Notes on Seth Godin's book, "Tribes"

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

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

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.

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)

About Sheepwalking

What 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

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

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

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.”