Grow or Die
Baduk Clubs come and go. Many before my time and even a few before my very eyes. But why? The birth of a club is a fascinating mystery, but today I'm going to examine what it is that kills them.
Stagnation becomes death.
In the tech and business world there is a popular saying: “you're either growing or you are dying.” But this is true for more than the likes of Facebook and Amazon.
The universe follows the law of Entropy; things move toward disorder. Our memory has a half-life, like the atoms of isotopes. Our attention is the prize won in an ongoing battle between everyone and everything.
What can you do?
It is the honored duty of the Baduk Organizer to reverse entropy by putting energy into the system. To refresh our memory and remind us why we play. And to enter the battlefield of attention and defeat the Goliath's that strive to tear us apart
Doing this is simple in nature and complex in practice. We love this game, this mind sport, this way of life because of how it serves us. It gives us enjoyment, status, and fulfillment. But we must realize that Baduk is more than something we do. Baduk is a community and it is a story we tell ourselves and others.
Okay, but how?
The first step in growing a community is showing up, this is well known. But the next things you need to do are engage, connect, and cultivate. Reach out to players on a regular basis and invite them to meet up. Get to know them, who they are, and what makes them tick. Lastly, become their friend and help them connect with others.
After you've created a sustainable “tribe”, then you should focus on finding new people to join. To do so, strive to tell your story well. Focus first on being concise and impactful. If you can get a little buy-in, only then begin to weave the story of Baduk into their life.
If you do all that, your club will not only grow, it will thrive.