Besties 2009: Best Book #best09

By Digital Mom on December 2, 2009@http://www.twitter.com/digitalmomblog

Okay, fine. I’ll say it. Yes, I work for a large publisher. But no, I am not an avid reader. I blame my A.D.D. and addiction to technology. I know as soon as I sucker up and purchase an ebook reader this will change my perspective.

The one author that I do admire and make a point to read is Seth Godin. His no non-sense, keepin’ it real but simple approach appeals to me. I read his blog daily, and spout “Godinisms” regularly. In fact, I have his action figure sitting next to me at all times at work. (And yes, I have pulled him out before when preaching permission based marketing. I have no shame in this.)

Seth’s latest book, Tribes came out in October of last year – but seeing that I’ve told and given this book away on multiple occasions this year – it’s my book of the year.

Tribes inspires you to rise up and grab a hold of your tribe. In my world, I have multiple tribes. At work, we have an internal tribe, a membership tribe, a tribe of avid fans for 2 separate brands. In my personal life, I have a tribe of bargain hunters and a tribe of children. All in which I have some level of influence. How do you grab ahold of your tribe and lead it?

Smart innovators find or assemble a movement of similarly minded individuals and get the tribe excited by a new product, service or message, often via the Internet (consider, for example, the popularity of the Obama campaign, Facebook or Twitter). Tribes, Godin says, can be within or outside a corporation, and almost everyone can be a leader; most are kept from realizing their potential by fear of criticism and fear of being wrong.