If you’re reading this, you may be among the Coffee Lunch Coffee community members who stuck with me through my November blog-a-day marathon. I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. THANK YOU!
As many of you know, it’s my annual tradition to blog daily throughout November. The rest of the year, I aim to share weekly insights with our community. While my annual November journey is always incredibly rewarding, I’ve noticed a pattern over the years: the increased frequency of posts inevitably leads to some subscribers choosing to step away. Mailchimp, my faithful but emotionally uninvested email service provider, diligently reports each unsubscribe. I’ll admit something vulnerable here: it stings a bit, especially when I recognize the names of those departing.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize – and perhaps you’ve experienced this in your own life: The people who stay, who continue to engage with our community, are precisely the right people for this moment. Those who unsubscribe aren’t rejecting us personally; they’re simply following their own paths and priorities. And that’s perfectly okay.
Seth Godin, in his transformative book “Tribes,” speaks to this exact phenomenon. He argues that humans fundamentally need to belong to tribes – groups of people connected by shared ideas and values. But he also acknowledges something profound: tribe membership isn’t meant to be permanent. As we evolve, our needs change, and sometimes that means finding new tribes that better align with our current journey.
This principle extends far beyond blog subscriptions. Think about the various relationships in your life – personal, professional, or community-based. Some connections naturally evolve or conclude, making way for new ones. Rather than viewing these transitions as losses, we can choose to see them as a natural evolution, creating space for growth and new connections.
Instead of dwelling on who’s left, let’s celebrate those who remain – our current tribe. These are the people who resonate with our message, who find value in our shared community, and who choose to stay connected. They’re here because something in our community speaks to them, and that’s something worth celebrating.
To those who’ve moved on: thank you for being part of our journey for as long as you were. To those who remain: thank you for continuing to make this community vibrant and meaningful. And to those yet to join: we’re excited to welcome you when the time is right.
Remember, communities are living, breathing entities. They grow, shift, and transform. The key is to remain grateful for what we have while staying open to what’s next. After all, isn’t that what genuine community building is all about?
Happy Networking!