Tribes: The New Way to Change the World
Ever wondered how to change the world with the thing you’re most passionate about? Watch this video to find out:
I read Godin’s book Tribes earlier this year, and found it enlightening. This video is a quick summary of the book by the author, plus his theory on a process for those interested in changing the world. He looks over countless organizations, and through history at movement leaders and then draws some conclusions. Why is it that Ghandi was successful in bringing about liberation and true change in India? How did Martin Luther King rally a battered and bitter people into a movement of civil rights?
It begins by telling a story. Frederick Buechner is quoted saying,
To truly tell the story of anything well is to tell the story of everything.
And while I’ll need your help in the comments section below to help me on the author of this quote, another tribal storyteller said,
If you want to change the world, tell an alternative story.
The story will enlighten some, and enrage others. Don’t spend all your time coddling those who you are upsetting – focus on those who are ready to dive headlong into the story you both believe in.
Next, you must connect your tribe. Most people are most interested in the connection anyway! Find fresh and exciting ways for those passionate about similar values to meet and engage one another to see spontaneous connections made.
Ask yourself: “Who am I already leading?” Focusing on leading is where change comes from. In fact, people are waiting on you to lead them. That is what it means to lead a movement for change – to ask questions, to build consensus, to peak curiosity, to develop a new tribal language…but its ultimately about your willingness to be committed to the cause. That is what separates the tribes that matter from those that don’t. Your willingness to lead a tribe through any circumstance is essentially the tribe’s best chance at meaningful change in the world.
Tribes are where change comes from. From the ballot box, to the grocery store (check out the new WikiChoice), to the church – committed tribes of regular people making extraordinary decisions and seeing dramatic change. So get out there and lead your tribe – we need you to.
miller is discussing. 
Just finished reading 
miller 7:18 am on May 24, 2009 Permalink
good stuff Mark! i’m not sure i’m with you all the way on this but i love how you stress connection to those who want to be connected. we need to cut loose from those who just want to argue or resist. focus on those who are in!
i like the visual of a tribe… i also love the visual of a caravan. there’s an old saying “the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on!”
we gotta keep rolling because there’ll be some in each place we pass through who’ll climb aboard and come along.
peace