The Genesis of Every Movement
“The success of any kind of social epidemic is heavily dependent on the involvement of people with a particular and rare set of social gifts.” -Malcolm Gladwell
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead
Natives of Sacramento and in the surrounding region are buzzing today.
On Tuesday night March 6th, the Sacramento City Council voted 7-2 to approve a financial plan to build a new Entertainment Sports Complex in downtown Sacramento. This ensures that our NBA team will remain here, along with the emergence of new community revitalization opportunities.
When it appeared a forgone conclusion that the NBA was packing up and leaving California’s capital city, a group of passionate people energized a fan base and excited a community.
With a simple email stating the need to do something, a grassroots movement began.
That leads me to ask a question: How DOES a movement begin?
With a simple decision to say YES.
Yes to making that call. Yes to sending that email. Yes to acting on that thought. Yes to writing down that inspiration. Yes to making that donation. Yes to taking that risk.
A movement of any consequence always starts with a simple yes. The power of a simple yes has far-reaching impact. A yes is sticky. A yes is contagious. A yes is empowering.
A yes can also be terrifying.
Because a movement almost always requires the unthinkable/unlikely/unimaginable to happen, only the brave can truly say yes in the first place.
It’s always easy to find reasons to say ‘NO’. But it takes great courage to say ‘YES’.
In the words of Seth Godin, “..if you’re afraid of something, of putting yourself out there, of creating a kind of connection or a promise, that’s a clue that you’re on the right track. Go, do that.”
What kind of movement is sitting inside of you that can’t wait to get out? What idea is in the back of your brain? What passion is burning at the core of your being?
There are a million reasons to say NO to that whisper.
But you’ll never know until you say YES.
YES is where every movement begins.
Including yours.
Question: Is there a movement inside you waiting to get out? What do you need to say ‘YES’ to, so you can get started?