The Evolution of Community 🪃

Short, practical drops on culture and technology. 🚀

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To the community 🙏

Good morning! ☀️

The evolution of community has been fascinating to watch. From small tribes on the savannah, to the great cities of the world (New York is 👑), to Kevin Kelly's 1,000 True Fans, to @alexisohanian and @gregisenberg discussing Minimum Viable Community (MVC).

As analog evolves in to digital, what do you want from your community? What does the community want from you? What kinds of communities do you join, and why? Are you willing to pay USD, CAD, BTC, or ETH to be a part of it?

Let's get into it. 🚀

Tweet of the Day (TOD)! 🐦

The entrepreneurs in this community will have heard Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Build only what satisfies the exact need of your customer. Just enough that it's viable, and build from there.

Web3 proponents argue we're experiencing a similar phenomenon as the internet decentralizes and we find our digital tribes. Find a small group of people that love you. Solve a problem for them. Ask them to commit and build together. Real ones only. That's your MVC. 👀

My coffee house community ☕️

I write this newsletter from my favourite local coffee house. I'm usually the first one here and thus the first to receive Faduma's warm gm. ☀️

There are bar stools at the window, and this morning Faduma didn't have the time to take them down. While she prepped our morning brew, I happily took down the stools from their nightly perch and got them ready for humans I would undoubtedly know. I did it because I love this place.

On Friday mornings especially, this place is a whose who of the local creator scene. I sit with one of my best friends, now a famous photographer, and across from us there is, without fail, a local writer, entrepreneur, or public servant. There is no better place on earth to take the pulse of a place than its local coffee haunts.

How does community change from analog 👉 digital?

Virtual communities 📲

In many ways, it doesn't. Of course, breaking bread with another human is (for now) the ultimate way to collaborate and communicate, but that doesn't mean you love your digital community any less.

Here are my 5 ground rules for joining and falling in love with a virtual community 👇

• 1/ Contribute early and often. Even if this is just asking great questions.

• 2/ Build something that brings value to the community without being asked to do so. Ask for nothing in return.

• 3/ Build private bonds with individuals in the community.

• 4/ Take responsibility and contribute financially if you can. #payforgreatwork is still my favourite hashtag. You pay for it because you're grateful it exists. I pay for the National Geographic because it inspired me to be curious about how the world works. I could never repay that debt, regardless of what they charged. Few understand this. 👆

• 5/ Amplify the work of your fellow community members. Your generosity will be rewarded.

What communities do I love? 🌍

I can't leave you without making this morning's newsletter practical. That's the commitment I've made to you. You have to be able to go and do something in the world or this is all for not.

Here are 5 communities I am actively a part of. I encourage you to join us. 👇 🔥

Health 👉 The Athletic Truth Group (ATG). @kneesovertoesguy has revolutionized my health. I feel strong and capable, largely because of Ben. ($49.50/month is absurd value).

Going Global 👉 Every month I get the physical National Geographic. I could never repay the debt I owe to the producers of the magazine that changed the game. There are few products as iconic as the yellow rectangle.

Finance 👉 Anthony 'Pomp' Pompliano! I've tried to dissect what makes this community so much fun. It's the people I've met along the way and Anthony's open mind. Thanks Pomp.

Photography 👉 I comment or interact on as many of @tokyoforgeries photos as I can. Jeff was introduced to me by my friend, and famous photographer in his own right, Mark Hemmings. Jeff captures the streets of Toyko with an uncanny eye. He's absurdly good.

Entrepreneurship/Web3 👉 Late Checkout! Greg, Theo, and Vyara are leading an epic team. They're so gracious, smart, and credible. Eyes peeled for what they build.

Podcasts 👉 I am a part of the Atlantic Canadian podcast community! I can humbly say, that I also happen to be one of its primary drivers. I started producing in late 2017 and have fallen in love with the medium. Shout out to Mark, Greg, Don, Manju, Cathy, Dave, Herb, Alex, and Christel.

Start building. 🙏 🚀

Gratitude 🙏

I feel lucky to have you on the other end of this newsletter. If you haven't yet, join the community, and a bring a friend! Have a great week.👇

See you on the path.

- MG