Tribes

We Need You to Lead Us

By: Seth Godin

Narrated by: Seth Godin

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea. For millions of years, humans have been seeking out tribes, be they religious, ethnic, economic, political, or even musical (think of the Deadheads). It's our nature.

Now the Internet has eliminated the barriers of geography, cost, and time. All those blogs and social networking sites are helping existing tribes get bigger. But more important, they're enabling countless new tribes to be born - groups of ten or ten thousand or ten million who care about their iPhones, or a political campaign, or a new way to fight global warming.

And so the key question: Who is going to lead us?

The Web can do amazing things, but it can't provide leadership. That still has to come from individuals - people just like you who have a passion about something. The explosion in tribes means that anyone who wants to make a difference now has the tools at her fingertips.

If you think leadership is for other people, think again - leaders come in surprising packages. Consider Joel Spolsky and his international tribe of scary-smart software engineers. Or Gary Vaynerhuck, a wine expert with a devoted following of enthusiasts. Chris Sharma leads a tribe of rock climbers up impossible cliff faces, while Mich Mathews, a VP at Microsoft, runs her internal tribe of marketers from her cube in Seattle. All they have in common is the desire to change things, the ability to connect a tribe, and the willingness to lead.

If you ignore this opportunity, you risk turning into a "sheepwalker" - someone who fights to protect the status quo at all costs, never asking if obedience is doing you (or your organization) any good. Sheepwalkers don't do very well these days.

Tribes will make you think (really think) about the opportunities in leading your fellow employees, customers, investors, believers, hobbyists, or readers....It's not easy, but it's easier than you think.

©2008 Do You Zoom, Inc. (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

So relevant today!

Since this book was written in 2008 and it's now 2017 it's amazing to look at the companies that believed and saw the power in tribes back then and what the marketplace looks like now. Seth Godin nailed by seeing the power of tribes back then. Tribes rule the marketplace now. I think we need to get on board or get left behind. Great book!

All fired up

Although already well on the way to creating my own tribe, this book really gave me the faith to continue in my quest. Thanks Seth. Love your work.

Highly recommend

Fantastic motivating book for any leader or aspiring one.
Will definitely keep handy to revisit this book in the future for reminders and tips. Highly recommend.

Useful To Consider, But Only Goes Surface-Level

It’s fine. It offers a bit of a useful perspective on how groups can express their loyalty, but it’s somewhat surface-level (or perhaps more accurately, it’s focused only on the leader’s experience with their tribe, or the outsider’s experience, but not on what to expect internally with a tribe in different businesses/walks of life). It paints all tribes with one brush, which is relevant to his experience/the point he’s trying to make, but it also makes the advice feel overly simplistic. Also, the internet has changed a LOT, and some tribes are radical or even toxic, and that feels like a pretty important part of the conversation that is not even addressed here.

inspiring

Be prepared to have your world turned up side down. I wanted to read this and struggle with time so lucky to have audible for my commute. Thanks Seth for your inspiring messages! GOGOTribes!

Classic Seth!

I have been a fan of Seth Godin ever since I came across his book, Purple Cow and subscribed to his email list.

I often think of him as someone in touch with his inner being and has spent time in the trenches coming up with practical solutions.

I listen to Tribes every year, because it reminds me I'm not alone in my endeavor to drive change and I should always seek to change myself before I go out of my way to do so for program beneficiaries.

Working with non-profits who do things the same way over and over again is disheartening as anything close to innovative is seen as a threat to the status quo.

Listening to Tribes every year makes me braver and aligns me with my greater purpose as a human being.

a must read!!!

It's a must read...over and over! I now have a better understanding of how tribes are started and what makes people want to follow your lead. I will listen to this often.

Top notch as always

Seth Godin has once again impressed the hell out of me. You cannot go wrong with any of his books. He narrates with passion and conviction, just as he writes.

Big picture

Good book for big picture ideas on organizing a movement, business, church, or group. Wish it had more applicable ideas and not just big picture thoughts. It's Worth reading

Godin's Analysis spot on

Would you listen to Tribes again? Why?

Godin's analysis goes beyond "we must utilise the internet or be left behind." He gives insightful analysis and makes a compelling argument for a new sort of leadership.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

This new sort of leadership is not rocket science, but is accessible to any who will take the plunge.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Tribes have always existed but are now a global and omnipresent reality that anyone who has a message they want to get out there must contend with. The world is not a single blob of people - ie. the market, or the population. The blob is actually a network of interconnected tribes - tribes with specific characteristics, needs, and potential. To influence today, you must realise this and find the tribe you will lead. Your message doesn't have to reach the whole world, but it should reach someone. Chances are it will be heard by, spread among, and be further propogated by a tribe.

Any additional comments?

Read it or listen to it. There is a lot to think about.