Each episode begins with one expert – an open-minded and passionate individual who has spent a great deal of time investigating and researching a certain topic. During the hour, a small group of 4 to 6 people explores complex and difficult concepts with curiosity, uncertain beliefs and the willingness to objectively listen and learn from the shared insights of others.
The tenth episode discusses the topic of Activism with an attempt to answer the following question: Is it possible for one person to make a difference in the world?
Here’s a short recap of the highlights of the conversations by Virginie Glaenzer – you can read the full summary here.
Lack of Trust in Ourselves
Trust is one of the few elemental forces that holds our world together; it’s the glue for our society. Trust in leaders cements relationships by allowing people to live and work together, feel safe, and belong to a group.
Accelerated by technology, Steve points out that our notion of expertise, and therefore hierarchical power, is falling away and isn’t really helping us anymore. This might be the reason why we are all struggling with our lack of trust as we witness the collapse of our old systems.
Listen to Rudy De Waele explain how losing trust in ourselves has generated an entire society and economy based on addictions.
The “I-We-World” Framework
The I-We-World is a known framework for expressing a worldview and helping us understand how we can make a positive impact and be consequential in our work.
The “I” starts with individuals who understand the need to transform themselves first, before influencing others. The kindred communities are the “We” who bridge the gap from one-to-many through empathic connections.
Our lack of language to define those kindred relationships from groups of 2 to 50 makes it difficult to feel our way in. We need a new set of vocabulary to describe the changes we are trying to make in the world and new names for activists, such as change makers, conscious leaders, meaning makers, meaningful workers, game changers, or even witnesses.
Making a Difference in the World
How do we find ways to make our individual activism effective?
Our activism has to be more intentional and collaborative than one person acting alone. For instance, changing detrimental habits is very difficult, so being supported by a group of like-minded people is often the key to long-term changes.
Final Thoughts to Consider
To change the world, we must first accept the idea that the world is crumbling. The harsh reality is that we have no one to trust, but ourselves.
Therefore, having an impact in the world as an individual starts with authenticity and ends with meaning. By dropping our ego and our fearful, competitive mind, we can unlearn limiting thoughts and behaviors which will trigger us to act.
We don’t need to quit our jobs and join the Peace Corps to change the world.
We can also make our jobs more impactful by choosing activist employers or finding ways to live and express our values through our roles at more traditional firms, for instance, uncovering gender pay gaps as an accountant.
From there, a new framework emerges with the upward spiraling notion of impact to meaning to purpose, which sets the stage for new activism to appear through communities.
If this short summary resonated with you, go to YouTube to view the entire discussion or listen on iTune, Spotify, Speaker or SoundCloud.
