The Enrichment Project is designed to work as a tribe. Everyone is encouraged to do as much as they wish and to help others on their path. So, let’s learn about tribes as well as the tribes you belong to and why.
Steps
1. Tribes.
Obtain a copy of “Tribes” by Seth Godin. Check it out at the library or purchase a copy. Audio book companies such as audible.com offer a free book to try their service. Read or listen to the book and find out about tribes.
You can also check out TED Talks and YouTube for Seth’s presentations about tribes.
2. Tribes Casebook.
sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/10/free-tribes-ebo.html
Members of Seth Godin’s tribe put together a casebook. It is a PDF available for free download on the Web. While Seth speaks more in generalities and gives some examples of tribes, this casebook is about numerous tribes and gives you a better idea of tribes that exist and how they work.
3. Heretic?
Heretics are engaged, passionate, and more powerful and happier than everyone else. And they have a tribe that they support (and that supports them in turn).
Challenging the status quo requires a commitment, both public and private. It involves reaching out to others and putting your ideas on the line (or pinning your Ninety-five Theses to the church door).
Heretics must believe. More than anyone else in an organization, it’s the person who’s challenging the status quo, the one who is daring to be great, who is truly present and not just punching a clock who must have confidence in her beliefs.
The Elements of Leadership
Leaders challenge the status quo.
Leaders create a culture around their goal and involve others in that culture.
Leaders have an extraordinary amount of curiosity about the world they’re trying to change.
Leaders use charisma (in a variety of forms) to attract and motivate followers.
Leaders communicate their vision of the future.
Leaders commit to a vision and make decisions based on that commitment.
Leaders connect their followers to one another. Sorry for the alliteration, but that’s the way it worked out.
If you consider the leaders in your organization or community, you’ll see that every one of them uses some combination of these seven elements. You don’t have to be in charge or powerful or pretty or connected to be a leader. You do have to be committed.
Excerpted from TRIBES: WE NEED YOU TO LEAD US by Seth Godin, Copyright (c) Do You Zoom, Inc., 2008.
4. Your tribe(s).
You already belong to tribes, though you might not realize it. One purpose for the Enrichment Project is to give youth group volunteers additional knowledge to use and share with their kids. If you’re volunteering for a youth group, that’s one of your tribes.
What Facebook or Yahoo! Groups do you subscribe to? What magazines do you purchase? What charities do you support? Who sends you mail and email that you read? All of these are tribes. They give you a sense of belonging and purpose.
5. Lead.
If you are very passionate about a subject, can you start a tribe? It might be as simple as a Facebook group for discussions or fundraising to contribute to a cause that’s close to your heart. You might choose to start an organization. A few examples to look into include:
- Enrichment Project
- Frontier Girls / Quest Clubs
- M.A.D.D.
6. Follow.
While you were looking at your tribes, did you notice that some of them you are passionate about? Perhaps you started one or helped to get one started where you faithfully keep up-to-date on happenings. Then there are the emails you completely read, the postings you look forward to when you get off work and the magazine that makes you put aside your chores for the afternoon. Some you might do because you feel obligated to do so. Some you sign up for because you’re interested in one element only and most of the tribe’s undertakings do not interest you.
Each one of these tribes gives you something different. You choose to participate as much as you want and how you want. Think about your level of involvement and how it relates to your interest in each tribe.
7. Your passions.
Everyone has something they are passionate about. Make a list. Which of these passions do you feel you might work on to make a difference? Which do you already have a tribe for? Or do you have more than one tribe for your passion? Share your passions and tribes.
8. Research tribes.
Investigate and explore tribes available for your passions. Do not limit yourself to your city. Find out what’s in your country, your state, the world or online.
9. Improve tribes.
Choose one of your tribes. How can you make it better? Are you interested in an element that is not currently covered by the tribe? Contribute to the tribe to improve it.
10. Enrichment Project.
I see the Enrichment Project as a tribe — everyone contributing as much as they want, volunteering as they want and sharing their skills as they want. Some of the areas you may wish to participate in include administration, creating badge programs, helping others earn badges, taking the programs outside the Web and using them locally, etc.
Find out more about the Enrichment Project. You can do this by looking through badge programs, looking at infographics about badges, etc. Is this the place for you? Does this tribe fill one of your passions? Do you have suggestions to make it better?
Supplements
SUPP_Tribes_2in_12up_larajla
- Avery 2.5” round label printable, 12 up
SUPP_Tribes_Checklist_larajla
- Badge checklist
Sites to Explore
- www.sethgodin.com/sg
- sethgodin.typepad.com
- audible.com
- ted.com
- facebook.com
- groups.yahoo.com
- madd.org
- frontiergirlsclubs.com
- larajla.com
- www.onlinecollege.org/2012/10/21/20-successful-nonprofits-started-students
- www.mobilecause.com/passion-project-success
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here > Full badge PDFs