linchpin. indoctrination: how we got here.

(this post follows on from the first introductory post on Seth Godin’s book Linchpin here: linchpin. the new world of work)

part two.

This next chapter of linchpin ‘indoctrination: how we got here‘ has hit a real nerve with me, a deep personal one. This chapter is definitely interesting, a little radical and will open your mind – if it’s not already of course. It’s a courageous chapter and I’m so happy Godin has drawn his line in the sand and openly announced his opinion on the indoctrination of the system, specifically the education system. If he wasn’t such an uber famous author with high business credentials, I believe people would be saying he wore a tinfoil hat, accuse him of believing in, and creating, conspiracy theories,  flame him on the online forums and possibly call him crazy. At one point Godin even says “Does this sound like a conspiracy theory?”. Haha, I personally loved this chapter and it’s controversy, and glad it’s being said by someone rather “official”.

Godin describes how our education system trains us to become the hard working little cogs for the factory from our very first few days of schooling. How school teaches us to be compliant, to follow instructions and to fit in, training us through fear and the need to consume for approval. He asks the fundamental question “does school work?” and suggests the skills we could be teaching our children are ones to give them the ability to think for themselves, to learn to lead, to understand consumption will not solve social issues, and to I suppose, be remarkable.

“We’ve been taught to consume as a shortcut to happiness and spend for pleasure, to not to care about our job or our customers, to fit in and embrace the system”. In a word he describes those that buck the system, or “reject it” are more likely to actually succeed. Gee how good must that sound to the big wig decision maker behind the hugely systematised McDonalds corporation? He isn’t going to be happy to hear that. Factories like McDonalds run a tight ship, with tight rules and processes, not made for people who wish to race the tugboat, paint the deck or jump overboard.  Funnily enough I casually worked at McDonalds for about 6 months, to help pay my fees while studying at university. Working in a McDonalds store definitely opened my eyes to the meaning of ‘franchise’ and showed me a business model that accurately depicts employees as cogs in a factory, and as we all know, up until now it has worked like a charm. But not for much longer by the sounds of it.

University is another indoctrinating education system I remember experiencing much frustration with, specifically on how individual ability was tested and measured by how well we remembered and regurgitated information from copious amounts of readings, books, journals, articles and extracts. Not much free thinking or learning to lead going on there either. Moving on from university and into the corporate world I was then told a degree on your resume proves to prospect employers you have the ability to learn thus are sought after employees…  errr yeah right. What they really meant was you have learnt how to be a very efficient factory worker and potentially require less training compared to non-tertiary educated peers (perhaps a cynical view, but something to definitely think about!).

One of the things we’re always asked, repetitively, at an age when we’re barely old enough to understand… “what are you going to be when you grow up?” A doctor. a fireman. a factory worker. a mother friggin’ hustler. Hmm was this all part of the indoctrination too? Are we asked this to ensure we choose something early, to drive us through our school years, to fit in and become a good little factory worker? Imagine if at the age of 5 we were asked how we’re going to change the world or what we’d like to give to others to create a life of happiness and wellbeing to get a positive thought process going… ? Let me guess, free thinking questions like that are outside of the syllabus?

Now, at no point does Godin blame the school teachers, instead promotes how we need to recognise the great teachers and “free them from tests and reports and busywork, and to expel the lousy teachers. Don’t blame the teachers. Blame the corporate system that is still training compliant workers how to be factory workers.”

Godin is the genius writer who clarifies all of this, and more, in his book.  I’m not writing these posts to try and regurgitate his content nor do I wish to. I merely wish to share and hope to reach at least one other person to aspire them to look at things a little differently to what we’re “trained” to, start a conversation with someone else about it and even read the book. So far it’s definitely causing a stir and I think it’s a cracker!
What do YOU think?

Further reading: here is a link to a manifesto document written by Seth Godin in January 2010 called “Brainwashed. Seven ways to reinvent yourself “. It is a 14 page presentation highlighting the main topics in the book Linchpin,  a highly recommended read if you want to learn more, now.

coming soon. part three section: becoming the linchpin.