It is Saturday, October 25
th, 2008. A special day. Today I have started and finished reading
Tribes - We Need You To Lead Us written by
Seth Godin. That's why it is a special day.
The book is dense
While reading, you feel the huge amount of observation, deep thought, and the tedious work that Seth Godin condensed into this little, tiny book.
The book might be tiny in format, but like the matter of a neutron star, it's heavy. Really heavy stuff that weighs a lot more than you probably can imagine.
No, no, wait!
I don't want to scare you away. It's fun to read this book, and it's a quick read, too. What Seth wrote sticks.
It might take a second read to sink in, but it will stick. He is a reporter telling you about so many people, who “made it big” by leading a tribe. A tribe is a group of people with a shared interest. A group of people waiting to be lead, waiting to be connected to each other. Leading a tribe is a proven way of marketing. In an age where attention has become so scarce leading your tribe might soon be the only way of doing marketing successfully.
New Internet technologies, like Twitter and Facebook make it easier than ever before to connect people and to grow your tribe. You can publish a blog within minutes at no cost and geographic boundaries, don't have the same meaning anymore than they used to have 10 years ago.
Become a Leader
Leading your tribe might not always be easy, but it is easier than you think. And you will learn so much on your way, when leaving the status quo behind. And you will be rewarded.
I don't care in what industry you are working, what education you have,… All you need to do is say, “YES”, say it loud and say it often.
My blog readers know already that
I am one of Seth's Triiibes.com members. As such I received a lot of information about the book. From Seth personally and from other members. From members who already have read the book, too.
Seth Godin said, “The book is not about what you think it is about.”
--Seth Godin
I was a bit skeptical, but nevertheless remained curious. Now I have read the book, too, and I will read it again, and again…
Seth did not promise too much. Finally, reading the book I was surprised in a good -- a very good -- way.
The book not only gives you real world examples, it gives you guide lines and ideas for tactics that you can use. Every tribe needs to be lead differently. There cannot be a one-fits-all recipe. Overall Tribes is a strong motivator to move ahead and become a leader. (Why not?)
There is nothing to loose, but the opportunity to take action now. This book is a treasure, I highly recommend you read it, and most importantly that you say “YES!” and put the concepts to work for you and for your tribe. Don't worry, your tribe will find you, once you have started to lead.
Now, I could say, “Buy the book now”. But that is not what I say.
I rather say, buy 2 or 3, why not 5 books at once.
Why?
Once you have read the book you will want to give it to friends and colleagues to share the experience and knowledge. You want to give it to people who might need it, to people who will make the change.
It might become the most precious gift that you have ever given to anybody. Your friends and colleagues will be thankful for it. Forever.
Yours
John W. Furst