WHAT IS A CHANGEMAKER?
Changemaker: A person who desires change in the world and, by gathering knowledge and resources, makes that change happen. Ashoka.org
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead, 1978.
I spent three years travelling, meeting and interviewing 200 changemakers worldwide for Generation Share, a ground-breaking book, cited top isolation read for a positive future by Forbes, that tells the awe-inspiring stories of the remarkable innovators and disruptors who are transforming lives and the planet by building a caring, Sharing Economy.
I set out to discover and bring to public attention the stories of the people behind the 21st Century phenomenon that is changing the way we think, live and do business. But over the course of three years, I’ve learned that there are characteristics that set these changemaker trailblazers apart.
I’ve learned that despite hailing from diverse backgrounds, genders, religions, communities, geographies and economic backgrounds, some are social entrepreneurs, community leaders, innovators, teachers, business people or simply individuals striving to make change, that there are 6 character traits that define the anatomy of a changemaker.
6 CHANGEMAKER TRAITS CHANGING THE WORLD
SHARE: changemakers are sharers; they are collaborative, team players who see abundance and understand that by sharing access and resources, everyone benefits.
BRAVE: changemakers reinvent the rules; they do things differently and are prepared to travel upstream.
ADAPTABLE: changemakers understand that to lead change, they need to be willing to change and adapt, that true innovation happens through learning what works and what doesn’t, adapting and iterating accordingly.
LOVE: changemakers put love at the heart of everything they do; they consider their impact, embed love for people and planet in their lives and in their work. They lead change with love and care.
POSITIVE: changemakers are inherently positive; they see challenges as opportunities to make a difference and recognise that change requires a solution-focused approach.
FUTURE: changemakers are future-conscious, they see the bigger picture, take a systemic approach, always consider the long-run.
These traits can also be applied to businesses and organisations, what I call changemaker companies. Find out how you can become a changemaker company here. I work with people, businesses and organisations to enable them to apply and adopt these all-important changemaker traits in order to survive the future and create economic, social and environmental value for themselves, their organisations, companies, society and the planet at large. Contact me to get started.
