Comments on: note to my “tribe”: where are we all headed, anyway?

By: Harris

Harris — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:04:55 +0000

talking about your status as “tribe leader” can only serve to diminish your status as “tribe leader”. i’ve learned this the hard way. play your cards close to the chest hugh.

By: Diaper

Diaper — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:54:14 +0000

These tattoos will soon look soooo dated

By: Stacy Lang

Stacy Lang — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:54:36 +0000

Why do we follow? For me it’s the clarity I find in some of your drawings. It’s the chuckle I get as you fine-tune the day to day grind into concise, often snarky, cartoons. Seeing that yes, there are other people who must juggle to make life make sense. Leaders are those that give of themselves while doing whatever comes naturally. And you think about what you’re doing. Reflect. And make us want to do the same. So keep moving. You’re already leading.

By: Shelley Noble

Shelley Noble — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:11:13 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot about Seth’s Tribe concept. I’m buying it in the sense that connection is the intent, a much better value than buying stuff to me.
What I’m still working out with it is the question of the meaning of the tribe itself. A superficial take is that people tatooing and/or otherwise following is great or equals success in some fashion. That changed for me the other day.
I was looking on YouTube at videos made by author/illustrator Keri Smith’s Tribe. Her latest book asks the readers to participate with the book itself in order to gain its value. The vids, made and posted unprompted, were of the readers engaging with the book. My problems with the tribe concept arose when I considered closely the people in the video.
Surely success must include more than having a large bunch of questionable personalities latched onto to what we are doing.
There’s got to be another stage of this in order to make it genuinely transformational.

By: Vickie Pynchon

Vickie Pynchon — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:58:17 +0000

If you’d done nothing other than write “How to Be Creative,” you would have served your tribe, my tribe, our tribe well. That and the pleasure I get from my husband’s disapproval when I pass out my/your “Was it good for you?” blog business card.

By: Ed Welch

Ed Welch — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:57:44 +0000

Hugh:
One of the most fascinating aspects of tribes (for me anyway) has been to learn that I’ve been leading a tribe all along — and I didn’t even realize it. It makes me think differently about the members and how I “care for them”, etc.
My suggestion — don’t over analyze this — just accept it and continue as you were.
My final tip — continue to stay clear of those activities that cause “tribal destruction”. In other words, the tribal concept can become critical to you should you decide to make some major changes.….
Regards,
Ed

By: Dave Martin

Dave Martin — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:44:45 +0000

Hugh,
“There go my people. I must follow them, for I am their leader” so said Ghandi. That certainly seems relevant. Your body of work (i.e., your art, tweets, posts, writing, contributions on Gillmor, et al) speaks for itself. You are living out loud, earning respect and appreciation for your refreshing candor, integrity and engaging audacity. You bring Goethe to mind “It is the great triumph of genius to make the common appear novel.” Count me a member of your tribe. Rock on.

By: Rob Tyrie

Rob Tyrie — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:27:09 +0000

Hugh:
I think the concept of tribe and purpose-idea is great, but I’d like to extend it. Even with a great purpose-idea, for tribes to grow organically, they need more. They need the “Story”. It has to be a great story. For humans ‚the story has to be a flowing narrative that has to catch them. The more it catches them, the more your tribe will follow you, and the more individuals will join the tribe. The story should be consistent, compelling and embedded with the DNA of the Purpose-Idea… now your following can follow. So, to me, growing a tribe is about giving them a story they can use to follow you.
BTW, one of my favorite things about your art, is the stories it tells.
cheers,
twitterhandle: robtyrie (gapingvoid follower)

By: crawford

crawford — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:01:29 +0000

Agree with others who point to the path you’re already on, which is now narrowing and becoming more clear and visible. Don’t overthink. In fact, try to avoid thinking altogether. Your gut is and will lead you.
Thanks in advance.
s

By: Daniel Ted C. Feliciano

Daniel Ted C. Feliciano — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:20:16 +0000

I’m proud to be a member of your tribe. You don’t have to lead me anywhere though because I pretty much think I can lead my own self. =)
Greetings from the Philippines.

By: Rudy Lee

Rudy Lee — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:56:44 +0000

Yes, you are already leading. Do not be afraid. Go boldly. Be daring. You aren’t alone. The world is reading your “How To Be Creative.” I have read yours and love it. It all depends on how to be yourself, be original, be creative no matter what inspiration has conjure upon on. We all have our idealism in our own world. We should not let others’ opinion affect us. We have alot of things to learn no matter what century we are in. I believe everyone knows age is just a number. It all depends on how good we are to achieve something. Everything is always a chapter we always flip through in our yearly growth of lifehood.
Till then godspeed. Truth to be told everyone wants to lead but like I said in my previous post. Leading is not an easy task but strive for it. It is a great thing that you love to share you knowledge. It is nothing wrong. Life is always an experience. Oh yes nice tattoo. ^_^
May the great adventure awaits you.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:55:19 +0000

Concurring with Seth and Dan. It isn’t necessary for a leader to *LEAD*, it is only necessary to go. Followers follow. As you strive to be creative so do others, each in their own way.
They follow you on their own path.
The fatal mistake of political*leaders*. Trying to get *followers*.

By: Centralasian

Centralasian — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:58:55 +0000

You fill the gaps of absurd in the void of our lives with new meanings. And you do it so well that other people start doing the same. Or at least they start trying. Filling the void with meaning is not a bad mission for a tribe. And — as a bonus track — it’s not to be accomplished.

By: Fenmere, the Worm

Fenmere, the Worm — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:10:38 +0000

Having just read Anethem by Neal Stephenson, and then reading this article you just posted, and then looking back at my past eight years of producing comics and trying to build my own business, I came to a thought.
Although it’s good to strive to find out what your purpose or your goal actually is, because you might be able to use it better, I don’t think it’s necessary!
As long as you’re thinking about it, it should color your actions and thus the people who are drawn to your actions. It seems to, in fact, based on my experience.
In fact, I suspect that the minute you define your purpose-idea, it’ll slip away from you. If for no other reason than that you or your subconscious (or your superconscious — your group) will refine it!
In other words, you may be having trouble defining your purpose-idea because it’s constantly changing.

By: Dave Barnhart

Dave Barnhart — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:52:55 +0000

You already ARE leading, Hugh. Concepts like the Social Object and Global Microbrand are yours, and I use them frequently. I ‘Follow’ you on twitter because you already ARE a thought leader.
Just keep doing what you’ve always been doing.