Building for Believers: The Intersection of Community and Innovation

Building for Believers: The Intersection of Community and Innovation

Introduction:

Building a successful community requires understanding the dynamics of member commitment and finding individuals who align with the goals and values of the community. Similarly, fostering innovation requires challenging conventional wisdom and pursuing vertical progress. In this article, we will explore the commonalities between building a community and driving innovation, and how they can be combined to create a powerful force for change.

Lowering the Barrier to Entry:

In both community-building and innovation, it is crucial to lower the barrier to entry for new members or ideas. By starting with low barrier asks and gradually increasing the level of commitment, individuals are more likely to engage and contribute. Meetup and Airbnb exemplify this approach by not immediately asking new members to take on significant responsibilities. Instead, they introduce smaller tasks, such as reading a blog post or watching a video, to familiarize individuals with the community before asking for more substantial contributions.

The Power of Incremental Commitment:

People are more likely to say yes to larger asks if they have already said yes to smaller ones. This concept of incremental commitment is essential in both community-building and innovation. By gradually ramping up the commitment curve and generating incrementally more reward, individuals become more invested in the community or idea. This strategy allows for a natural progression towards deeper engagement and increased contributions.

Finding Community-Member-Fit:

To build a thriving community, it is crucial to find the point at which members consistently provide meaningful value to each other without being asked. This concept, known as Community-Member-Fit (CMF), is the foundation of a successful community. Instead of copying how an established community works today, it is more effective to copy how it started. Meetup and Airbnb started by focusing on actions at the top of the commitment curve and by engaging with the most passionate believers in their respective industries.

Starting with True Believers:

When starting a new community or driving innovation, it is not necessary to have a large number of people initially. Instead, it is crucial to find a core group of true believers who are already highly committed to the cause. These individuals should be motivated and actively trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to achieve the goals that the community or innovation aims to address. By providing them with the support and resources they need, their commitment will serve as a catalyst for attracting more members and driving progress.

Peter Thiel's Question: Challenging Conventional Wisdom

Peter Thiel's interview question, "What important truth do very few people agree with you on?" aligns with the concept of vertical progress and challenges conventional wisdom. Horizontal progress, characterized by copying things that work, is relatively easy to imagine as it involves going from 1 to n. However, vertical progress, which entails doing something entirely new, is harder to envision as it requires going from 0 to 1.

Globalization vs. Technology:

Thiel distinguishes between horizontal progress, represented by globalization, and vertical progress, represented by technology. Globalization involves taking existing successful ideas and making them work universally, while technology focuses on creating something entirely novel. It is important to recognize that both modes of progress can coexist, but they can also exist independently. Simply spreading old ways without technological innovation is unsustainable in a world of scarce resources.

Actionable Advice:

1. Start with a small group of true believers: When building a community, focus on finding a core group of individuals who are highly committed to the cause. Their dedication and passion will attract more members and foster a sense of community.

2. Embrace incremental commitment: Gradually increase the level of commitment required from members, starting with smaller asks and gradually ramping up. This approach allows individuals to become more invested in the community and more willing to contribute.

3. Challenge conventional wisdom: Encourage innovative thinking by asking questions that challenge conventional beliefs. By pursuing vertical progress and doing something new, you can drive meaningful change and create a lasting impact.

In conclusion, building a community and driving innovation share common principles. By understanding the dynamics of member commitment, finding true believers, and challenging conventional wisdom, both community-building and innovation can thrive. By incorporating these insights into our approach, we can create a powerful force for change and build communities that inspire and drive progress.