crowd around
What’s the most overused word in our current culture?
Community.
How do we spend most of our time together in this digital age?
Community.
We treat it like a Swiss Army knife — useful when needed, forgotten when not. But it’s more than that. It’s the lens through which we engage with the world and with each other.
We crave connection. Find the right crowd and you’ll get support, be celebrated, and soak up a real sense of belonging.
But it can also create complete chaos. People can turn against one another. Opposing opinions can fuel family conflicts (see: Thanksgiving.) Facebook and its social sisters have even stoked civil wars.
Whatever your take, the crowd is deeply embedded in your day-to-day life. Case in point: how many of the following apps are on your phone?
When you need a ride you open the Lyft or Uber apps. They provide you with the safety of a crowd since you rely users’ reviews.
Can’t decide on a restaurant? You’ll open Yelp to base your decision on the crowd’s suggestions.
Wanna pass on hotels? You’ll book an Airbnb instead since it’s built on the trust of the crowd.
Need a last-minute doctor visit supported by user reviews? You’ll open HealthTap. Want a health insurance alternative? You’ll use CrowdHealth.
Want fresh eggs or local grass-fed beef? You’ll choose a local CSA from LocalHarvest.
You don’t drive alone if you’re using Waze.
You don’t work alone if you work in coworking spaces like Altar in Chicago or The Farm in NYC and SF (among many, many, many others.)
Seeking suggestions from neighbors? You’ll tap the NextDoor crowd. Don’t wanna talk to your neighbors? You’ll visit Provisors or Women Belong or Dreamers + Doers meetings to receive member support.
Need I mention the alternatives to Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn like Slack, MightyNetworks, and Circle?
We’re a crowd-driven society. What’s the saying? “Alone we go far. Together we go farther.”
The next time you consider solving a problem yourself, stop looking elsewhere for answers. Books are wonderful (I wrote two!). Podcasts are entertaining (I hosted two!). Knowledge is everywhere…but wisdom lies within the crowd.
What community are you engaging with these days?
jill