Great observations! Great timing, too. Yesterday, I was pondering my new project and what to call my position, which involved building a thriving health care community. Community Strategist? Nah. Sounds like I just sit on the toilet and think all day. Community Guru? Who am I kidding? There is always something new to be learned. Community Evangelist? Sounds like a religious discussion. Bottom Line: when you lead a community, your role is to lend a hand, so everyone else can work, play, build and share.
Sue Murphy
· 2 years ago
Communities only work when everyone contributes. It's like being in a band, or a choir. If one person doesn't practice enough, or focus enough, the whole group suffers. A community is not just its leaders, it is the sum of all its parts, good, bad and ugly. That's what keeps it interesting. Like anything that takes effort, there will be challenges, and celebrations. In the end everyone will grow, and will have been part of something that is important to them.
Ian Green
· 2 years ago
Great post. We've actually created a business out of a community at Ladybank Company of Distillers - see www.whisky.co.uk. Here's how it worked. A guy called James Thomson launches a website(s) devoted to excellent Scottish Single Malt Whiskies - lots of enthusiasts come to it and start talking abou the whiskies they love. Someone suggests they build their own distillery. Someone else comes up with idea of of membership community - where all the members put some cash into the project. And that's what they did. This co-creation company has renovated some farm buildings in Fife, Scotland and should start making whisky early next year. The foundations are the people we have and how they are behind the project and interacting with it. Seen you on Twitter by the way.
Dennis D. McDonald
· 2 years ago
Chris: I'm forwarding this to a client whose role is changing. Thanks. - Dennis
chrisbrogan
· 2 years ago
Wow.. a community distillery. I'm in! : )
Glad this resonated with such great people as you guys. Thanks very much for the ideas.
Whitney
· 2 years ago
This post comes on the heels of a conversation I had this AM with a Podcasting rock star. And what was interesting, is she feels alientated from the community because people are now "afraid" to talk to her the same way they would before. I told her I would "link her up" via twitter and other sources- because this is the fun part of new media- the friends, the conversation, and being able to ask for help or suggestions no matter where you perceive yourself on the podcasting food chain.
Rob Suarez
· 2 years ago
Maybe it's just me but... leading a community is hard! Over at http://www.inkdoodles.com, we had a lot of participation last year... then it all sort of fizzled... and I can't figure it out. Why did they leave? Did they really leave or are they just not posting? Just to confuse issues more, while the websire community participation has come to a grinding halt... the podcast listenership has started to take off... what does that mean? Am I trying to create a community of participators when people don't want to participate?
Anyway... sorry to vent... but sometimes it is hard to be a community leader... or builder... when the community is virtual. Don't you think?
Yep, with the new-media so prevalent and easy to use, when you screw someone over now, word of mouth is much further reaching, much more convenient, and viral. People WILL take the time to bust you on your BS. I know I took a more than healthy pleasure in pulling the rug out from under the above articles villain.
Vajra
· 2 years ago
Chris, When you are ready, the teacher will appear. It appears that I was ready to learn from you. Amazing post to read and absorb. Thank you.
Carter Harkins
· 2 years ago
It's like basking in the warm, friendly sunshine, really. Reading this had all the effects of a hammock, a fruity cocktail, a gentle breeze, a secluded beach... and another fruity cocktail. Not to say it isn't challenging to build community, but to hear someone get it so right, well, it does my heart good. Thanks, man. I probably won't get any closer than this to a vacation this year...
All Comments
Here's how it worked. A guy called James Thomson launches a website(s) devoted to excellent Scottish Single Malt Whiskies - lots of enthusiasts come to it and start talking abou the whiskies they love. Someone suggests they build their own distillery.
Someone else comes up with idea of of membership community - where all the members put some cash into the project.
And that's what they did. This co-creation company has renovated some farm buildings in Fife, Scotland and should start making whisky early next year.
The foundations are the people we have and how they are behind the project and interacting with it.
Seen you on Twitter by the way.
Glad this resonated with such great people as you guys. Thanks very much for the ideas.
Anyway... sorry to vent... but sometimes it is hard to be a community leader... or builder... when the community is virtual. Don't you think?
Yep, with the new-media so prevalent and easy to use, when you screw someone over now, word of mouth is much further reaching, much more convenient, and viral. People WILL take the time to bust you on your BS. I know I took a more than healthy pleasure in pulling the rug out from under the above articles villain.