The Hard Thing About Building Communities and Finding Success in Uncharted Territory

The Hard Thing About Building Communities and Finding Success in Uncharted Territory

Communities thrive on the contributions of their members, but these contributions only come when there is trust. Trust is the foundation of any successful community, as it ensures that people believe their time and energy will be put to good use. When community members feel validated and rewarded for their work, they become more committed to the community and its goals.

For a community to thrive, it needs to achieve its first win. Enthusiasm alone is not enough to keep a community alive. People need to understand why they are a part of the community and how it will help them achieve their own goals. This alignment between the community's goals and the individual's goals is crucial for building trust and commitment.

One of the challenges in building communities is that people often have unrealistic expectations of the process. They may try to copy what other successful communities are doing without understanding the unique needs and values of their own community. Instead of focusing on creating value, they become more interested in playing house.

To avoid this pitfall, it is important to ask three key questions: (1) Has this been tried unsuccessfully before? (2) Why did the previous attempt fail? (3) Am I really different? By seeking out individuals who have seen similar situations and asking for their insights, you can gain valuable knowledge and avoid repeating past mistakes. Look for people who have been around for a long time or have experience in different cohorts.

When asking for advice, be genuine and open to discovery. Don't approach it as a way to promote your own ideas, but rather as an opportunity to learn from others. Keep asking why and dig deeper to uncover the root causes of previous failures. The more specific the answer, the more likely you are to find something real.

Sometimes, a small change can make all the difference. It could be a product tweak, a unique go-to-market strategy, or even the presence of a new competitor. These factors can help users and investors understand your category and differentiate your community from past unsuccessful attempts.

However, it's important to find evidence that supports your unique twist. Give yourself a time limit to find this evidence, and if you can't, make it your initial OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Use this initial phase of your community to work towards proving that your unique approach will lead to success.

In conclusion, building successful communities is not easy. It requires trust, alignment of goals, and a willingness to learn from past failures. By understanding the hard things about communities and taking actionable steps to address them, you can increase the chances of building a thriving and impactful community. Remember to seek out advice, ask the right questions, and find evidence to support your unique twist.