IF NOT NOW, WHEN – and IF NOT ME, WHO?
Saturday, May 8, 2021
There isn’t much we can do.
Pick any issue that attracts political noise, controversy, protests, court wrangles and legislative ‘throwing up of the hands’ – any society-wide problem, what can one person do?
Sure, you can make calls, write letters, publish op-ed essays or bombard social media – or write a book. Or all of those things. But seriously, really, what can one person do?
Most of us cannot get on a stage and speak to assembled masses – in person or electronically. For a lone voice to reach a broader audience via media, one needs to be on that platform and have something substantial and engaging to say.
So, again, I ask what can one person do?
As I approach the next lane shift in a few months, I have some decisions to make – about how I’ll spend my time and invest my energy.
We can throw our support behind many issues, contribute our time and/or money toward – good causes all, but as we get older and hopefully wiser, the question of whether we can have much impact on anything is questionable. So instead, we can cherry-pick easy targets where a little work makes a difference, a little money makes a difference, and rallying support for something can make a difference.
But here’s the difference, for me at least, is whether I have the time, the energy and enough life left in me to meet the challenge.
What can one person do? If it’s a problem, an issue, or change that many people are doing something about already, we can add our voice, contribute our time, money, and labour.
There are lots of causes. Pick one. Do something.
But what about the problem nobody is trying to solve?
And, of those trying to make a difference in that one area, what if they are not defining the problem, or trying to solve the right problem, or not choosing the kinds of solutions that stand a chance of making real change?
Some close friends will say, “Mark, you’ve been talking about this for years – but what have you done about it?” and they might go on to ask me to start doing something or shut up. Ordinarily, that would rile me to action, but I’m internally turmoil-ed about my inaction.
Stay tuned for some actions.
P.S.: I was reminiscing about a project – nearly 25 years ago now, where a very credible client came to me and asked my help, to work in secret, to create an ambitious solution to a complex problem. As we would up the meeting, my client added, “By the way, Mark, we have no money.” That project and two others it led to were some of the largest and best pieces of work I’ve ever done. Of course, I didn’t do them alone – there were many players engaged along the path, but it began with a cup of coffee, a discussion of a problem nobody else wanted to solve, a conversation with a critically important player who brought an open mind and an empty wallet to the project. I’ve never had more fun, done better work, or been more proud of the results. I realize I needed that stroll down memory lane. It’s kicking me in the rear and kicking me into gear.