In April of 2012, I was in the middle of raising $10,000 so the End Sex Trafficking book could be published and I couldn’t believe it, not a single dollar was donated from my family. And even worse, some of my closest friends wouldn’t even share the donation video on Facebook. I thought they would be proud I was standing up for something. I thought they would be the first people to support me and better yet I thought they would show interest in the cause that meant so much to me.
Today I’m going to share the truth that most world changers, movement makers and advocates don’t talk about and how you can get through it without going crazy and cutting your family and friends off.
Like many others, you may have plans to start a movement and change a small part of the world, or you wouldn’t be reading this, so read on…it will help you to know the three ways to protect yourself before you’re in the thick of your world changing idea and wondering what in the heck is wrong with everyone?!
1. Enlist a “do good dream team”
When you first get your innovative wheels churning in that brain of yours, recognize right away who will be supportive and who will just crap all over it and make a note not to tell the people who will just doubt and hate. You can even create an official “do good dream team” of advocates and brilliant business friends who will push, challenge and inspire you to keep moving forward with your “crazy” idea. And reserve your family and friends who are not on your “team” for the things they can handle, like telling them all about the suspenseful movie you just saw.
My go to dream members for EST Day 2012 included: My hubby, Erika Lyremark, Dyana Valentine, Share Ross and Deirdre Flynn.
2. Don’t take it personal baby
Several of my clients (and myself) had to come to the realization that taking it personal is a mega waste of our precious time. So if your family or friends thesquarepdx.org/soma/ roll their eyes when you bring up your exciting project or delete your amazing ask email- brush it off your shoulders and keep at it. If you want to be successful in starting a movement, you can’t waste any time taking things personal.
3. Clear the deck of expectations
When it comes to raising money for a cause, asking for collaborators and looking for bleeding supporters that believe in your cause you have to come to the table with nada expectations. If you just know that you know that so and so is going to say yes or Ms. Money bags is going to fork out cash for your campaign – you will end up low down and disappointed. Wouldn’t you rather be surprised when these things happen anyways?! So approach each conversation and invite with zero expectations and the outcome either way will go down with ease.
My hope is that when you do encounter opposition or doubters when taking on your crazy world changing idea that they don’t stop you, but instead you use what I’ve learned to protect you and your inspiration. After all when we take on causes that make people feel uncomfortable they don’t always know what to do with that information. But it’s our job to stand up for what we believe in and make our big ideas a reality so that our world can be a better place.
Tell me –– have you encountered family and friends who aren’t supportive of your big ideas? And if so what works for you?
Do you know someone who has faced this problem recently and you just know you need to share this with them? Share it using the buttons or click to tweet below!
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“Good ideas are common – what’s uncommon are people who’ll work hard enough to bring them about” – Ashleigh Brilliant
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