Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us

by Seth Godin

A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or another. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate.

1. A narrative that tells a story about who we are and the future we’re trying to build 2. A connection between and among the leader and the tribe 3. Something to do—the fewer limits, the better Too often organizations fail to do anything but the third.

Defending mediocrity is exhausting.

Ordinary folks can dream up remarkable stuff fairly easily. What’s missing is the will to make the ideas happen.

I think these people are becoming ever better at following, but are never learning to lead. They’re following instructions, following directions, following the pack, and honing their skills—but hiding. Hiding from the fear of leading.

When you identify the discomfort, you’ve found the place where a leader is needed.

If you’re not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it’s almost certain you’re not reaching your potential as a leader.

Faith Is What You Do

faith is demonstrated by the actions you take.

Changing things—pushing the envelope and creating a future that doesn’t exist yet (at the same time you’re criticized by everyone else)—requires bravery.

The easiest thing is to react.

The second easiest thing is to respond.

But the hardest thing is t...

Compromise may expedite a project, but compromise can kill it as well.

Perfect is an illusion, one that was created to maintain the status quo.

hiding from change, because change is never perfect.