Jim Rohn famously noted that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. This principle is more vital today than ever; your inner circle shapes your mindset, energy, and ultimately, your future.

In an era where we can deliberately architect our own communities, the members of your Future Tribe will directly dictate your happiness, professional performance, and overall wellbeing.

Beyond Web 2.0: The Original Vision for “Clanning”

The concept of personal communities as the future of interaction isn’t a new fascination for me. On the magical date of August 8, 2008 (8/8/8), I published my 24th book, VENIAMARKETING (“venia” is the Celtic word for family, clan, or tribe). Notably, this was three months before Seth Godin released his bestseller Tribes. about the same topic.

While Godin’s book became a definitive work on the subject, VENIA was born from my own original research into the shift from mass marketing to personal connectivity and the rise of sympathetic customer relationships.

My early work was heavily inspired by the legendary futurist Faith Popcorn, who predicted the “Clanning” trend back in the 90s – the idea of people belonging to groups that represent shared feelings and ideals.

While Web 2.0 gave us platforms like Facebook Groups (starting in 2010), they are still limited by the “creator-viewer” hierarchy.

We are now approaching a massive shift where Web 3.0 tools – Blockchain, Tokenization, and Private Data Sovereignty – will transition tribes from the screen into “In Real Life” (IRL) experiences.

Imagine a world where Augmented Reality acts as a “guided tour,” alerting you when a perfect collaborator or tribe member is standing right next to you in a new city.

“In an increasingly high-tech, depersonalized world, the ‘Clan’ is our survival mechanism. We are seeking out those who mirror our souls, not just our zip codes.”
— Faith Popcorn

The Avatar is Dead, Long Live the IFC

For decades, marketing relied on target groups and “avatars” – imaginary personas based on demographics like age or location. This is now outdated.

Instead, in 2014 I proposed the IFC: Ideal Future Customer (or Collaborator, Client, Creative, Co-founder, Contractor – whatever kind of Future Friend you are looking to find).

Unlike a static and anonymous avatar, an IFC is based on real people who have already “raised their hand” and invested in your mission. An IFC is defined by shared values and purpose. Whether they are in Botswana, Boston, or Bali, they are united by a common problem you are uniquely qualified to solve.

This shift removes the expensive guesswork of traditional marketing and builds a tribe of real human beings.

GOOD TO KNOW: (click arrow)

• The 12% Loneliness Gap: In 1990, only 3% of people said they had no close friends. By 2021, that number jumped to 12%.
• The 4% Rule: In most communities, just 4% of the members (the critical core) do the vast majority of the work to keep the group running.
• The Proximity Bubble: New wearable sensors using magnetic fields can verify human proximity within a strict 2-meter threshold with 96% accuracy.
• Dementia Protection: Frequent social interaction and spending time with friends can cut your odds of getting dementia by up to half.
• The $154 Billion Problem: Loneliness is not just a feeling. It is a major productivity drain that costs businesses billions every year.

5 Steps to Build Your Future Tribe Today

You don’t need to wait for mass adoption of Web 3.0 to begin. You can start building your tribe today:

1. Clearly describe your IFC: Move beyond demographics. Find the common threads among people who already value your work.
   
2. Identify their most pressing problems: What specific roadblocks are they facing right now?
   
3. Create and test a solution: Offer a tailored solution, gather feedback, and iterate.
   
4. Build a social presence: Become the “first in mind” for your topic by sharing your solutions and real success stories.
   
5. Invite them into your tribe: Use modern tools like Skool to host your IFCs in a dedicated, distraction-free space.

Just get going, one small baby step after the other. Once you are underway, you will see: It was easier than you thought.

“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or another. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate.”
— Seth Godin

CONCLUSION:
The Present Moment

The Now is the biggest gift – that’s why it’s called the PRESENT moment.

Current marketing is suffering from “funnel fatigue.” People are starving for authentic connection and IRL experiences that move beyond the screen. Use this time to prepare for an incredible upgrade in how we meet, work, and grow.

Start your tribe today, even if the vision isn’t perfectly clear yet. Simply get going. Learn the tools, watch others, and start the conversation with your friends. By the time the Web 3.0 “upgrade” arrives, you will already have a community of Future Friends – people who are already looking for the unique and original value only you can provide – ready to step into this new reality with you.

I’m practicing what I preach. I invite you to join us in our own Future Tribe on Skool, where we are building a better Tomorrow together. Literally. We’ll dive deeper into personal branding, community architecture, and the ideas that will shape our future.

And perhaps, one day, we will meet IRL when you visit me here on Treasure Island for a Community Festival in person. Wouldn’t that be cool? That is definitely something to look forward to.

Let me know in the comments: what kind of tribe are you dreaming of starting? Would you like to meet IFC’s in real life? Which novel ideas of connecting with other people would you like to see in theworld?

I can’t wait to see what you, my IFC, are planning to build.
Your Future Friend,
*Flint

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Recommended Reads

“Seth Godin’s Tribes is still relevant over a decade later” by Chris Hornak – a fresh look at the classic book and its significance for today’s and tomorrow’s marketing.

“The Power Of Finding Connection In A Lonely, Polarized World – And Why It Matters For Business” by Deepali Jamwal – A profound exploration into how true presence and authentic connection have become the ultimate competitive advantage in a disconnected world.

“The power of community for women: Why we must do more to propel women forward” by Entrepreneur – A heart-centered look at why building a tribe is the ultimate secret to balancing high-level aspirations with personal fulfillment and lasting resilience.

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