Why the Tribe thrives: the physics of network synchronization inside The Freelance Movement Tribe (Part 1)

When nodes in one large, complex network vibrate to the same frequency and stay in sync with their core other-centered values, they thrive.        

Community. Extroverts prolly think introverts don't need it, but we do.

Yup, I'm an introvert. An ISTJ, to be exact.

And as a freelancer whose one big goal is to go from Zero to CEO—which is essentially the point of and the picture this newsletter has been trying to paint—I've grown to appreciate what it is to be a part of a beautiful freelancing community.

Today I bring you a little glimpse of the beauty of The Freelance Movement Tribe (TFMT), illustrated through the lens of Physics and network synchronicity.

Network decentralization is key

Networks are, well, networks.

But first, elementary connections

You, dear reader, and I—we're basically a network. We're connected.

You're a node, a member of our network.

Our network, our connection, is a basic one. We are an elementary network. We are a two-node network.

Our connectivity is established by links. As long as we're linked together, we're connected. We're a network.

Now suppose you have a best friend. The two of you also form an elementary network.

The three of us—we're a three-node network.

Two- and three-node networks are the most basic ones.

Next, frequency and network stability

If we, members of the three-node network, want to stay connected, we need to cooperate.

Now that's not new.

But in the lens of physics, we may look at it with a fresh set of eyes.

We need to vibrate at the same frequency so we could continue working together.

For our relationship to remain stable, we need to get in sync.

Of course there are many other factors to consider, but let's keep things simple for now (hopefully, haha).

And here's the most basic key:

If our frequencies don't match, our links could eventually break.

If we don't resonate with each other, we could sooner or later break apart.

Can two walk together except they be agreed?

When frequencies don't match

In a more practical and contemplative sense, if our core values don't agree, it'd be too challenging to stay together in one group.

Good thing The Freelance Movement Tribe, when it began even as a small band of people, managed to establish its core foundation.

One of its core values is to always come from a place of help.

But while that sounds pretty good, members didn’t have equal natural frequencies right at the outset.

They began out of sync.

And when two individuals are out of step, they could only do one of two things.

They either break free from each other…

Or, they decide to tolerate one another for some time, stand on one platform, and continue moving as if they’re these metronomes (see video below).

Now think of the metronomes in the above video as nodes of a network.

They’re linked to each other in the sense that they stand on the same platform.

Each metronome moved at a different frequency at the beginning.

But after some time, they eventually achieved spontaneous synchronization.

It was spontaneous because no one needed to dictate to another metronome what they needed to do or how they had to act.

They simply vibrated together over one, single, solid—albeit also flexible—platform.

They gave it time, and they gradually agreed.

The TFMT’s beginnings were likely like that

Or maybe not.

Either JTL (John "The Legend" Pagulayan, Founder of The Freelance Movement Tribe) already had that coming-from-a-place-of-help mantra in mind when he created the group...

Or, members came up with it upon realizing that it's the single best key to their togetherness and continued success.

Either JTL's initial mindset was the platform they chose to continue standing on...

(so nodes soon adjusted their individual frequencies to match JTL's)

Or, it was their commitment to the network—to the relationship—that they prioritized

(so members experimented and tried to discover what will make them stick together forever).

Either way, the nodes within the TFMT network had a strong coupling strength.

And whether it was the mindset that came first or the desire to stay together...

It eventually came to a point where the mindset and the bond became synonymous.

When the elementary becomes a little more complex

When one elementary network joins with another, they become a complex network.

TFMT members began attracting other individuals to their community.

So the Tribe eventually grew.

But like the expressions in the above illustration, many of the new nodes looked scared and skeptical.

At first.

They weren't immediately resonating with the values the older Tribe members were already vibrating to.

Now guess what?

Give it time, let the older Tribe members set the example, and eventually, the new nodes will pick up the rhythm.

And that's what happened.

It's what's been happening.

To this date.

But what if...

What if JTL lost his mind?

Haha.

I mean, what if he, being the Founder, began to shift his focus from lifting the members to lifting just himself?

What if he started not coming from a place of help anymore?

What if he cared more about what he can gain rather than what he can give?

In that case, the network will be centralized. It will become more about him being the center, the star, the rocking legend.

Now centralized networks are only great if the center is benevolent, a giver.

But what if the center becomes a hoarder?

What if the center focuses on malevolent motives?

In that case, decentralized networks are better.

I'm thankful JTL is actually a benevolent center.

But one more thing I'm grateful for is that the Tribe is quite decentralized by nature, in a sense.

You see, inside...

Each TFMT node is both a consumer and a generator

So the Tribe is essentially like a smart electrical grid.

And smart grids are quite sustainable.

When you first link yourself to the Tribe, you naturally start off as a consumer. You consume the lessons, you ask questions, you seek help.

But as you gain great insights, you begin to spot opportunities for helping others as well.

You become not just a power consumer but also a power generator.

And it's in that sense that the Tribe is like a decentralized power grid.

Nodes are no longer dependent upon one man.

Instead, they depend on each other.

They are essentially interdependent.

And as long as their core frequencies are in sync, one network interruption—say, one member fell down because of a personal problem—the rest don't have to look up to just one central man for help.

The rest of the nodes are able to come to the rescue.

And this—precisely this—is the power of decentralized communities.

It's one of the strongest reasons why the Tribe thrives.

In fact, the mantra, the mindset, the oft-repeated phrase "come from a place of help" is by nature, a manifestation of decentralization in a practical sense.

It's one way of saying this freelancing thing, this goal of building a sustainable business, is not really about me, me, me and what I can get.

"I" am not the center of this whole thing.

Ironically, it's when the "I" is set aside that the me actually thrives.

It's when everyone is taking care of the other that the one also lives on.

Like these happy people. :)))))

This other-centeredness—this network decentralization—is part of the Tribe's greatest secrets to spontaneous synchronicity.

And I'm just about ready to spill on some more tea.

See you next week. ;)

Quick Update:

Here's Part 2 of this piece. :)))

Quick Announcement:

The Freelance Movement Tribe?is once again opening its doors for enrollment until January 28, 2022. After that, the Tribe will be closed indefinitely. JTL will focus on helping Tribe members transform themselves from Zero to CEO.

Learn more about the Tribe (and perhaps consider joining us inside, too).

#KCLThoughtsontheRoad #ZerotoCEO #Roadmap #Freelancing #TheFreelanceMovementTribe #PhysicsFridays #Networks #Business #BusinessAdvice #ComplexNetworks #NetworkSynchronization #Synchronization #Decentralization #DecentralizedNetworks #Community #Othercenteredness #Love #Physics #Loveisthetheoryofeverything #TheTheoryofEverything