The Tribe at Bloggy Boot Camp Las Vegas!

Last spring I wrote a post called Yes, You DO Need a Tribe. If you haven’t read it go click on the link and read it now. I re-read it today after spending the weekend with my Tribe in Las Vegas at Bloggy Boot Camp. Back in April we had 150 members of the SoCal Lady Bloggers. Today, we have 250. The numbers aren’t important, but they do tell a story. Since we began this group, women have been coming out from behind their computers and telling us something critical…. they NEED other women. What a concept! Unfortunately, it’s one that we’ve kept to ourselves for far too long. It’s okay to need other people. It’s okay to crave those real-life connections with people who actually understand us. They “get” it. They “get” me. It’s a revelation.

What is a Tribe?

I like the Urban Dictionary definition best: “Close friends, group of people who are loyal to you, care for you like family”

Obviously, when we hear the word “tribe” the first thing that comes to mind are the Indian tribes. They were groups of people living together to make life easier for all of them. Some were hunters, some took care of the children, some were warriors, some were medicine men. Each part of the tribe had a strength and talent that the others needed to survive. I look at blogging tribes the same way. We are all good at different things, but we need each other to be successful. When we all work together, we all rise above. The strength of many.

Why Do You Need a Tribe?

After blogging alone for years and getting nowhere near where I wanted to be, I realized something important. No one can do it all. I have many talents but I lack the ability and knowledge to do many of the things I’d like to do. I can cook, decorate, parent, visualize, write, travel, and a million other little things. What I can’t do is create web pages, advertise, sell and market myself. I don’t have that skill set. And it’s okay. The trick is finding someone who does have the skills you lack and helping each other. THAT is where having a Tribe comes in handy. Close friends. Loyal. Care for you like family. Who else is going to have your back, lift you up and give you the tools that you need to move on with your career? Family is great but they don’t “get” you in the scope of the blogging world. Your TRIBE does!

When SoCal Lady Bloggers started back in August 2011, it was an idea to network, meet other women and support each other. Over a year later, it has done that and so much more. Not only have I made new BFF’s, I come to my Tribe when I need help. When I need support. When I need a shoulder to cry on. And the miraculous thing is… I get it. Because you all get it. We’re all in this together.

Together we can rock this world!

SoCal Lady Bloggers is a networking group of women bloggers who are located in Southern California. As long as you have an active blog and live in the area, we would love to have you join us. We don’t do drama and we aren’t clicky. If that’s what you’re about… look elsewhere. If you are trying to find your “tribe” and aren’t located in Southern California, shoot us an email and we’d be happy to help you find a group that is local to you.