As much as I enjoyed business school, I believe many programs don't succeed in teaching leadership. Leadership is among the most important skills you can have. Leaders set direction. Leaders change the way we think. Leaders change the world. Today’s discussion is about 3 leaders and the way they changed (are changing) the world. These leaders are very different from one another. But they share a common thread that's made their leadership journeys truly special.

Jesus, undoubtedly, is the most popular person that ever lived. He’s the central figure of Christianity and is considered an important prophet of God in Islam. During his life, 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 during his time that he was a political threat and was eventually executed. He’s the main character in 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's coached Duke University to 4 NCAA championships, 11 Final Fours, and 12 conference titles. He was the coach and leader of the US’s gold medal-winning 2008 Summer Olympics men’s basketball team. Jimmy Buffett is a singer-songwriter, film producer, and businessman. He’s best known for his musical talent and has released 30 albums: 8 gold and 9 platinum or multiplatinum. Buffett has written 3 best-selling books and he owns 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 with a common purpose. They challenge authority and the way people think. 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 to 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 congregate in churches around the world to worship and spread the message he preached over 2000 years ago. Jesus built his tribe one at a time, from Galilee to Jerusalem, preaching to anyone who would listen. He challenged authority and spread hope throughout the land. He gave people something to believe in, gave them faith, and as a result built the biggest tribe in history.

Coach K has a tribe too. While not quite as big as Jesus’, it is pretty sizeable nonetheless. In a college sports era marred by recruiting scandals and lacking a focus on education, Coach K built a basketball program based on fundamentals and sound principles. Although many of his players went on to have successful careers in the NBA, he coached 19 seasons before a player left school early to pursue a professional basketball career. 19 seasons! His dedication to excellence has garnered him many awards…and a tribe! Duke University named the floor in their basketball arena “Coach K Court” in his honor. The grassy area outside the arena is titled “Krzyzewskiville.” Duke also named the brand new basketball practice facility after him: “Michael W. Krzyzewski Center - Dedicated to Academic and Athletic Excellence.” His tribe members include the Cameron Crazies (members of the student body who organize cheers at the games), former players and staff members, and the alumni and fans of Duke Basketball. 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 idea of “island escapism.” He created “Margaritaville,” a place for his listeners to escape the hardships of everyday life. His tribe, “the Parrotheads,” comes together at his live performances to take pleasure in and celebrate the island lifestyle. Typical attire for a Parrothead includes a Hawaiian shirt, “board shorts”, and flip-flops for men or a grass skirt and coconut bra for ladies. Buffett built his tribe through his catchy tunes and magnetic personality. His idea has helped him sell over 20 million albums, sell out concert venues, and form the Parrothead tribe.

Your Turn? Everybody has a story to tell, a movement to start, and a tribe to lead. However, only a 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 how to make the world a better place. They need you to speak up and lead them. They need you to form the tribe.

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