As much as I enjoyed business school, I think many programs fall short of teaching leadership. Leadership is one of the most important skills you can have. Leaders and leadership. Leaders change our way of thinking. Leaders change the world. Today’s discussion is about 3 leaders and how they changed (are changing) the world. These leaders are very different from each other. But they share a common thread that has made their leadership journeys truly special.

Jesus, hands down, is the most popular person who ever lived. He is the central figure of Christianity and is considered an important prophet of God in Islam. During his lifetime, he impacted thousands of lives through his ministry and teachings. He spread hope and inspired people to believe and have faith. He became such a popular leader throughout his time that he became a political threat and was eventually executed. He is the main character of the Bible, the most popular book ever written. Mike Kryzyzewski (also known as “Coach K”) is the all-time winningest coach in Division I men’s college basketball. To date, he has coached Duke University to 4 NCAA Championships, 11 Final Fours and 12 conference titles. He was the coach and leader of the gold medal-winning 2008 Summer Olympics USA men’s basketball team. Jimmy Buffett is a singer-songwriter, film producer, and businessman. He is famous for his musical talent and has released 30 albums: 8 gold and 9 platinum or multi-platinum. Buffett has written 3 best selling books and is the owner of 2 successful restaurant chains: “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise”.

Besides having impressive resumes, what do these 3 leaders have in common? They built tribes. Tribes are groups of people united under a common purpose. They challenge authority and people’s way of thinking. Tribes change the world. Seth Godin, author of the best-selling book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, offers this definition: “A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea.” Jesus, Coach K and Jimmy Buffett connected people with an idea. They built tribes.

Jesus is the founding father of Christianity, a religion practiced by more than 2.2 billion people today. Every Sunday, people gather in churches around the world to worship and spread the message he preached over 2,000 years ago. Jesus built his tribe one at a time, from Galilee to Jerusalem, preaching to anyone he wanted to listen. He defied authority and spread hope across the land. He gave the people something to believe in, gave them faith, and thereby built the greatest tribe in history.

Coach K also has a tribe. Although he is not as big as Jesus’, he is quite considerable. In an era of college sports marked by recruiting scandals and no emphasis on education, Coach K created a basketball program based on sound fundamentals and principles. Although many of his players went on to successful NBA careers, he coached 19 seasons before one player left school early to pursue a professional basketball career. 19 seasons! His dedication to excellence has earned him many awards…and a tribe! Duke University named the floor of its basketball arena “Coach K Court” in his honor. The grassy area outside of the arena is titled “Krzyzewskiville”. Duke also named the new basketball practice facility after him: “Michael W. Krzyzewski Center-Dedicated to Academic and Athletic Excellence.” Members of his tribe include the Cameron Crazies (members of the student body who organize cheers at games), former players and staff members, and Duke Basketball alumni and fans. Nine of his former players and assistant coaches became head coaches at other schools. Three former players now work for him as assistants at Duke. His program has produced more leaders than any other college sports program.

Jimmy Buffett united his tribe under the concept of “island escapism.” He created “Margaritaville,” a place for his listeners to escape the hardships of everyday life. His tribe, “the Parrotheads”, come together at his live performances to enjoy and celebrate the island lifestyle. Typical attire for a Parrothead includes a Hawaiian shirt, “surf shorts” and flip flops for men or a grass skirt and coconut bra for women. Buffett built his tribe through his catchy tunes and magnetic personality. His idea helped him sell more than 20 million albums, sell out concert halls and form the Parrothead tribe.

Your turn? Everyone has a story to tell, a movement to start, and a tribe to lead. However, very few people believe in themselves enough to speak up, organize the group, and lead. There are people out there, on the fringes, who share your beliefs about making the world a better place. They need you to speak and guide them. They need you to form the tribe.

For the next article in the series and a free goal setting worksheet, visit the Margin of Excellence blog.