Prosperity TVBut everyone will gratefully trade away some of their money for things that solve their problems or add value to their life. - great takeaway! Thanks Randy!
There is a lot of talk today about how to monetize things. If you create a new app, business model, or venture – partners, employees and investors will all want to know how you’re going to monetize it. But what about monetizing a tribe?
Recently I was chatting with a friend about the TRIBAL event I’m launching later this year and the subject of monetizing your tribe came up. My friend asked if I had seen a post on Facebook from a mutual colleague of ours railing against monetization, and suggested it might be directed at me. Who knows, probably was.
The colleague was decrying how everyone was trying to monetize him, and he didn’t want to be monetized. That sounds right, and I’m sure most people who read his post nodded in agreement. After all, who wants to be victimized by those evil, greedy, money-grubbing monetizers?
But if we do a little critical thinking on it, things don’t look quite the same…
Of course no one wants to be “sold” or monetized. But everyone will gratefully trade away some of their money for things that solve their problems or add value to their life. All true prosperity is created by value-for-value exchange.
If you have a toothache, you will gratefully trade a couple hundred dollars to a dentist who can make it go away. When I saw that R8 Spyder at the Audi dealership, I decided I wanted it more than the $155K I had laying around. When you see a charity really making a difference, you’re happy for the opportunity to fund their good work.
So how does this dynamic relate to leading tribe?
Well there are many different types of tribes and causes that bring them together. You could be a consultant who’s championing a new way of manufacturing for an industry, a non-profit who is rescuing homeless orphans, or Jimmy Buffet leading his band of “parrotheads.”
No matter the objective you’re seeking to accomplish, if you have a tribe that follows you, they pay you a great honor. They’ve given you a platform and of course, with that platform comes responsibility. Part of that responsibility is never betraying their trust, and providing real value to them. But please know that these responsibilities don't include leading the tribe for free, or for “the greater good,” unless that is something you feel moved to do. (And are financially able to.)
For most tribe leaders, a big part of your responsibility is finding a way to monetize what you are doing with the tribe. Because for most tribe leaders, if they don’t do that – they won’t be able to continue doing what they do. If you really believe in your work and want to be able to continue doing it, you have to get the money thing out of the way. And the consciously aware members of the tribe will understand and support this.
Jimmy Buffet has provided joy to millions around the world. But if we parrotheads didn’t buy his CDs and concert tickets, that wouldn’t have happened.
Lee Ann Kim had a vision to create a film festival for the Asian community in Southern California. But to do that, she has to hire good people and pay them. So like all non-profits, she has to monetize the people who believe in the cause.
I do a lot of counseling with aspiring speakers, coaches and authors who have a message they believe the world needs to hear. And the world does need those messages. But the people who own those messages need to buy cat food, doctor bills and groceries too.
Yes there are people who sacrifice personal wealth and material comforts to serve others in noble causes. I'm sure someone would bring up Mother Teresa in the comments if I didn't mention her here. But know that she was able to do that because she had followers who sent her money every month to continue her work. (I was one. Not because it was my responsibility, or because I was being noble. I did it selfishly for the joy it brought to me. )
The meek may inherit the earth, but not if they’re only paying the minimum balance on their credit cards each month.
Do you feel led to lead a tribe? Great, go for it. The world needs more people like you. Or as Seth Godin said in his brilliant book on the subject, “We need you, to lead us.’
However, if you really want to make an impact, make a difference and become the change – find a way to monetize what you want to do.
-RG
P.S. I'm back to posting at least several times a week here. So I won't send out an e-zine each time like I did with the occasional postcards. So check back often or else enter your email in the "Stay Connected" box in the upper right corner to get an alert each time I post something new.
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But everyone will gratefully trade away some of their money for things that solve their problems or add value to their life. - great takeaway! Thanks Randy!
I find it fascinating that someone would be upset about being monetized (which they can ignore) on a FREE social media forum where they are being provided great value FOR FREE. SHEESH.
There's more than one way to skin a cat, a metaphor that might be applied here RG. As we work on telling interactive stories that will take the audience to other platforms while subtly pushing their 'inner buttons', we also need to monetize. And there lies our challenge in a world of traditional thinking. And it also opens the door to NEW ways of monetizing which is what we're digging into to find. Good stuff here as usual my friend!
Tell em what's up, Randy!
More often than not the one who "feels bad" about "monetizing their tribe" is someone who either doesn't really believe in the value they're offering that tribe and/or doesn't belive in themselves and their worthiness. Which is exactly the challenges that your work is helping people overcome.
Great piece man. As usual.
Suffering is good -- suffering creates character. If you took away suffering, no one would have any character and the world would be a WORSE place!
Oh and I bout forgot to ask you about that R8 "Spyder" you mentioned... Did you mean to call it a Spyder? Is it convertible?
joebuchel Your tweet makes my page better: http://rbl.ms/1xfn7HS
Matt Shorty Wells No not a convertible. Spyder is the performance package I believe. -RG
@TheTechReader_com Yeah, suffering is great, as long as you are not the one who is suffering.
Randy, if I may paraphrase what you do from an old Dr. Hook song, "You sing about beauty and you sing about truth at $200,000 a show". Hey, I understand. Those exotic cars, perpetual vacations, Armani suits, Rolex watches, supermodels, and Gulfstream 650 jets are not cheap. All I ask is just throw us "po' folks" a bone now and then, as you did with Mother Teresa.
pandkenterprises I see there's been a bit of inflation since that song came out!
Randy_Gage pandkenterprises Yes, and I blame it all on Obama. Of course, I am like one of those redneck inbred's that blames Obama for everything (when Bush was President, they blamed him).
Randy_Gage 🙂
CarlyAThorne Thanks 4 getting the word out
SusanNeustrom Thanks 4 getting the word out
Bucky Fuller, over 30years ago challenged his listeners to be about a world that works for everyone with no one left out and no one left behind. Tall order, a mountian with no top in the current paradigm. Thank you Randy for being on point. Each of us makes a difference or nobody does.
Randy_Gage Always and anytime have a great evening
Love the message Randy. If your market doesn't exist, you can be the one to create it.
Randy_Gage quality content is important to share, have a great #TGIF
Too funny Randy. 🙂 Nothing cooler than the intersection of seemingly random encounters and what we do for a living to make it all real. In other words, no accidents.
Happy to be part of that and great to spend a little time with you in an unexpected venue. #tribal
Randy, I always like to bring up Mother Teresa in these posts but you beat me to the punch... Her focus was always on the giving which activated people like you and many others to fund what she was doing. The more and more that I study these success ideas, I am coming to one conclusion and that is you have to find "your" voice, "your" message and become one with that message and it will resonate with the "tribe" we belong to.
But you have to be true to yourself...
As Always, Here's to Your Success,
God Bless You,
John Clark, http://www.lifetosuccess.com
lifetosuccess Well, don't "resonate" so much with the "tribe" that you don't do your own critical thinking (whether that tribe is religion, political party, Randy's group, etc. etc.)
Yes. we all have to make a living AND be at service with our talents and gifts. and maybe push our own development and have therefor a retreat, a coach, a place to rest and create more.
love your news, Randy!
Much love and respect from Vienna, Austria
pandkenterprises I think @Randy_Gage just did throw us all a bone~ this blog post! 😀
I appreciate what you've got to say here. Will need to reflect on it a bit more. Thank you. Stay amazing! 🙂
But everyone will gratefully trade away some of their money for things that solve their problems or add value to their life. - great takeaway! Thanks Randy!
I find it fascinating that someone would be upset about being monetized (which they can ignore) on a FREE social media forum where they are being provided great value FOR FREE. SHEESH.
There's more than one way to skin a cat, a metaphor that might be applied here RG. As we work on telling interactive stories that will take the audience to other platforms while subtly pushing their 'inner buttons', we also need to monetize. And there lies our challenge in a world of traditional thinking. And it also opens the door to NEW ways of monetizing which is what we're digging into to find. Good stuff here as usual my friend!
Tell em what's up, Randy!
More often than not the one who "feels bad" about "monetizing their tribe" is someone who either doesn't really believe in the value they're offering that tribe and/or doesn't belive in themselves and their worthiness. Which is exactly the challenges that your work is helping people overcome.
Great piece man. As usual.
Suffering is good -- suffering creates character. If you took away suffering, no one would have any character and the world would be a WORSE place!
Oh and I bout forgot to ask you about that R8 "Spyder" you mentioned... Did you mean to call it a Spyder? Is it convertible?
joebuchel Your tweet makes my page better: http://rbl.ms/1xfn7HS
Matt Shorty Wells No not a convertible. Spyder is the performance package I believe. -RG
@TheTechReader_com Yeah, suffering is great, as long as you are not the one who is suffering.
Randy, if I may paraphrase what you do from an old Dr. Hook song, "You sing about beauty and you sing about truth at $200,000 a show". Hey, I understand. Those exotic cars, perpetual vacations, Armani suits, Rolex watches, supermodels, and Gulfstream 650 jets are not cheap. All I ask is just throw us "po' folks" a bone now and then, as you did with Mother Teresa.
pandkenterprises I see there's been a bit of inflation since that song came out!
Randy_Gage pandkenterprises Yes, and I blame it all on Obama. Of course, I am like one of those redneck inbred's that blames Obama for everything (when Bush was President, they blamed him).
Randy_Gage 🙂
CarlyAThorne Thanks 4 getting the word out
SusanNeustrom Thanks 4 getting the word out
Bucky Fuller, over 30years ago challenged his listeners to be about a world that works for everyone with no one left out and no one left behind. Tall order, a mountian with no top in the current paradigm. Thank you Randy for being on point. Each of us makes a difference or nobody does.
Randy_Gage Always and anytime have a great evening
Love the message Randy. If your market doesn't exist, you can be the one to create it.
Randy_Gage quality content is important to share, have a great #TGIF
Too funny Randy. 🙂 Nothing cooler than the intersection of seemingly random encounters and what we do for a living to make it all real. In other words, no accidents.
Happy to be part of that and great to spend a little time with you in an unexpected venue. #tribal
Randy, I always like to bring up Mother Teresa in these posts but you beat me to the punch... Her focus was always on the giving which activated people like you and many others to fund what she was doing. The more and more that I study these success ideas, I am coming to one conclusion and that is you have to find "your" voice, "your" message and become one with that message and it will resonate with the "tribe" we belong to.
But you have to be true to yourself...
As Always, Here's to Your Success,
God Bless You,
John Clark, http://www.lifetosuccess.com
lifetosuccess Well, don't "resonate" so much with the "tribe" that you don't do your own critical thinking (whether that tribe is religion, political party, Randy's group, etc. etc.)
Yes. we all have to make a living AND be at service with our talents and gifts. and maybe push our own development and have therefor a retreat, a coach, a place to rest and create more.
love your news, Randy!
Much love and respect from Vienna, Austria
pandkenterprises I think @Randy_Gage just did throw us all a bone~ this blog post! 😀
I appreciate what you've got to say here. Will need to reflect on it a bit more. Thank you. Stay amazing! 🙂