WTF (What the Freak) is Johnny Bunko? Part 2

I just finished reading Johnny Bunko, the latest book by Dan Pink. If you want a great (and funny) overview of the book, you can watch this video trailer or check out 23 sample pages.

The book is the story of Johnny Bunko, a struggling cubicle dweller, written in manga, a type of Japanese comic book, and offers six lessons for career success. Below is a review of two lessons that fit with the Four Factors. I review two other lessons in Part 1 on The Freak Factor blog.

Lesson #3: It's not about you.

This lesson seemed to contradict the previous lesson, "think strengths not weaknesses." However, Pink was talking about the purpose for which you use your strengths. Johnny's career advisor, Diana, explains that "the most successful people improve their own lives by improving others' lives . . . The most valuable people in any job bring out the best in others."

This is consistent with Factor 4, Improvement, which focuses on developing others.

Lesson #6: Leave an imprint.

In this final lesson, Diana encourages Johnny to consider these questions. "Did I make a difference? Did I contribute somthing? Did my being here matter?" She reminds him that "life isn't infinite . . . you should use your limited time here to do something that matters." Amen.

I conclude the Four Factors with a chapter called Impact. It includes the following definition, "Leadership is a relationship that produces positive change in yourself, in the lives of others and in the world." Dan said it in less words. Leave an imprint.