Thanks for this, Ted. I think the "why" is emerging as the most important question about pretty much everything. Community, of course, but also business models, migration patterns, etc. Analysis of the why turns out to be quite a bit more illuminating than analysis of the what.
The "why" can be pretty easy to pin down in the early days of a community, organization, business or campaign. A problem is clear. Values get distilled more easily. There's enthusiasm. The why gets muddled over time as there's more preoccupation with the what. Or the why gets solved. Or was maybe never so solid in the first place. It's worth revisiting, especially if/when your model relies on community and membership.
Thanks for this, Ted. I think the "why" is emerging as the most important question about pretty much everything. Community, of course, but also business models, migration patterns, etc. Analysis of the why turns out to be quite a bit more illuminating than analysis of the what.
The "why" can be pretty easy to pin down in the early days of a community, organization, business or campaign. A problem is clear. Values get distilled more easily. There's enthusiasm. The why gets muddled over time as there's more preoccupation with the what. Or the why gets solved. Or was maybe never so solid in the first place. It's worth revisiting, especially if/when your model relies on community and membership.