Who is in your Tribe?
For a few months now, the concept of tribes has been a reoccurring theme in both my business and personal life. Through one of the online business programs I am in, the book Tribes by Seth Godin is required reading and shifted the way I viewed my social circles.
“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.”
While the book is predominately about stepping into your gifts to lead others, there is another HUGE take-away:
If you want to be extraordinary, surround yourself with extraordinary individuals.
In my world, I have broken my tribes into 2 large categories: the family I was born into & the family I chose for myself.My immediate family: my parents, brothers, sister, aunts, uncles, & grandparents are my rock. They are where I go to plug myself in and recharge so I can step out powerfully into the world. Their presence in my life provides a stream of never-ending love and support.Being a part of that tribe is what makes me, me.
Beyond that, I have created a tribe of business friends and fellow entreprenuers who inspire, motivate, encourage and push me beyond what my current circumstances are. I turn to them several times on a daily basis to help me remain focused on the work I am doing as a young female entrepreneur who is stepping into shoes that sometimes feel a bit too big. They keep me grounded and sane. Might I mention, there are some wildly talented individuals in that group who truly serve as role models - I look up to and admire them, learning each and every day.
(They take pictures like this one for my website!)
Even though my tribe of friends spans far & wide, and many of them aren’t physically near me, they make me laugh, relax, unwind, feel free and wild at heart. Being in their presence often feels like my heart is overflowing with love and gratitude for the gifts they offer the world and the fact that we get to support each other on our journeys. They love me for where I am and support me on where I’m going.These are the people in my world daily who make it all worthwhile….this crazy, wild, fascinating thing called life.Please let it be known that these tribes, that fill me up on a spiritual, emotional and physical level, are NOT here on a stroke of luck. For years now, I’ve taken a good hard look at the people I am surrounding myself with and ask myself whether or not we are traveling in the same direction. Do we push each other into our potential or knock each other down?
"Every great person was, is, or will be successful because of the company he or she keeps. They will make an impact because of a successful network of driven peers who provide both inspiration and healthy competition.
If you want to be remarkable, you must constantly challenge yourself and surround yourself with remarkable people. So think about what your goals are, and take a look around you. Do you need to write a “make or break” list?"
I'd also like to offer this perspective:“Yes, I think it's okay to abandon the big, established, stuck tribe. It's okay to say to them, "You're not going where I need to go, and there's no way I'm going to persuade all of you to follow me. So rather than standing here watching the opportunities fade away, I'm heading off. I'm betting some of you, the best of you, will follow me.” I’d like to encourage you to take a look at your tribes.Who are the people you surround yourself with and what groups are you a part of?Do they inspire, uplift, and love you or are you surrounded by draining, toxic people?Share in the comments below!Thank YOU for being part of my tribe,Carly