“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”
— Phil Jackson
SIGN UP FOR THE SCHOOL OF CHAOS WAITLIST NOW: www.schoolofchaos.com
We spend so much time talking about tools, tactics, funnels, offers, AI, CAC, attribution, affiliates…
But there’s one growth lever almost nobody talks about anymore:
community.
Community is the multiplier most digital marketers ignore.
It’s the difference between learning slowly and learning in quantum leaps.
It’s the difference between being isolated and being plugged in.
And it’s the difference between simply working in the industry… and growing in it.
This week’s newsletter is about why community matters more than ever in digital marketing, how The School of Chaos is being built around that belief, and how you can get in early.
What You’ll Get in Chaos to Grow
• Why digital marketers grow faster inside communities than alone
• Why networking isn’t optional in affiliate and growth marketing
• Why in-person events matter, but aren’t enough
• The core philosophy behind The School of Chaos
• And a chance to become a founding member before we open the doors
Why Community Matters in Digital Marketing
This industry moves too fast for any one person to keep up alone.
Platforms change, attribution breaks, AI rewrites the rules weekly, and entire partner types appear out of nowhere.
The marketers who rise aren’t the ones with the best tools.
They’re the ones connected to the right people.
Being in the right community means:
• You get exposed to ideas you’d never invent alone
• You learn shortcuts, frameworks, and insights in seconds
• You meet partners who become revenue drivers
• You avoid mistakes others already learned the hard way
• You get honest feedback you can’t buy
In other words…
community collapses time.
Events Like Affiliate Summit Are Great — But They’re Not Enough
I already booked my ticket for Affiliate Summit (thanks to PMA.org).
It’s one of the best places to meet old friends, shake hands, build partnerships, and recharge the energy in the industry.
But here’s the truth:
community can’t be a once-a-year event.
Growth doesn’t happen just in:
• hotel lobbies
• late-night dinners
• packed expo halls
• or rushed meet-and-greets
Growth happens in the weeks and months between.
In real conversations, real relationships, real problem-solving.
If you only network at conferences, you’re missing 90% of the value of this industry.
A Community Is What You Put Into It
One of the founding beliefs behind The School of Chaos is simple:
A community isn’t built on what people take from it.
A community grows because of what people put into it.
The strongest communities share:
- Ideas
- Experiences
- Playbooks
- Failures
- Introductions
- Lessons
- Encouragement
- Accountability
That’s what accelerates everybody — together.
The School of Chaos is being built on that foundation:
a place for digital marketers, affiliate leaders, creators, and strategists to learn, collaborate, and grow as a collective.
Not another Slack channel.
Not another passive group.
Not another place for people to shout into the void.
A real community.
With real people.
Creating real impact.
Why We’re Creating The School of Chaos Now
Because the industry needs it.
Because too many digital marketers feel like lone wolves.
Because talent is scattered.
Because knowledge is siloed.
Because the next breakthroughs won’t come from gurus — they’ll come from groups.
And because I’ve spent 26 years in this industry…
and the one pattern I’ve seen again and again is this:
People who surround themselves with other smart people grow exponentially faster than those who don’t.
Your Weekly Chaos Challenge
Ask yourself honestly:
“When was the last time I invested in my network — not just my workload?”
Pick three people in the industry you respect.
Send them a message today.
Reconnect. Share something useful. Ask what they’re working on.
Watch what happens.
Community compounds.
Connection multiplies.
Become a Founding Member of The School of Chaos
We are getting close to opening the doors of the School of Chaos.
And here’s the part that matters:
The first wave of people who join will be founding members.
They’ll shape the direction, content, culture, and collaborations of the entire community.
If you want to:
• grow faster
• be surrounded by top operators
• build relationships that actually matter
• get access to frameworks, systems, and growth loops
• and contribute to something meaningful
Add your name to the waitlist.
GO TO THE SCHOOL OF CHAOS AND SIGN UP FOR THE WAIT LIST
Founding members will get early access, special sessions, and a front-row seat as we build something unlike anything in this industry.
Final Thought
Growth is a team sport.
You don’t play it alone.
And the more chaotic the industry gets — the more valuable the right community becomes.
Affiliate. Partnerships. Growth marketing. AI. Content. Systems.
None of it is sustainable in isolation.
I’m building The School of Chaos for a reason:
This industry has given me a lot —
and now it’s time to create a place where we can all grow together.
See you inside.
—Matt Frary
Chief of Chaos
