Author's Note
I learned about community building the hard way. By getting it wrong.
As a young athlete, I was obsessed with being the best. The fastest, the strongest, the smartest. I pushed myself relentlessly, thinking success was measured by external validation and victory.
As varsity captain in both high school and college, I discovered that what actually mattered most wasn't being the best individual at any skill, position, or test.
The critical signal was dedication to the sport, and to the team. Not domination.
My teammates cared about who showed up consistently. Who put their heart into every practice. Who made others want to play. Those people created teams that would win.
Little did I know this would be my first lesson in community building.
My time in the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan and later working with the International Rescue Committee in Azerbaijan was a real test of this understanding.
Success in these environments was about creating trust and fostering collaboration across cultural and linguistic barriers.
One of my proudest moments came from choosing a project leader not because they spoke the best English, but because they were truly the right person for the role. It created internal friction, but it sent a powerful message.
Leadership isn't about mastering any one skill. It's about the ability to bring people together and get more out of the group than any individual could alone.
When I started my own business, I fell back into old habits and mindsets. I tried to be the smartest person in the room, the best at everything. I chased clients and contracts, but the work felt hollow.
It wasn't until I shifted focus and co-founded Endurance Nation in 2007 that I learned my community mindset was an asset in the business world as well.
What started as a business serving clients transformed into a community. I'm proud to say Endurance Nation continues to thrive today, and not because of my brilliance, aptitude, or discipline.
It thrives because it is powered by the people who are on the team.
Over the past fifteen years I've taken my lessons learned into a consulting practice. I've worked with venture capital firms, entrepreneurs, small businesses, large financial institutions, and inspired individuals all looking to build something meaningful.
I've witnessed communities skyrocket to success and others never leave the launchpad.
Through it all, one truth has become crystal clear.
There is no universal formula for building community.
If you're reading this book hoping for step-by-step instructions or a guaranteed path to success, you should probably stop now. I'd offer a refund, but this book is free.
What you'll find instead are essays that challenge your assumptions, question conventional wisdom, and hopefully inspire you to think differently about how communities can form and flourish.
The era of the lone genius is over.
In the modern world, your success and survival depend on your ability to collaborate, connect, and lift others up.
We're all part of countless invisible, micro communities that shape our daily lives.
The sooner you recognize that your role isn't to be the hero of the story but to be part of something larger than yourself, the sooner you'll begin to truly build community.
Let's get started.