Seth Godin on the tribes we lead
(Excerpted from TED2009, Filmed Feb 2009, Posted May 2009)
If by chance, you have NOT heard of SETH GODIN, or the idea of “TRIBES”…he is an entrepreneur and blogger who thinks about the marketing of ideas in the digital age.
Seth Godin argues the Internet has ended mass marketing. A human social unit from the distant past has been revived: TRIBES. He tells us that these tribes have their commonality based on shared ideas and values. Mr. Godin goes on to make the point that TRIBES give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change.

Who Wants To Make A Difference?
WHAT IS A TRIBE?
“What ‘Tribes’ are… is a very simple concept that goes back 50,000 years. It’s about leading and connecting people and ideas… and it’s something that people have wanted forever.
“Lots of people are used to having a spiritual tribe, or a church tribe, having a work tribe… having a community tribe. But now, thanks to the internet, thanks to the explosion of mass media… thanks to a lot of other things that are bubbling through our society around the world… Tribes are everywhere!
“The Internet was supposed to homogenize everyone by connecting us. Instead, what it’s allowed is silos of interest. You’ve got the ‘Red Hat Ladies’ over here… and the ‘Red Hat Tri-athletes’ over here…
“The point is that you can find Ukranian Folk Dancers and connect with them… because you want to be connected. People on the ‘fringes’ can find each other… connect… and go somewhere.
“…and it turns out that it’s ‘tribes’, not money, not factories… that can change our world, that can change politics, that can align large numbers of people… NOT ‘cause you forced them to do something against their will, but because they wanted to connect.”
LEADERSHIP
When these disconnected people become connected with a common theme, through someone “stepping up” to offer leadership, a “movement” is formed that has greater strength and influence than the sum of its parts.
Most movements are about finding a group that is disconnected, but already has a yearning. It’s not about persuading people to want something that they don’t have yet.
It’s not about inventing an issue. It’s people seeing the status quo and saying… “I DON’T LIKE IT”. It’s not about anarchy. It’s about LEADERSHIP !
There are some rules, some issues that are in place that really don’t make sense to people. Tribes are about organizing those un-connected individuals who feel the same way… and saying “this one counts”. It’s empowering groups of people to make change.
Again, this is NOT about anarchy… it’s NOT about overthrowing governments… it’s NOT about non-peaceful movements. This is about connecting people who have similar views and ideas.
THE POWER OF “MANY”
The power of the tribe lies in the synthesis of these disconnected people coming together and becoming a “Tribe.” Their ability to move their ideas forward is then multiplied exponentially… Far beyond any single leader’s personal efforts.
It’s not just one leader, either. It’s many leaders combining the efforts of their sub tribes… multiplying the efforts of the movement.
CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO
CONNECT
COMMIT
CHANGE
Think about it. What are you passionate about? Reach out through social media and see if there is anyone else that shares your passion. Start a tribe. Challenge the status quo. Put your personal desires and energy behind it… commit. Change the status quo…whatever that may be!
(I’d like to thank Arlan Murata http://arlanmurata.com for recommending this and several other TED… for his friendship, for always giving OUR TRIBE something to think about, for his keen insights into life and his joie de vivre !)