Platform and Tribe—2 Words I’ve Erased From My Vocabulary

September 17, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Life, Quick Reads with 33 Comments

Photo by Tim Ellis (Creative Commons)

I posted this comment to Twitter about a week and a half ago just to make a joke.

“If I had a penny for each time I’ve read the word platform and tribe in the last year, I bet I could afford to travel around on a unicorn.”

But this weekend after some reflection, I realized I wasn’t just making a joke.

The words tribe and platform have very little value to me, like a penny. But I’d love to make them work for me in some kind of a magical way.

But there are no “magic fixes.”

These words are a distraction as I pursue my dream of doing meaningful work. 

Platform-It is very easy to make platform the focus or goal of all you do.
The truth is you already have a platform of some type if you are sharing your work.
It’s pointless to focus on platform unless you have something meaningful to say.
Just because one platform works for one person, it doesn’t mean it will work for another.

Anyone who wants to be great is going to spend their time working on their craft.

Tribe- A group will support you and work with you if you have something meaningful to say or a good message to share. With all of the focus on tribe-building it is easy to focus on numbers and the larger group than it is to focus on individuals. I associate the word tribe with mob, which has a negative connotation; I prefer not to think of anyone as a mindless, passionate follower.

I believe you are able to make your own informed decisions.

If you use these words, that’s fine—but I find them distracting and I am not going to use them.

If I do the work I should be doing, I know good things will follow.

 

Are there any words you might need to erase to move forward?

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  • http://jeremystatton.com/ Jeremy Statton

    I’m with you, Jim. I’ve struggled with the value of these goals. I guess you can say it is easy to lose sight of the forest, especially if you aren’t there to hear the tree fall. Or something like that.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      I really appreciate the support Jeremy. I think we should start a club. There will most definitely be chocolate chip cookies there and electric guitars—for breaks when we aren’t writing or doing other work that matters :-)

  • http://www.livefullyblog.com/ Evan Forester

    We do love our buzz words in this society. Although, if you did ride around the world on a unicorn I bet you would be able to build a huge tribe pretty quickly. Something to think about!

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      haha.Good point. You got me there.

  • http://twitter.com/elramey debra elramey

    Jim, I appreciate these authentic words – words that many of
    us have thought. That’s half of what we
    read these days in the blogosphere.
    Build the platform, build the tribe.
    I’ll admit that I’ve struggled
    with this for the past several weeks months. I’ve almost contemplated taking a long hiatus
    from blogging to focus on manuscripts that need to be finished. Thank you!

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      You bet Debra. Do what matters to you; don’t focus at all on those two words I’m not using anymore :) There is NO one “right way” to do any of this other that to follow your heart and do what you know you MUST do.

  • http://DavidHelmsBlog.com/ David Helms

    “Tribe” what me like of the old (quasi-racist I guess) phrase “too many chiefs, not enough Indians.”

    The flip side of that coin is without an audience that participates in the discussion, we’re just talking to ourselves. (Says the guy with a grand total of one comment on his blog.)

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      David, I get what you are saying. I think you have to be share your work with others; that’s a given. If you do GREAT work, I truly feel others will share it for you.

      • http://DavidHelmsBlog.com/ David Helms

        Truth.
        Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

  • http://www.facebook.com/yvette.carol Yvette Carol

    I’d say ‘can’t’ would be a good one for me to delete. :-)

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Well said Yvette! A positive attitude makes a HUGE difference!!!!!!!!!

  • http://blog.travishinkle.com/ Travis Hinkle

    Jim, I have to wonder if the popularization of these terms is mostly beneficial only to those who are making money off of telling us how WE can build OUR tribes and platforms so we can be as popular as they are. I understand their usefulness, but obviously there isn’t a cookie-cutter formula that will work everytime for everyone.

  • Adeline Gonzales

    Jim I am SO glad I am not the only one that feels this way. I seriously got so burnt out on the words tribe and platform and becoming obsessed with them that I had to take a step back and remind myself why I loved to write. I totally agree “If I do the work I should be doing, I know good things will follow.” Great post!

  • http://www.twitter.com/erikjfisher/ Erik Fisher

    I won’t hold it against you if you stop using those words, and others like them. I’m looking at you ‘Brand’ and ‘Content’. I use them sometimes, but only when it’s a tool to help others understand the meaning they convey. Even then, for some they have a negative connotation.

    Ultimately, we are people, doing work, that others either like or don’t. We are trying to connect or have relationships with other humans around that work.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Great point Erik! I really like how you summarized that. I’m just totally over the concept of platform and tribe as being a goal for me. They have become a distraction that take me away from doing work that matters.

  • http://randomlychad.com Chad Jones

    Honestly, I’ve tried to follow the formulas, but find them cramping. I honestly don’t know what a meaningful metric of success is. People applaud my bravery, but I don’t get a lot of shares, comments, or “likes.” So instead of beating my head against “tribe,” “platform,” and “brand,” I’m going to quietly hone my craft, spilling blood onto each page. If the Lord wills that my “tribe” grow, it will.

    That said, I know there is a core group who is invested in me, and they proved it this past summer. That is worth more mere words can say.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Chad, TRUE success is often not measurable other than in lives touched. And how can we accurately measure that? I think the problem is how we measure success, and often that is in dollars, page views, likes and retweets.

  • Whit

    Thanks for your words, Jim. As a marketer by day, I’m annoyed at the way these words have become an imperative I find is constantly dictated to the creative teams by the powers that be. I wish people would spend more time thinking about the heart and story of the product than figuring out how to implement the great business/marketing book they just finished reading.

    As a writer, in general, I’m also ready for writers to start reclaiming their own voice, focusing on putting their hearts and minds down on the page rather than focusing so much on trying to duplicate the 7 steps or formulas of other, more vocal and “successful” writers.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Well said Whit. I couldn’t agree more. I’d love to talk with you more about how we can reclaim our “own voice”. Beautifully said Whit. Thanks for the comment.

  • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

    Great post. While I have learned so much from people about both of these words, I think for many people it can be very distracting. I believe in doing great work, using the talent and insight that God gave you, and helping and serving others. If you can continue to do those things and lead, people will follow you. There can definitely be some insincerity felt if people are only focused on building the following. You will do great. Continue to be the wonderful person that you are and impacting change right where you are.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Thanks Tammy. I’d just like to clarify– In NO WAY is this meant to be a knock on anyone in particular who sells or talks about things related to Tribes and Platforms. It is more I am removing barriers and distractions that take me away from what I really want to do. I view things differently and intend to do things my own way as I feel called. Thanks for the kind words Tammy, as always I really appreciate it!

      • http://www.tammyhelfrich.com/ Tammy Helfrich

        Thanks for the clarification. I didn’t really take it that way, but I can see how someone might have. I am right there with you about removing barriers and distractions. It’s similar to a conversation you and I had earlier about staying focused on who YOU are versus trying to imitate or rely on what others are doing as the end all be all. What you are doing matters. You know that, and it sounds like you’ve gotten some good clarity recently that will help you stay focused. I believe in you!

  • http://sayable.net/ Lore Ferguson

    THANK YOU. Thank you. thank you.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      So you are going to quit using the word thank you? Just kidding :) haha (sad attempt at humor) You are very welcome. Glad you enjoyed this Lore. I appreciate the kind comment!

      • http://sayable.net/ Lore Ferguson

        I already quit using the word =) It’s a bad word in my vocab. Too much pressure. Too much. Can’t handle =)

      • http://sayable.net/ Lore Ferguson

        Oooohhh. Haha. Thank you. I see. Ha. sorry =) no. I like those words.

  • http://profiles.google.com/andilit Andrea Cumbo

    I don’t have the strong reaction that you do to these words, Jim, but I do share your feelings about the misplacement of energy if all we are doing is building platforms and tribes without having any substance. Unless we are social media specialists, our work is our work, and as you say, if we do good work, people will come.

    Reminds me of what friends and I discussed about John the Baptist yesterday. A smelly, wild dude out in the dessert saying what he was called to say, and he drew hundreds to him . . . without Facebook. :)

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Andi, I think I have a strong reaction because I see them as distractions that take us away from the goal. Great thought about John the Baptist. Now I’m thinking of a certain “freaky” DC Talk song :)

    • http://twitter.com/cupojoegirl Eileen Knowles

      Andi, it is so weird that you mentioned John the Baptist! In our small group last night and (yesterday at church) we discussed the first chapter of Mark. In small group we talked about what we thought John the Baptist looked like and your conclusion was our conclusion too :) Then we got on the topic of whether the phrase “all the people in Jerusalem” in Mark 1:5 really meant “all”. But, to get back to the point. I like what you said. He didn’t have the internet to spread his message but he did have passion and a purpose.

  • http://www.alise-write.com Alise Wright

    I would add “brand” to that list.

    I don’t like platform or tribe, but they at least come from a place of sincerity. I can see the value of sharing one’s work and of having people support you in that. I don’t like what those words have become (they often feel more manipulative than honest at this point), but at least I can kind of get where they’re coming from.

    But branding? Ugh. It just feels fake right from the outset. Yucko.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Good call Alise! I personally NEVER use the word brand anyways, so I wouldn’t think of that :) I believe in helping others…not creating “brands”.

  • http://twitter.com/cupojoegirl Eileen Knowles

    I find it more productive to keep my eyes and my heart focused on what I am passionate about. You are right, if I give the idea of building tribes and platforms too much attention it detours me from moving forward from the message I feel called to spread. I desire to connect with others and share a message that inspires and offers others hope. If I focus on staying authentic to that purpose, then that is where I find contentment. It’s the striving that makes me anxious. I don’t like that.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Eileen, I love how you expressed that. I know you are coming from a great place and it shows. I hope to create from that authentic, God-centered place as well. Thanks so much for sharing.