MaineBob's Blog

[I'll be updating this post all day, just fyi, click through to see the latest update]

You know by now that I haven't gone to any traditional media for the launch of my new book - no pitches to newspapers, magazines, or television. Instead, I went directly to my readers and the many intelligent voices online. I sent review copies by request to my readers - who were generous and creative in their reviews, and now we'll hear from the bloggers and other online denizens. This is the short head of the new long tail, the group of professional and semi-pro writers and journalists that are increasing in influence daily.

There are a lot of people on this list, and I respect every single one of them, for their insights, their generosity and for plugging away at a medium that's just getting started.

Here's what we talked about, organized by general theme and topic. There are some overlaps, but I figured rather than talking about my book on this blog, I'd let them lead the conversation.

Thanks to each of these big thinkers for sharing some time with me, and thanks to you for reading! If you find a blog you like, don't forget to subscribe to it.

What is an Artist?

• Michael Hyatt: Over the top generosity from the head of one of the largest book publishers in the world. Michael interviewed me about making a difference. Visit his site if you'd like to win a free copy of the book.
• Tom Peters: A guest post on the blog of one of my role models and heroes. I take on the idea of 'excellence' and what it means now.
• Good Experience: Mark practically invented the science of simplified web design. I do a guest post about why artists break things.
• Gaping Void: Your favorite cartoons-on-the-back-of-business-cards provocateur generously asks me ten (hard) questions, and I generously answer them.
• Pilgrimage of the heart: Jeff and I talk about breaking rules, technology and art.
• Art of Non-Conformity: Chris is at the forefront of rethinking work. We talk about the courage needed to do it. And plumbers. It keeps coming back to plumbers.

Shipping and The Resistance

• Behance: I first launched the ideas in Linchpin at their conference last year, and here's a guest post about shipping.
• Steve Pressfield: The godfather of the resistance, the five-star general in the war against fear, Steve takes on the ideas in Linchpin and asks me some hard questions about my personal creative habits and the idea of making a ruckus.
• White Hot Truth: Danielle takes on the burning questions of pushing yourself to do art that matters.
• Ruzuku -Another Step Forward Rick is leading a tribe of entrepreneurs. We talked about why I wrote the book and how entrepreneurs can use it. And I talk a little about golf.

Creativity and Art

• Dan Pink: Dan's new book is really terrific, and he let me interview him about it. 
• Derek Sivers: The man who re-invented music distribution for indie bands. We talk about good vs. great music and why there's already plenty of good.
• Merlin Mann: Merlin is well-known for inventing inbox zero, and we did a podcast together about creativity.
• Martha Beck: One of the most well-known coaches, Martha is a leading thinker on how individuals can make a difference. We talk about jazz and writing...
• Jennifer Lindsay: What keeps one writing, a video conversation.
• B.L. Ochman: I did an interview with BL about what keeps marketers (and people) from being creative.
• Richard Pachter: Richard is a regular reader. He tracked me down and we did an interview about curiosity for the Herald.
• Cool Hunting: A cutting edge site about the changes driving our culture. A podcast about my take on art.

Be a Linchpin, Be Indispensable

• Duct Tape Marketing: John is the Peter Drucker of small business tactics. In this podcast, that's what we talk about (small business, not Peter Drucker).
• The Happiness Project: Gretchen dives into how you can become indispensable (and whether it will make you happy).
• WebInkNow: David Meerman Scott is the Charles Darwin of new media marketing, tirelessly chronicling how it works. In this video, we talked about becoming indispensable.
• Tonic.com: Where are the good things in life? That's what this site is about, and we talked about making change.
• Fuel Your Creativity: On the intersection between digital arts, graphics and becoming someone they can't live without.
• Marty Wilson: You can see a picture of me when I was 18. We talk in depth about learning to be a leader, canoeing and how you can choose to make a difference.
• Crazy Engineers: Not so crazy, actually. Driven, but not crazy. This is an interview about how a cube-dweller can make a big impact.
• IQ Partners is an executive search and retention firm. We talked about the new standard for people worth hiring.
• Gail Goodwin: Gail writes about non-traditional thinking and opportunities. We talked about creativity and being remarkable.
• Charlotte AMA: Some very sharp marketers in Charlotte. We get tactical on this podcast.

Entrepreneurs, Money, Art and Balance

• Lee Stranahan: Lee often writes for Huffpo and we discussed (via podcast) the power a Linchpin has to change things. We all live in Detroit now.
• Joi Ito: If you don't know Joi, you should. I interview this cutting-edge linchpin on his blog.
• Personal MBA: Josh and I did an interview on entrepreneurship and stepping out of the status quo.
• Writing on the Web: Patsy and I talked on this podcast about coaching and making a difference.
• Ladies Who Launch: Shipping and marketing with the ladies who know how to do it.
• Mongezi Mtati: This video interview wins the prize for longest-distance by Skype. Mongezi called in from South Africa to talk about the struggle between giving it away and making money.
• Mixergy: A podcast with the always interesting Andrew Warner. (Transcript too)
• Twist Image: Mitch is at the cutting edge of what it takes to succeed in new media. He lives it every day (in Canada even!). We talked about What Matters Now on this podcast.
• Fearless Business: Mediocre obedience and being remarkable are covered in this video.
• Be The Media: David and I use this podcast to talk about how innovative thinking impacts distributed media. And he has a great logo.
• Self Growth.com: Brian interviews me on self improvement and becoming indispensable.
• Untemplater: Jun and I talk about the value of an MBA and entrepreneurship.Hint: not so much. We do a video chat.
• Careerealism: Because every job is temporary.
• Site Visibility:  Kelvin and I talk on this podcast about remarkable products and their place in a world of SEO and clicks.
• Neville Hobson: A podcast about innovation and marketing.
• Mark Ramsey: Mark is a visionary about the future of radio. In this podcast, he's his usual insightful self, and I try to keep up. This is the new normal.

Connecting, Being Human, and why it matters

• Flowerdust.net: Anne Jackson understands the power of faith, regardless of religion. She's worth learning from--and she was kind enough to give me a guest post.
• Sasha Dichter: Sasha works for Acumen Fund and writes a powerful blog about giving and philanthropy. We talked about whether there will be a surplus of linchpins and my early history in working for not much money.
• Marketing Over Coffee: Just like it sounds, except I had tea. We use this podcast to talk about the death of the factory.
• First Friday Book Review: Robert Morris, an inveterate Amazon reviewer and journalist, interviews me about the book.
• John Moore: One of his classic (and very funny) video readings, this time of a little bit of Linchpin. Horrifying.

Education and Giving Gifts in the new economy

• Personal Branding Blog: The power of applying linchpin thinking to your own brand. This is a PDF magazine for download.
• ArtBeat of America: On Rick's podcost, he and I talk about artists who can't draw.
• Rethinking Learning: Barbara asked some startling questions about whether higher education has a future.
• Book Blade: Randy and I talked about education and the broken school system in this video interview.
• Goose Educational Media: Chris Taylor interviews me on video about changing education and being remarkable.

Shenpa, Emotional Labor, and Fear

• Pam Slim: Pam wants you to quit your job. I did a short guest post on her blog about why that might be hard for you and how to get started.
• Communicatrix: More than communication, insights that turn things upside down. Colleen will make you think.
• Innovate on Purpose: Jeff asked some hard questions about mediocre obedience and being a cog.
• Church of Customer: Jackie and Ben pioneered the idea of the 1%, and in this interview we cover five questions that matter to marketers (and artists of all stripes).

Thanks to each of these big thinkers for sharing some time with me, and thanks to you for reading! If you find a blog you like on this list, don't forget to subscribe to it.