Power to the Tribe

Thousands of years ago, tribes ruled and ideas powered them. They are back just in time to break down the industrial box.

The internet has had a greater impact and is more significant than the industrial revolution. Sorry Henry, it’s true. We are connected, and there is no un-connecting us. For the last 100 years a small group of people have ad overwhelming control over the messages received by the masses. Now, it’s a free-for-all. Power and influence are up for grabs in a world where tribes break down the box.

A tribe is a group of people connected by common ideas. This has nothing to do with location or status. The glue that keeps a tribe together is trust, not association or money. Why would anyone trust someone who is in it for themselves?

Now it pays to be authentic and generous. We now have a multitude of channels to broadcast on, each an opportunity to gain connection and trust. Prior to the internet, there was an expensive middle man standing between you and the audience that actively harbored information. The corporate entity with unmatched reach and distribution has met it’s match, and there’s no turning back.

Many large beaurocratic institutions encourage the box. Safety. A shameless life that is not scary. A life where nobody questions or gives you weird looks…because you are taking an “approved” route. Inside the box is a life of dispensability, trusting those above you to be effective leaders and call the shots, while you act as the interchangeable part. For awhile it worked, but not anymore. This box is great for preparing youth to do factory work, however crushes passion with shame. Tribes break down this mentality by demanding more than mediocrity and rewarding those who are remarkable.

Despite many who still grasp at the lost hope of industrialism, this is undoubtedly a sinking ship. There comes a point when you can’t polish it anymore. Instead of racing to the bottom and using money to fuel business process, we are now in a world where trust is scarce.

Tribes win because they are based on this, instead of money or status. So how to you attain this trust? Lead the tribe. Do what’s right for your people. This is a personal journey requiring passion and the commitment to act on it, one which nobody will pick you to do. Listen to your gut and pursue the path that makes you feel alive. The tribe likes to feel alive too.

Once you start making false promises, interrupt, or think about money first, all bets are off. You can’t fool the tribe. Be authentic, be generous, and do work that you care about. The tribe will notice.

Everyone can lead a tribe. Not everyone is willing to commit to the path of passion. If you need help digging in and building the trust of a tribe, please, lets talk. 

www.iTribeMedia.com