The Secret Recipe for Building Communities That Last
Anyone can start a group. Few know how to make it thrive. Here’s what the best communities — from TED to Indie Hackers — have in common.
Ever had that moment where you look around and think: “Why doesn’t this exist yet?”
That’s how most of my projects — and many communities I’ve been part of — began. Not with a grand strategy, but with a gap. A missing thing. A frustration no one else seemed to fix.
I don’t start because I love starting. I start because I can’t stand waiting.
But here’s the catch: starting is easy. Sustaining is hard.
Why Most Communities Fail
Anyone can spin up a Slack group, a WhatsApp chat, or even a glossy LinkedIn hub. And they do. The launch feels exciting. The first wave of members joins.
Then… silence.
Without structure and shared ownership, the founder burns out and the group loses energy. What was full of promise fizzles.
Communities with staying power are built differently. They’re designed to outlast the founder.
The Success Recipe for Communities That Thrive
After years of working with professional networks, mentoring circles, and corporate programs, I’ve seen what actually makes a community stick. Here’s the recipe — backed by examples of those who got it right:
1. Start with purpose, not hype
People join for meaning, not noise.
TED grew from a niche conference into a global idea movement because its “why” was crystal clear: ideas worth spreading.
Mumsnet started as a parenting forum and became a national voice by sticking to its mission of supporting parents.
2. Deliver quick wins
Big visions are inspiring, but small payoffs keep people engaged.
Product Hunt works because users find value today in discovering tools.
Strava running clubs motivate with instant feedback on daily workouts.
3. Share the stage
Communities collapse if one person carries it all.
Reddit thrives on distributed ownership — moderators and members run the show.
Maven’s learning cohorts succeed because participants, not just instructors, drive the conversation.
4. Build rituals, not just events
One-off events spark interest. Rituals create belonging.
Startup Grind scaled globally by sticking to consistent local meetups.
Indie Hackers keeps members coming back through repeat AMA sessions.
5. Design for feelings as well as outcomes
Results matter — but so do emotions.
SoulCycle sold belonging, not just spin classes.
Notion Ambassadors feel like pioneers, not just users.
6. Let it evolve
The strongest communities grow beyond the founder’s first idea.
AllBright expanded from a London club to a global digital platform.
Duolingo forums transformed into a culture of support, humor, and accountability.
The Real Lesson
Being a self-starter gets you moving. But building a community that lasts means learning to step back. To share ownership. To build systems and rituals. To let the group become bigger than you.
Self-starting lights the spark.
Holding communal sustains the fire.
And that’s how communities thrive.
Your turn: What’s the most successful community you’ve ever been part of — and what made it work?
Sharing your experience helps others here — and Medium loves when we swap ideas in the comments 👇
Enjoyed the read? Hit that 👏 to show your support — it helps others find this too.
