It was great to hear Seth Godin this morning in Nashville. Live and in person. Books are wonderful and digital is great but the live experience proved better. His call to the Country Radio Broadcasters was clear. Step forward with the times or find yourself in the past. The future is here. The audience has changed and so has the business model. Seth’s message this morning was directed at radio but its ring of truth should be embraced by all industries. The transition of power from institutions to individuals means new ways of thinking and acting are demanded from all who hope to build a business with the consumer of this century. The customer wants to be heard and should be listened to when making decisions. When you are available to do that, you build your own tribe. No longer look for the audience who just wants your current offering but build transparent relationships with interested individuals and deliver to them what they want. This commitment will build brand loyalty. If you know Godin’s work, you won’t be surprised that his emphasis was on permission marketing and viral spread of ideas. This morning he sounded like a phophet who had lived to see his predictions come true. Is your business ready to have conversations and build relationships? Listen to what your tribe has to say. Step forward.
