. . . Of A Feather
Your community needs you, but what—and—where is it?
As personal and corporate "giving" continues to grow,
1999 was another record year for philanthropy. That breakthrough
gives me cause to consider entrepreneurs' role in the future of
community. Business has always had a role in community building,
but it'll be both different and more important in the
future.
As we should expect, the post-industrial society defines
community differently. For example, there's clearly less, if
any, geographic constraint. Communities of interest are being
created-and dissolved-every hour of every day on the Net. Smart
companies recognize that the people who post messages of
dissatisfaction are parts of the community every bit as much as the
satisfied customers. These people should not be shut up as they
were in the Industrial Age but rather celebrated for their
contributions to our improvement. Community has never felt as
exclusionary as it does now.
Think of it this way: What do Bill Gates and Larry Ellison have
in common (besides being the two richest people in America and not
necessarily liking each other)? They both saved Apple Computer.
Community today has a tribal feel to it-or, as I like to call it, a
"neo-tribalness." Community is a participatory sport. You
have to be in it. You can't just say "Where's my
community?" You must engage. More than ever, community needs
business insights, efficiency and passion.
Content Continues Below
And finally, remember that community only happens when people
want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. As such,
community must include personal sacrifice. This is a good time to
reconsider what communities you're in . . . and how you want to
participate in them.
Author Watts Wacker-lecturer, bestselling writer, political
commentator, social critic and CEO of FirstMatter-is one of the
world's most respected futurists.