’ll send our story within 12 hours! Thanks for the opportunity! PN (http://sites.google.com/site/paulnazarethtoronto/)

Bill Alpert: We’ll send in a story from Cucamonga, California

Josh Muirhead: Excellent ideas, I’ll see what the Barrie MeetUp can pull together, and insure that it get to you in the 48 hours or less. Looking forward to see the publication once it’s all said and done!

Bob Jones: Wow. We’re in, too (Lexington, KY). I’m awed by the global impact. Great idea.

Emily Eberly: Hi Kenny! There are at least 12 of us in Cincinnati, Ohio who will meet. Randy Weeks is coordinating our meetup. I’ll bring a camera! I’m pleased and grateful to be part of Seth’s Triiibe. Thank you and all the best! —Emily

KamilRiz: GREAT IDEA!!!!!! Wow!! What a superb initiative Kenny! I’m in!

Let me tell you I’m the in the most challenging situation than people living in other part of the world. Here people don’t know Linchpin and there’s no inherent benefit of Seth Godin reference that will work.  Even then I’m trying to do it. And will provide the report from my meet up.

I’m hosting it on Skype. There are a few people signed up, I know not everyone will come. Please let me know how can I improve my meet up. Here’s my meet up link by the way:http://www.meetup.com/Linchpins-are-everywhere-raise-the-flag/2645/. I’m already inviting friends through my blog: http://www.kamilali.com/2010/05/linchpins-are-everywhere-are-you.html

GlennasGarden: What a great idea! I am so blessed to be a part of this. Thank you!

Sarah L.: Its a wonderful idea. Our group in small town, rural PA is making big strides to change the community we live in. We have a group of 30 or so Linchpins and actually meet every Monday in an informal setting we have dubbed ThinkDrink (recent article published about the group: http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/think-drink-york-pa/central-penn-business-journal-cover-story-refreshing-ideas/120840134618719). I am excited to tell our story and share our images with the rest of the world!

monika hardy: will be at the loveland co meet up… and will submit something after that. i’d like to second the nomination for childsi. and – wondering if there’s some platform we can all use to check in within the 24 hours of june 14… just saying hey from wherever.. if someone could host a site…. perhaps Bernd or some smart techie people already have something like that going..?

Andy Nash: We will send you something from our Vienna (Austria) meet-up. Sounds like a great project!

Filtercake: yes. hamburg. @filtercake

Stephen: Top idea, I am organising a meet up in Battle, East Sussex. Total sign-ups, just me! If no-one else comes, I pledge to write up my aims for change and send them on!

Chrissie Slater: This is a great idea – I will commit to putting something over to you after our evening.

Maria Ellers: Thanx Kenny I will attending event in Sydney so would love to send in my impressions and idea’s Cheers from Down Under

Norma Vela: I’m in for the LA meetup and will submit from that event – maybe I can get people to contribute to the report while I’m there – I love the idea of it including doodles, notes, etc. Love the whole idea in general, too.

Gina I’d love to contribute. Are you planning to use MagCloud ala the 48 hours magazine? I love, love, love the idea.

Olga Torres: Great idea – We’ll see what we can send from Barcelona!

Jack Goldenberg: Great idea. I’d like to submit something from one of the NJ Meetups. I mean, Jersey’s just not getting any coverage in the last few seconds. Also, I like KennyWJ’s idea of putting the mag online for free, but I’d like to suggest a charity donation if people are able to contribute.

Edward Macko: Great idea! I’ll be there in Pittsburgh, camera in tow…

Loki Carbis: I’ll be attending the Melbourne, Australia Meetup – would love to cover it for the magazine.

Anne McCrossan: Kenny a colleague of mine in Zurich Arjen Strijker is interested in contributing something from the Zurich meet up and I’ve given him this link. We’re going to have a photographer and video happening in London so there’ll be a huge amount of content available for London!

Jodik: Fabulous idea! I’ll be at the NYC meetup too and would love to contribute.

Didier: Nice idea Kenny! I’ll put it in our resources in the Triiibes, so expect some people coming from that direction. Anne Mc Crossan is one of them and you will probably meet a lot more in London. Have a nice time together.

Synerjyz: Oh heck yeah! I’m all over it for the KC Linchpin Tribe. I’m standing with everyone all over the world for a rich and remarkable experience and this magazine stands to share that wealth with the world at large.

Annie: Fab idea, count me in!! I’m spreading the word!!! Cheers, Annie

Dominique: will be attending the sydney meet-up – would love to contribute to the mag post-event. @dantarakis

Tom Atkins: Great idea and would love to contribute within 48 hours of the event! Who knows what will come up…

Nicholas Job: Terrific idea. I’ll be at the NYC meetup and I’d love to submit a report of the connections made, ideas cultivated, etc. Cheers.

Why a Linchpin Magazine – daring to dream big dreams

On most days the queue for the 6.30am Ryanair flight to London Stansted is a drab ol’ place. People are mostly bracing themselves for the discourteous service and relentless audio abuse that is the hidden cost of a forty quid flight to London. As I stood in line last Tuesday morning, however, my head was buzzing with excitement.

I had just read about the Linchpin meetups on Seth’s blog. Only a few weeks ago I had put a note out on Linked In that was going to be in New York and I was keen to meet up with financial modellers while I was there. I don’t have quite the pulling power that Seth Godin does but that didn’t matter. I overcame the ‘lizard brain’ and made great new connections (I wrote about one of them).  I ignored my fears of looking like an idiot and was hugely rewarded. Lesson learned. And this was the chance to do that again on a huge scale.

In his lovely little book, ‘Conversation‘, Theodore Zeldine said, “a great conversation is one that makes you say something you have not said before”.

I was buzzing with the thought that in all those meet ups, taking place all over the world, people would be sharing new ideas, mixing ideas with others and coming up with thoughts nobody has thought before. People will look at things slightly differently. People will make great new connections. We will all share in something unique and exciting. And then a very simple thought occurred:

Wouldn’t it be just fantastic if all the creative energy, all those impressions and ideas could be gathered up into a remarkable, one time, publication, written by everybody who participated in meet up. And there it was. The Linchpin Magazine.

I gathered up a few talented mates to help and outlined my idea on Squidoo. As I was writing it the lizard brain was in action – “this is dumb – who’s going to want to waste their time on a stupid magazine – nobody’s going to want to help – just give up now”. I remembered my meet up in New York and pressed on – posted the squidoo page and posted a link on a couple of the big meetups. Turned out that the tribe loved it.

The first draft of the magazine layout is already in progress and thanks to Ted Kusio in New York, the website is nearly done.

And so we prove once again that now more than ever before in history, It’s really easy to start something:

• The idea cost nothing. It wasn’t even really mine. I just put Seth’s vision together with the new possibilities to transcend the old media limitations that services like MagCloud offer.
• We put up a squidoo page in 20 minutes and kicked off a chain reaction that has caused you to be reading this post. That wasn’t hard.
• We registered a domain for $10 and installed wordpress for free.
• We got and continue to get lots of enthusiastic, excited messages about how great the idea is. I could live off the buzz I get from those messages for quite a while.

But now comes the dip . . . As Seth has written about so often, it’s easy to start something and man, does it feel good. But creating something worthwhile, something remarkable, and shipping it on time, that’s the hard bit.

And it will be nothing if you don’t contribute. We have posted some ideas about what you could contribute. You’ll add more because that’s who you are.

Rules for submissions

There are always pesky rules. Without wanting to hamper your creativity, below are the ones that we insist on.

General

1. We can only accept text and/or graphics for publication in the magazine itself. Remember: the magazine will be printed and that fact imposes certain limitations on what we can accept. We will publish an extended version of the magazine on LinchpinMagazine.com – we would love to receive well put together and edited video content to include in the extended version.
2. You can submit as many entries as you want.
3. Remember the topic: this is Linchpin Magazine and its all about the Linchpin Meetups on June 14th. Inspirations, experiences, ideas, things you learned – please share!
4. Please include you name, city, job title, website or other contact details and, if you want, a portrait (300×300 pixels at 300dpi or larger) so that we can credit your contribution.
5. Only submit items that you have created.
6. While you own the copyright of your own, individual pieces, the copyright of the magazine as printed belongs to the editorial team.
7. We only have so many pages and might have to make a selection of which material we include. We will be looking for material that’s original and insightful and that we think will be of most benefit to the tribe. It’s painful, but necessary. Luckily, LinchpinMagazine.com doesn’t have such restrictions so we’ll add items that didn’t make it into print here, providing they are sufficient quality.

Text

1. Please keep written pieces down to below 750 words. An ideal piece is around 250 words or shorter. The shorter your contribution, the more of them we can include. The format is open: we would love to receive poems, slogans, one-liners and articles equally. We’re looking for remarkable, creative contributions.
2. Text may not retain formatting. We’ll try (but can’t promise) to keep bold, italics and underlines but fonts and sizes may have to conform to the norm during the layout process.

Graphics

1. Only submit images that you have originated (that is, images you have taken or drawn, painted or otherwise created).
2. Please send images as high-resolution JPGs – minimum printing quality is 300dpi. Higher is better. We want you to shine, not pixelate.
3. We might have to shrink images but will contact you if we want to crop or otherwise edit them. We’re not planning on doing any image manipulation, but what we need to do depends on what we get.

To submit your entries, email them to shipped@linchpinmagazine.com. This email will email address will be closed at Midnight, PST (Pacific Standard time) on Wednesday June 16th. This is 7am GMT.