T H E N E C E S S I T Y O F C O M M U N I T Y
MY JOURNEY Rancher wannabe I did not grow up in a farming or ranching family. There is very little ranching background in my roots. My friends and coworkers might consider me a rancher, but by many of your standards I am not. But I will be. I was not born into this, it is my calling. And while my family may not have imparted acres of land or a cowboy heritage, they did impart a desire to build, to grow and be my own boss. For as long as I remember my parents have always owned their own businesses and from an early age I ve had an entrepreneurial spirit. 2
MY JOURNEY All but a few said yes With every yes I became more and more excited, and confident I was doing the right thing. I began recording in the evenings after Coltrane went to bed, in our little laundry closet about a 2x2 foot space amongst the cloth diapers drying and dirty laundry. It worked and had excellent sound. 9
Coming out with a bang I wanted to come out with a bang, I knew this much was important. People that I work with in the design industry, my coworkers, they take me seriously. I d proved myself to them. But this was a whole new industry, a whole new audience and I had yet to prove anything. I wasn t out to prove myself so much as I was out to prove that what I was hoping to help create, this community, which was something to take seriously. 10
Everyone has a story Everyone has a story and by sharing your story, you re creating an opportunity for others to connect, feel something through your story. Inspiration, kinship, peace, solidarity, etc. These people become your tribe. You may not know them in person, but they support you and as you build that relationship, whether intentionally or not. That relationship is vital to your goals. To your dreams. To realizing and finding success in those goals and dreams. If your goal is to create an end product and sell it to a selective audience or to the masses, that relationship with your tribe is imperative. They will buy your product, promote your product, use your product. Build demand your product. If your goal is to build a herd and shepherd that herd to maintain grasslands, that relationship with your tribe is imperative. They will encourage your efforts. Support your endeavors. Share your story. 12
BUILDING COMMUNITY Your tribe If your goal is to maintain an existing herd and monetize through breeding stock or meat production or wool production, your tribe will have invested interest in what you re doing, share what you re doing, buy what you re doing. 13
To create a tribe you need a message that is personal, relevant and anticipated
BUILDING COMMUNITY Get personal Get personal, share your story. What is your story? Not interesting to you or those you talk to daily, but interesting to the majority of America and others who find your daily life fascinating and unfamiliar. How can you share your story, taking folks on your journey? Instagram, Facebook, Blog, Periscope, Podcast, Videos Who do you start to share your story with? Engage with others, then it spreads 15
Be generous People want to connect with each other. A tribe helps like-minded people find each other. It gives them a story to tell and something to talk about. So be generous. Give something away, create trust. Find a niche, speak directly to just those people, focus on your tribe. 16
Create anticipation With the podcast I created a weekly schedule, sharing sneak peeks and such. Respond to what people are responding to. Build prestige behind what you are sharing, whether it s a product or an event or 17
Be genuine Be true to who you are. I can t emphasize this enough. A lot of this may be out of your comfort zone, and may therefore feel unnatural, but it all starts with a desire - to grow, to encourage, and when you stay true to your story, your journey and what you have to share, you can t go wrong there s someone, somewhere who will hear, see, feel what you have to say and step alongside you and support what you re doing. And that s a community. 18
T H A N K Y O U