The Power of Tribe

Fresh off a family trip to Acadia National Park, I’m coming back with a clear head, new ideas, and a double-down dedication to hustle for my tribe.

There’s a saying that’s bounced around my head for decades:

“Don’t try to join the winning team. Build it.”

That’s always been my way. I sign the checks on the front, not the back. I build, I lead, I take responsibility.

But this isn’t just about business. It’s something deeper. Something primal.

The DNA of Tribe

We may live in houses with Wi-Fi and cars that drive themselves, but inside us, the DNA of tribe still burns. Thousands of years ago, survival meant unity of purpose: move as one, protect the group, share the burden.

It’s why your dog looks at you with unwavering devotion—tens of thousands of years of pack instinct, honed to serve, protect, and bond. We’re the same. Pack animals at heart.

And yet, modern life has stripped us of that. We’ve grown so successful, so abundant, so powerful at subjugating the material world, that we’ve lost our connection to the need for others.

The Fractured Modern Self

We build families, and that may be the last natural expression of our tribal drive. But even families are under pressure—small, isolated units straining under the weight of a disconnected world.

Workplaces can’t replace tribe. Sure, you meet good people, but let’s be honest: most companies put profits before people. When it’s time to clear your desk, you’re lucky if you get a wave goodbye.

This isn’t an indictment of capitalism. It’s just the truth: real tribe doesn’t live in the marketplace.