Notes on Seth Godin’s “Tribes”

“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader,

and connected to an idea.”

http://Alt-MBA.com by Helen Hoefele 01-12-2009

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Leader Characteristics• Has A Call-To-Action That’s Irresistible

• Has a Cause Worth Fighting For

• Is Passionate!

• Believes he/she Can Get Where he/she Says he/she’s Going

• Doesn’t Water Down his/her Message or Try to Please Everyone

• Motivates/Inspires; Drives Commitment

• Enables Followers to Become Connected

• Knows It’s Not about the Tactics, Tools or Technology

• Is Persistent Against Resistance

• Is Brave, Challenges Status Quo, Speaks Up

• Finds a Common Interest and Steps Out of the Way

• Works Hard and Is Generous

• Intent Matters, It’s Not About Getting Money or Status, but About a Mission

• Shines the Light on the Tribe• Finds Other Leaders, Amplifies Their Work & Helps Them Find Followers p134

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Tribe Characteristics• A Group of Like-Minded People• Have Active Members That Do More Than Just Show Up• Membership is Voluntary• Aren’t Created By Converting People• Aren’t Closed Off or Isolated• Aren’t Blind Sheep, but are Evangelists• Tribes Don’t Do What The Leaders Wants, They Do What They Want• People Belong to Not Just One But Many Tribes• There are Tribes Out There Waiting to be Coalesced & Led• Every Tribe Is Different. • Every Leader is Different.

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Why Build a Tribe?• Organizations Don’t Have to Be Factories• Inspired Employees Will Be Happier & More Productive• Leading & Changing Status Quo is Profitable, Fun• Look For Passionate Individuals Not Engaged by Other

Tribes Yet

What Doesn’t Make a Tribe:• Factory Mentality (People Content with a Safe Job Only

Because That’s Better Than Foraging For Food)• Crowds Which Have No Momentum or No Leader• Stuck Tribes That Insist on Playing Today’s Games By

Yesterday’s Rules • Managers/Employees That Wait To Be Told What To Do

(Willingly or Not)

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About SheepwalkingWhat Is It?• Obedient & Fearful Employees• Were Raised to be That Way• It’s the Easiest & Quickest Way to Teach Them• Can Be Well-Educated, but Compliant• Might Have a “Who Cares?” Attitude

What Can You Do About It?• You Can Always Stop Being a Sheepwalker• It’s Painful to be Unhappy and Mediocre• Teachers/Employers Should Embrace Non-Sheep Behavior

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About Timing• Don’t Wait for the Alternative To Be Better Than the

Status Quo to Get Started• There Is No Right Time To Lead. Don’t Do Nothing.• Know When to “Take The Follow”• Best Time To Change Business Model Is When It Still

Has Momentum

About Fear• Create Something Criticism-Worthy• “Faith Leads to Hope, and It Overcomes Fear.” p79

• It’s About Breaking the Old Rules of an Industry Too Afraid to Change.

• The Secret to Success: Realize Being Wrong Isn’t Fatal

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Favorite Quotes“Leadership is a Choice. It’s the Choice To Not Do Nothing.” p59

“Tribes That Work Better When They’re Bigger Get Bigger.” p67

“Every Balloon Maker Not Only Fears The Unicorn But Desperately Needs One.” p76

“This Isn’t About Having A Great Idea…Great Ideas Are Out There…This Is About Taking Initiative And Making Things Happen.” p96

“Being Charismatic Doesn’t Make You A Leader. Being A Leader Makes You Charismatic….It’s a Choice, Not a Gift.” p127

“Like The Restaurant With a Line Out The Door – It Didn’t Open That Way.” p132

“Part of Leadership…is The Ability To Stick With The Dream For a Long Time….Long Enough That the Critics Realize That You’re Going to Get There One Way or Another…So They Follow.” p132

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It’s Not An Opportunity, It’s An Obligation. Don’t Settle.

“To have all these advantages [relative to other countries],… all these opportunities and then settle for mediocre and then defend the status quo and then worry about corporate politics – what a waste of time.

I don’t think we have any choice. I think we have an obligation to change the rules, to raise the bar, to play a different game, and to play it better than anyone has any right to believe is possible.” p135

“The Market For Something To Believe In Is Infinite.”