Because Tribes Work.

One of the core values we practice in a “being-based” business is called BEING PROMOTIVE. That is, promoting the success of everyone you work with, the company, and yourself. It doesn’t matter if you work in the mailroom or a vice-presidential suite, you are hired and paid to be a leader. Everything is your business and you are to act accordingly. Involved, passionate and forward-looking.

In a typical management-style organizational structure, each tier of management typically looks over their flock and makes sure the flock is doing what they are supposed to do. Those managers then have people overlooking them and so on. We believe that is backward and anti-productive for all involved, so we are a tribe and everyone is a leader.

In his best-selling book, “Triiibes,” Seth Godin describes tribes as “any group of people (large or small) who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea. For millions of years, humans have joined tribes, be they religious, ethnic, political, or even musical (think of the Deadheads). It’s our nature.” We agree.

TRIBE as an organizational structure.

With “Tribe” as our organizational structure, the leader is looking forward and providing vision. Those following that leader are tasked with looking forward to what he is trying to accomplish and to do their very best to move he or she forward, and in turn their followers are doing the same. This creates forward momentum and “ownership” qualities through all levels of the company. It’s some powerful stuff.

Additionally, our business model and technology enable us to build a tribe of powerful people that are not all classified as employees. In fact, our goal is to keep employees at a bare minimum—yet we want our tribe members to all be directly connected, focused, communicative, and dialed in regardless of their technical employment status. Stockholders, employees, freelancers, contractors, consultants, vendors, suppliers, clients and even loosely-tied fans can be a part of our Tribe. As defined above, a tribe is a perfect metaphor for how we can related to one another.

Lastly, being a tribe is way more fun than being a … human resource, personnel, department…whatever ordinary it is these days. Tribes share deep connections, passion and values. In a tribe everyone has a voice—a loud voice—and is committed to each others success. The tribe has your back, so to speak and in our humble opinion, that’s the way it oughta be. If you’re not a member of a tribe, you should join one or create one yourself. Be the leader within you!