FOOD FOR THOUGHT
One Thing Every (Aspiring) Change Maker Must Understand
These days, everyone wants to drive change. Yet few can say they are true changemakers. What if our planet’s future depended on one simple shift in mindset?
Everyone seems eager to “lead change” these days. I keep hearing people say: “I want to be a changemaker,” “I’m transforming the way our company does business,” “I’m a social entrepreneur,” “I help others undergo inner transformation,” and so on.
Yet, when we do experience change— such as the life-altering COVID-19 crisis—it often scares people away. Besides, ego aside, the fact remains that change does not wait for us to initiate it. Heraclitus warned: “The only thing that is constant is change.”
So, what is it about the “changemaker” label that makes it so appealing? Who is a “changemaker”? Can we even become one? How, exactly? All these answers lie within ONE simple truth.
FINDING MEANING
What does “changemaker” mean?
Funny enough, when I looked up the Merriam-Webster dictionary, I found just one definition: “a device that mechanically dispenses change in coins of the desired denominations when the appropriate levers or keys are operated.” I guess that’s not what you had in mind.
Yet, it does offer us some clues. It implies a process of transformation—a shift from an initial state to a desired one— brought about by the actions of an external agent and the use of resources. One might then ask whether every person’s thoughts or actions—whether writing, speaking, cooking, or working—make him or her a changemaker. After all, everything an individual does is, in and of itself, a unique way of creating reality.
Is “changemaker” just another way of referring to any human being?
Well…. Yes and no. “Changemaker” is a term coined by Ashoka as “anyone who is taking creative action to solve a social problem”:
The label “changemaker” could apply to someone like Esther Duflo (Nobel Prize in Economics), who is recognized for her approach to alleviating global poverty; or members of inclusive digital schools such as Simplon; or students who participated in the global climate strikes; or corporate sustainability professionals who put the principles of the Global Compact; or disadvantaged people who are developing their own innovative solutions and so many others.
No barriers of any kind—whether geographical, social, economic, political, gender-based, or age-based—can prevent someone from being a changemaker.
Yet, not everyone is a changemaker. So, how does one become one? Aiming to solve a global issue—whether social, environmental, or economic—for the common good is the first “selection criterion.” Turning ideas into action—despite the many hurdles along the way—is another. The ability to be disruptive in pursuing a future goal is a third attribute.
I could go on and on about many other characteristics, categories, and learning methods. Is that what really matters?
Look within YOURSELF to unleash your power
Everyone has the potential to be a changemaker. Thanks to Aristotle, we can understand that those who become changemakers are simply turning this potential into reality. Everyone has the inner power to use their story, strengths, emotions, and intelligence to create and/or amplify smart, sustainable solutions for the world. What really matters is the answer to “What kind of changemaker do I want to be?”
Confused? Let's break it down.
It’s a Sunday afternoon. A 30-year-old corporate woman looks out the window: spring is coming, the sun is shining—it’s a fresh start. She has worked hard to realize that she wanted to transition from auditing to human resources. She will harness diversity to foster individuals’ creativity and well-being, thereby boosting the company’s global impact. She is a changemaker in “power” (“potentiality”).
Months go by. It’s September. She is leading an internal survey to figure out how to disrupt the system and make diversity a reality within her organization. She is, now and in real life, a changemaker (“actuality”).
Bottom line: YOU CAN and YOU DESERVE to tap into your inner power to contribute to society and the environment in your own way.
Updating your change
A Simple Tool
You may then wonder where to start or even how to reconnect with this inner power. Here is a simple approach that may help you get the ball rolling.
First, let me ask you: Are you fully satisfied with your purpose and impact at work?
If so, great! I invite you to think about what's working so well and what you can do to increase your impact and enthusiasm.
If you find yourself thinking, “Well… I like (e.g., my job, my company, or my colleagues…), but I am (e.g., less motivated, unsure of the value of my contribution…),” you might want to ask yourself whether your frustration and/or desire for a better situation is strong enough to overcome your fears (yes, we all have plenty of them) and make a change.
If it’s a clear “I’m lost and it’s time for me to change,” celebrate your honesty and courage—it’s a KEY step!
Now: Don’t worry—dare to be bold. Becoming the changemaker you want to be (even if you don’t really know what that means) is possible... It’s a wonderful, never-ending journey that evolves and becomes more refined over time. It simply takes patience, faith, personal effort, and care.
How to get started? Take a few minutes to think back over the past 1 to 2 months and ask yourself:
What activities did I love doing? Why?
When did I feel useful or proud? Why?
What did I hate or dislike doing? Why?
Looking at all that, what do you learn?
Tips: I recommend that you write down your notes for later. If it helps motivate you, send me your answers. I'd love to read them!
The Mantra
“‘Theonly thing you can be sure you won’t succeed at is the one thing you don’t try’—Paul-Émile Victor, French ethnologist”