Inspired to Lead - Surprised by a Social Marketing Book

Late last night, I downloaded Seth Godin's Tribes audiobook. I was prepared for more of his uncommon insights into marketing and also to see what he had to say about social marketing, The Next Big Thing. Well, I was surprised.

Not let down. Surprised. Although, I can see where the complaints will come from.

This book doesn't weigh heavy on how to make money. In fact, Godin reiterates numerous times that leading a tribe is not about money. He goes so far, once, as to say that if you try to cash in on your tribe, you'll ruin it. And I can just imagine how wonderfully that's going to go down with the marketing types who'll buy this book.

I was surprised. This is not another marketing book. This is a book about leadership. One of the best I've come across, and leadership is a genre I follow quite closely. (I even got Guiliani's post-9/11 tome, eh.)

Over and over again, Godin says that we need leaders; leaders who will do the right thing. He emphasises how each of us needs to connect--to each other, to a higher purpose. He talks about the difference between faith and religion, how faith is what we believe, and religion is what we construct to try and nurture that belief. And how religion can sometimes go awry, in that it may not promote belief but rather imprison it. And how when you then challenge those concepts of religion, people get offended because they think you're challenging their faith. How can we know that we believe in a true principle unless we're willing to put our mental constructs to the test?

Godin surprised me with this one. It's like the time I went to watch Click, expecting another trashy, brashy Adam Sandler gagfest. And found myself choking back embarrassing man-sized tears.

Sometimes it's nice to sign up for one thing and get another.

Are you looking for some inspiration? Tribes the audiobook is available for free now on Audible.com. Follow the promotional link from Seth's blog post announcing the release of Tribes. This is one of the best books on leadership that I've read (actually, heard) in a long time. And it's got some good points on marketing, too.

Alpha Lim is a professional copywriter who would like nothing better than to see every man, woman and child writing their hearts out with pathos and flair, for fun and profit.