Wow, what an event!! If you noticed the happy huggers in the the Brighton, Michigan 4th of July parade, that was us, the InSights Group. We had such a great time! Our members otherwise known as “InSights Enthusiasts” spent the week in preparation for the parade by printing up customized labels for water bottles with our member’s pictures, and an invitation to the Family Luau scheduled for Friday night, July 10th at 6pm. Five Hundred TShirts sporting FREE HUGS were also on hand for the event.

The members volunteered time, supplies, and their family and friends to walk and share in the excitement for the parade. The parade itself was a blur. Passing out all those shirts and waters had our members running back and forth to wagons and trucks! FREE HUGS were given along the parade route. A special thanks to the Brighton, MI community for being so receptive, and willing to give hugs!

Why did the InSights Group do this, and what is the InSights Group? We are a support community where local businesses, employees, and entrepreneurs meet, learn and work together. The InSights community is a non-competitive, nurturing environment where people share experiences, mastermind new ideas, network and share connections with each other. The co-working facility is located at 7187 Grand River, in Brighton (near the Rollerama) in a large grey industrial building that has been transformed into a clubhouse of sorts.

The members of the InSights Group come from all types of different businesses. From accountants, architects & attorneys, to bakers, chefs & engineers, there is a place for everyone in this community. Small business owners and solo-preneurs will find a group of people experiencing many of the same things they are. Often people feel like an island as they face the day to day business world. That does not happen at the InSights group. If you are a fan of Seth Godin, you have probably heard of his book Tribes. The InSights Group is a tribe where people find resources, answers, support, encouragement, and share them with each other. It is a helping community, like no other we’ve seen before.

Thank you to our InSights Enthusiasts, Families, Friends, and the Community of Brighton!

With Hugs,
Sandi Maki & Allan Curtis, supporters of the TRIBE!

p.s. If you would like to become involved, or think your business could benefit from being associated with our group, please email smaki@insights-group.com or call 810-623-5839 to get more information, a tour, and find out why InSights Group is the place to bring your small business!

Thank you all who showed up today for the super secret meeting! I hope it was a value to you because it was a blast for us. Just to learn what we learned about you made it the coolest ever!
Now on to marbles…
They are each unique. They each possess all possibility. Each one holds within itself the entire universe, your universe. That marble represents you, your business, your relationships, your entire being. It represents how all of the world works together. If a marble was a person then a bowl full would be a tribe! A very colorful tribe! If a marble represents your business than a bowl of them represents a community (tribe). What happens when you throw a group of businesses together? You get an Insights Group!!
Thanks again to Seth Godin for sharing his methods and beliefs!! Thank You Sandy for believing enough in me to chase this dream, and finally thanks to the marble makers for sharing their vision!

Thank you all who showed up today for the super secret meeting! I hope it was a value to you because it was a blast for us. Just to learn what we learned about you made it the coolest ever!
Now on to marbles…
They are each unique. They each possess all possibility. Each one holds within itself the entire universe, your universe. That marble represents you, your business, your relationships, your entire being. It represents how all of the world works together. If a marble was a person then a bowl full would be a tribe! A very colorful tribe! If a marble represents your business than a bowl of them represents a community (tribe). What happens when you throw a group of businesses together? You get an Insights Group!!
Thanks again to Seth Godin for sharing his methods and beliefs!! Thank You Sandy for believing enough in me to chase this dream, and finally thanks to the marble makers for sharing their vision!

Tribes are truly becoming a buzz word, thanks to Seth Godin. What is involved with a tribe? A message, a group of people looking to be a part of something bigger than themselves. People become part of tribes, often without doing it on purpose. People seek ways to be connected to and relate to one another.  A group of positive forward focused individuals who are drawn to the InSights Community have become a tribe of their own making. There are often leaders that find themselves with the ability to make a difference, but a leader is not appointed, they are chosen. If the message does not resonate, they cannot lead. What tribes are you a part of?

Some related links:

Download the Tribes audio book here for free

TED Interview: Tribes Author Says People, Not Ads Build Social Networks (Wired Blogs)

Seth’s Blog

How connected are we?

Colin Thomas from MLIVE.com sent me a link a couple of weeks ago that caught his attention. There was a women in the audience of a keynote speech by Gary Vaynerchuck, that talked about how to promote a 100,000 hugs campaign going around the world. Besides the hugs being interesting, the keynote itself had some great information! The next thing I did was pick up the book Tribes by Seth Godin on the recommendation of a friend. I read that straight through, and wouldn’t you know it that Godin references Gary V. in the book. If that’s not enough coincidence for you, I somehow got to following the 100,000 hugs campaign, and Gail Lynne Goodwin sends a direct message via twitter wondering if I’ve heard of her campaign. Small world, getting smaller? I am realizing the power of the connection. How connected are you?

(photo by photo david @ flickr cc)

I just read an incredibly awesome book by Seth Godin, Tribes. I read this in about 50 minutes. Cover to cover. Yes, a bit of speed reading was involved. Did this all when I was walking 4.0mph on the treadmill at the gym. Walking at the gym is usually a pretty boring time for me, unless I plug in my headphones and watch TV. I picked up Tribes today and started to read. And then read more. And finally couldn’t put it down. Turns out it is a pretty good way to pass the time at the gym, and easy to hold on to. The book’s not that thick.

Tribes deals with leadership, creativity, new ideas, and the willingness to get it wrong some times.  On page 119 Godin talks about getting people to come along with your idea. You will not get the leaders of the other side of the opinion to join you. You need to find the seekers. I think that’s just what we’ve found at InSights…the seekers. We want people to hang around who are looking for more, challenging what is, and challenging us in thoughts and opinions. We also want positive people who are open to change and new directions. Wanting all of this has produced it. From day one, Al and I have had faith that what we were doing people would want and need. Faith. That’s it. No plan, no scheme, no 400 page business plan outlining how to get it done. Faith.

Read the book. On Faith. Let me know if you are as encouraged as I am.