Thanks so much! I’m closing the comments now so that Mr. Linchpin can respond to the 50 other features about him today, or maybe even get some sleep.

Teach your children. Well. Reward them for a C if the C was earned with good intent and high curiousity. Ask them hard questions all afternoon and at dinner. Turn off TV. Teach dangerous science tricks. Inquire at all times.

Kids need to learn two things:
1. solve interesting problems
and
2. lead

that’s it!

The lizard brain loves this question, because it gives you an excuse to knuckle under and give up. If you want to fight it, first lower your overhead. Move in with your parents. Sell your car. Ride a bike. Eat macaroni and cheese.

Second, understand that suffering doesn’t have to be part of the deal, but being smart does. Don’t try to make a living as a poet. Art isn’t about suffering, art is about shipping and getting it done. If the thing that turns you on can’t support you, get turned on by something else. I’m talking about connections and humanity and making a difference, not about oil painting. The tactics aren’t important, what matters are the results.

and…

Gosh, I just want to hug him, you and everyone who is spreading the word. I wonder if a book could be more needed now than Linchpin? I really “get” the urgency of the message. God bless Seth for bringing it forward!

Oh & @Christina, I’m a huge Gatto fan as well & we’ve found traveling the world as a family on a tiny budget is a great way to learn & live!

Seth- What’s your best advice for raising a free artist from birth?

While homeschooling is not possible for everyone, it’s difficult to just do it on the weekends when your children are spending 8 hours a day learning lessons like confusion, class position, and emotional and intellectual dependency. I pulled these lessons from John T. Gatto’s essay, ‘The 7-Lesson Teacher.’ Any parent who is concerned about their child’s education should read his books, as well as those of John Holt, who invented homeschooling. And I might also recommend my own humble blog, Confessions of a Reluctant Teacher. Good luck!

I recently gave a talk on entrepreneurship where I noted that an artist friend (gilbertgallery.org) was making a change that mattered by her ability to combine creativity, good timing and execution.

Nice interview, Chris.

i really resonate with the questions raised by Aaron (clarifinancial), Lou Mindar, and Ami (40daystochange) because i’ve worked with some amazing performance artists that have great messages in their work but it’s hard to get funding and an audience, which makes me wonder if it’s because artists have a hard time with business/marketing or if it’s because this country doesn’t always value art unless it rakes in $$.

i know i’ve been conflicted with being a full-time artist because it’s hard to pay the rent if no one is buying your art; conversely, i’ve been making great relationships through my blog and LOVE giving my creations as gifts, so i know i’m not exactly creating in a vacuum

i can see i will have to get a copy of this new book!! i hope Seth covers these questions in the comments section =-)