Finding your tribe: the power of micro-communities
Are you part of a run club? A FB Group? A LinkedIn Network? Chances are that you joined these communities because you relate to them, or they help you achieve your goals.
By Kireth Sandhu - July 2024
We have grown up being underrepresented in key spaces, but that has not stopped our ambitious fires from burning. There is a growing movement now for finding your tribe of young South Asians who share your passion, whether it is fitness, self-development, creative pursuits or something else entirely. Micro-communities are where it's at for millennials and gen z South Asians. Imagine small groups packed with like-minded individuals all focused on growing together. Whether you’re into founder meetups, online creative circles, job hunting squads, or even book and running clubs, these hubs are your ticket to leveling up both personally and professionally. Diving into a micro-community that sparks your interest and start fueling your ambitions with the support and energy of peers who get it, is exactly what is catching our attention.
Why not go solo?
If you’ve ever chased a goal, you’ll quickly realise 2 things:
Motivation ≠ consistency: When we start chasing something we are full of energy and excitement. However, you will be distracted and question yourself when things get hard. It is difficult to always show up and perform at your best.
You often feel alone: Sometimes your friends and family don’t understand why you spend time on that interest. Other times, you feel pressured by their expectations and questions.
It’s a tough gig to balance it all on your own - ambition, accountability and having the right approach. Enter micro-communities.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Micro-communities are powerful for young South Asians because of these 3 benefits:
Sense of Belonging: You’ve probably experienced being the only one who looks like you at spaces in the past. This is where micro-communities can create inspiration and important connections, reducing the feeling of isolation in ambitious pursuits. MM hosted its first Inaugural Women Founders cocktail evening in June 2024, with attendees from VC, Media, Fashion and Education. New founders were able to gain affirmation and guidance from those who have been there and done it. The more experienced attendees were in turn inspired by the wave of female founders who look like them that is growing in Australia.
Accountability Partners: You can consume resources, reflect and do the work on your own. But when you speak to someone else and hear their perspective, they can break the moulds that you may not even realise you hold. A gym partner can criticise your form and show you new exercises; joining a run club like MM’s pop-ups in Sydney allows you to pace yourself against another and push your limits. Importantly, individuals from a similar background can understand your direction whilst offering their own differences.
Compound Learnings: By sharing techniques, insights and feedback with others, individuals will accelerate their development on their goal. A self-development group can introduce you to new resources and methods you previously would not have encountered on your own. MM is currently building "ShesRises", a global, female creative digital community where brown women can network and gain support for their diverse business endeavours. This kind of support and rapid group commentary provides a much faster feedback loop with other people in your space, allowing you to achieve your goals and then encourage even more ambitious ones - together.
The South Asian Perspective
Platforms like MM can be an inspirational starting point for you to find others who share your vision and form these small goal-driven groups.
These micro-communities can make you feel less lonely in your pursuit, providing accountability and powerful learnings from others. Importantly, you not only achieve your goals but also build a resilient network that empowers and inspires, making it easier for the people who enter after you. So which micro-communities will you join and foster in the second half of 2024?