The question I get asked most often is, “How do you start a movement?”
My answer is always, “You don’t need to start another movement. All you have to do is contribute to the movements that you are already part of.”
In order to do so you have to let go of your belief that your idea, your program, your innovation is the one that other players should rally around.
A movement isn’t a marketing tool. It’s the antidote to “old habits die hard.” It prepares the ground for new and different ways of thinking and acting. It creates cultural receptivity and popular support for new approaches. It makes it easier for a host of innovations with similar objectives to stick, to thrive and to have lasting impact. Including yours.
The work nowadays is less about perfecting or scaling your own work and more about completing your work through the work of others. If a new movement is needed it will emerge through those interactions.
If you want to take your movement responsibilities seriously:
- Make a list of the players in the movement(s) you belong to.
- Identify those whose values and actions you would like to align with because you can’t work with everyone.
- Link up and connect the dots.
When you do you will be pleasantly surprised. Your specific work will be enhanced. So will the culture.
Movements are a powerful response to the corporate, technological, militaristic and ideological forces that are harmful to life. Your movement(s) are already in motion transforming culture. They would benefit from your peaceful presence and wholehearted participation.
