Powerful people should narrow our attention on specific ways to make a difference
“DO SOMETHING” can be the last words someone hears before they throw the first punch. It can be a parent’s exasperated statement to their kid glued to a video game screen. It is a youth-focused nonprofit known for petitions. And now, it’s a memorable and oft-repeated mantra from Michelle Obama’s speech at the August 2024 Democratic National Convention. I make it my business to listen to everything this phenomenal woman has to tell me… except this time.
In our shared process of getting better and better, generic calls to action can become a thing of the past.
First, the Upside of General Calls to Action
The goal of her speech was to uplift Vice President Kamala Harris and inspire Democrats, and a short and sweet rally cry that connects those two things is excellent speech writing! Do something can wake up anyone who is idle or has lost hope. It can pause people in their scrolling. When everything feels like it’s falling apart, we need someone to push us and inspire us. That’s why personal trainers and professional coaches stay in business. Amazing is not a strong enough a word to describe Michelle Obama. Her speech was beyond. I’m simply using that one line to inspire some critical thinking among those of us in the business of change.
Now, the Downsides of General Calls to Action
In short, it’s a missed opportunity. While the group of people who tuned into the DNC is incredibly diverse, it also has many common interests. General audiences need general messages, but common interests create space for specifics. One of the reasons do-gooders or change-makers don’t focus is because everyone thinks their idea is the best. (guilty!) Whenever a leader has a huge (HUGE) crowd and a microphone, it’s a rare opportunity to nudge more people in the same direction. With focused resources of time and money, we could have picked and maybe solved one problem America faces during its 2024 election season.
Without Focus, Most Reach for the Stanley Mug of Taking Action
People figuring out what to do on their own will lean on what’s familiar. Bring 3 friends to the polls. Volunteer to register voters. Donate. The safety of repeating past actions is reinforced by data-driven insights quantifying what worked in the past. People feel validated when they can point to a previously tracked result to justify how they spend their time or money today. Of course we should inform decisions with data-driven insights. But not to a fault.
I tend to avoid trends. Even when I liked the sound of the band Green Day back in 1996, I refused to buy their CD simply because all my classmates were. Needless to say, I don’t own a Stanley mug. I still see and feel the safety that comes from moving as a group, though, and many of my daily decisions have hints of group-think. Many people will jump on to whatever local civic engagement group seems popular. When safety and popularity are the decision-drivers for changemaking, the scatter effect is real. Have you been sitting on the beach 10 feet away from the guy with spray sunscreen who thinks he’s getting his shoulders when you can see the mist all floating away, maybe 10% hitting his skin? That’s us. Blowing in the wind.
Up or Down, What Could She Have Said
Here are a few ideas:
“I’m not asking you, I’m telling you too….
…support election transparency as a volunteer, witness, or engaging in prep for election coordination.”
…make contact with the people serving in town or city-level political parties. Ask questions to increase transparency about what work they actually have underway.”
…call out bias in the media and uplift smaller media outlets and journalists that are returning campaign coverage to its roots.”
… check out this new writer on Substack and click her Subscribe button, BetterNextCarmen.”
Just spit balling here. Whichever one of these she ends up liking the best. Her call.
Motivating AND Focusing Big Groups of People Seems Impossible
The conclusion of this article becomes ironic because if we agree this is an issue we need to… (wait for it) … do something … about it. Ha! There’s one piece that only famous people can address – which is to use their megaphone with caution and then when they do speak, use precision, informed by those who know what they should say. There’s one piece that those with issue knowledge can address – which is to elevate what action should top our lists – the most effective actions. There’s one piece that any average changemaker can address – which is using courage to try new actions that expand our changemaking potential beyond that which is popular or that which is proven.
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