Linchpins, Supporters, Leeches...

In his book, Insubordinate, Seth Godin says that there are three kinds of people:

1. Linchpins
2. Supporters
3. Leeches, Advocates for the Devil, and Bystanders

Linchpins

• the ones who make a difference
• rare ones who truly make and impact
• this group of people changes everything

Supporters

• eager, willing to help, admire the work the linchpin is doing
• they supply leverage or money or just a smile to help get the job done
• they challenge the linchpin to do more, dig deeper, and make an even bigger difference

Leeches

• pessimists, obstructionists, and the protectors of the status quo
• driven by fear
• they slow you down, whittle you down, and average you down
• they don't learn because they choose to be where they are
• they end up here because their lizard brain gets so freaked out that they don't really have a chance to be different

Godin says, "Avoid them (leeches). Like potholes in an otherwise smooth road, it's just easier to drive around them."