The Culture of a TRIBE
“The culture we live in determines which behaviors are attractive to us.” - James Clear in Atomic Habits.
The Miracle on Ice
In 2004, Disney released the movie Miracle that tells the true story of Herb Brooks, a hockey player-turned coach from Minnesota. At the time of the 1980 Olympic Games, the United States had not won since 1960. However, with a focus on chemistry and loyalty within the team and not just talent, Brooks achieved what most thought was seemingly impossible and led this group of young men to victory over the Russian squad. According to Brooks, “You know, Willie Wonka said it best: we are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams. We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we’re too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams. I’m a dreamer.” This “miracle on ice” was the result of a coach that focused on finding, leading, and connecting in spite of the conventional “wisdom” of his day. Brooks was a dreamer. He guided a group of young men beyond the concept of “family” or “team” to a different level. In a word, they became a TRIBE.
Defining the TRIBE
According to Google Dictionary, a tribe is, “a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader.” A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. What, then, makes a tribe unique to just an ordinary crowd? Seth Godin says, “A crowd is a tribe without a leader. A crowd is a tribe without communication. Most organizations spend their time marketing to the crowd. Smart organizations assemble the tribe.” The difference comes from leadership and communication…and it is significant!
It is the movement from crowd to tribe that is the most fascinating. Often, movements start with very humble beginnings – perhaps as only an idea. But by finding, identifying, and articulating the value systems of individuals, an ordinary crowd can become a tribe, creating intimate, passionate fans rather than an ordinary mass audience.
That is an extraordinary thought. Think about what the significant impact can be, though, when we focus on connecting other tribes to ours. What happens when our perspective shifts not just to the tribe we have in front of us, but all of us together? Just imagine the impact of a tribe of true fans that become passionate advocates of a dream as one larger conglomerate. Faith in a tribal vision is a powerful force, indeed!
Over the next couple of weeks, let’s chat a bit about how the culture we live in and the people we surround ourselves with impact our perceptions.
See you next week, friends!