The ideals and philosophies which divide us fade away in the presence of common experience.

What do a VW GTI, a jeep, a camper van and a motorcycle have in common?

The answer is not wheels, although that would be correct.

The deeper commonality is that they all have a unique ability to illicit a common response between the people who have the same vehicles. Watch two motorcyclists pass each other and they’ll acknowledge each other with a nod or a hand signal. An upside down peace sign is common signaling to keep your wheels down. One might be on a Harley while the other may be suited up in all leathers on a sport bike. One might be conservative and the other liberal. One young while the other old. For a moment in time though, despite their differences, they find themselves connected, recognizing that each of them knows the joys, freedom and exhilaration that the other has experienced.

I’ve been immensely fortunate to have experienced being a member of each of these “tribes” at some point in my life and it’s this sense of commonality and community thats helped me realize one simple fact: it’s far more important that we seek to feel connected through shared similarities than it is to identify differences that divert us from connecting with one another.

As I travel around in this Winnebago Revel, I find myself connected to dozens of people as a result of both the way I’m moving around the country (as in the vehicle that carries me) and the activities I pursue. I acknowledge or get acknowledged by people who are living a #vanlife, those in Mercedes vans, those who also have a #winnebagorevel, and when I’m on my motorcycle, those who are riding their bike, be it another Ducati or even one of those bizarre modernized trikes. For us on two wheels, we acknowledge them but with a much shorter acknowledgment. The kind that says, hmmm, get a real bike if you want to really “be in the club.”

Then there are those I camp next to. Whether they’re in a monstrous 5th wheel, are pulling a teardrop trailer or are simply car camping, all of a sudden I find yourself discussing gear or comparing hikes or seeking to find a point of unity. It’s even encoded into our very first questions to one another:

Where are you from? Or maybe where are you headed?

This simple question allows us to find a point of reference for one another in the hope that it will somehow give us a point of unity.

As someone who spent the bulk of their professional career in one way or another involved with brands and brand experiences, these points of commonality are exactly what brands seek either to create or to capture. A brand like The North Face for instance was founded for those who were determined to “never stop exploring” – hence their tag line. It was founded by Doug Tompkins to outfit his “tribe”. Today it’s been coopted by the most casual hiker as a fashion brand but it hasn’t stopped serving those who push their own boundaries and inspiring those who take the most beaten trails to get out into nature.

The brands that are built specifically to service the lifestyle of its users are the cult brands. They are the ones the rest try to emulate. Authenticity of appeal and enhancement to the experience. This is what great brands and great experiences provide us with, a reminder that we’re not so different after all. For all our idiosyncrasies, personal beliefs, backgrounds and the many other points of difference, we are all part of a tribe. Some of use are members of many tribes. Some of us belong to only one.

So, whatever your passion, get out there and experience more of the things you love. Let it bond you to others. Maybe if we all spent more time with various tribes we’d find ourselves more united and less divided than we are today.

If you have love and joy in your heart acknowledge it in others. Let it put a smile on both your faces. Give them a sign that you acknowledge not only their existence but their enjoyment in what they’re doing.

Move between among and within different tribes and find authentic connections with the people who surround you. It will teach you, humble you, give you a platform, grow you.