Bill Drayton once said, “If everyone is a changemaker, there’s no way a problem can outrun a solution.” But who exactly is a changemaker? A changemaker is a person who always looks out to identify opportunities that will eventually contribute to the greater good. That one person also inspires others to support them in their journey towards making change and persisting until a positive difference is achieved.
Changemaking is in everyone’s DNA; it’s just a matter of unlocking that characteristic. Social entrepreneurs are changemakers who aim to create a widespread impact by being focused on system change. Every social entrepreneur fosters collaboration and focuses on equipping others to collaborate in solving social problems.
An impact can’t be made alone. It will always take you inspiring and motivating others to make an impact. For those aspiring to create a better world, here are the simple ways via which one can become a changemaker:
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Emerge As A Solution Bringer
“In every problem, there’s a hidden solution waiting to be uncovered. Be the one who brings light to the answers others seek.”
You can always find creative solutions to problems but sometimes there may be situations when you really can’t solve all the problems. But you need to be the person people can look up to for solutions. If you can help, that’s great but if you can’t, at least you know that the person looks up to you for the solution and maybe sooner or later you come up with a solution. You always need to emerge as a solution-bringer to become a changemaker.
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Bring A Road Map
“A vision without a plan is just a wish. Map out your journey, guide others through change, and watch the transformation unfold.”
Change has never been easy. It requires a lot of effort to drive change. If you can’t explain to anyone where it will lead them, you’ll never be able to influence change and guide them in the right and new direction. You should very well be equipped with the path before setting out on a change-making effort. You should be able to provide the road map and the underpinning of where you’re headed.
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Follow The Principle Of Under Promise And Over Deliver
“Let your deeds exceed your words. The power of influence lies in actions that speak louder than promises.”
As a changemaker, whatever you say matters a lot. Never exceed through words what you can’t exceed through actions. It would be highly unjustified to over-promise and under-deliver. Therefore, always aim to deliver on your promise. Follow the principle of under promise and over deliver, by doing so you can inspire others to implement positive change in society.
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Always Expect Setbacks
“Setbacks are the stepping stones to success. Embrace challenges, learn from failures, and keep moving forward.”
Nothing happens overnight, everything takes time. That’s why, be ready to face setbacks. Never leave hope. Just keep moving forward. No innovator, creative thinker, or activist got everything on their first attempt. Every time they failed, they learnt a lesson and moved on until they succeeded.
The more you learn how to overcome challenges, the more you learn about your goals. Remember what Roy T. Bennett had said, “Life is all about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savouring the journey.”
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Focus On The Bigger Picture
“Don’t lose sight of the forest for the trees. Focus on the bigger picture to ensure that your efforts align with a grander purpose.”
You get easily lost in thinking about every small detail when you work on a project you are deeply passionate about. You become so focused on those details that you start losing focus on the bigger picture. But that should not happen. Never.
When you get off the track, the project starts falling apart and losing the actual intention behind the project. Therefore, as a changemaker, you always have to think big, aim for big and make sure that the work aligns with your original objective. Ron Baratono once said, “We tend not to look at the bigger picture of our lives and instead dwell on the small things that irritate us. When we focus on the bigger picture, those small things fade away.”
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Join Hands With Other Activists
Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much. Join hands with others to amplify your impact and create waves of positive change.”
It’s not always important to idealize big changemakers like Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein. Many intelligent people are doing great work and facilitating change. You can join hands with them to emerge as a changemaker. Find people who help you to be the best version of yourself, who inspire you, influence you, make you learn new things, and call you out when you lose drive.
TOP 3 QUALITIES OF CHANGEMAKERS
In this world, everyone has change-making capabilities. A core set of characteristics that makes a successful change maker are:
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Open-Mindedness
Changemakers are always optimistic about their results and open to different perspectives. This mindset to absorb different perspectives helps them look out for solutions. As they remain open to different viewpoints, they adapt to evolving situations. They always look forward to building stronger connections and refining their strategies which help them navigate complexity and find innovative solutions that address the root causes of societal issues.
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Creative Problem Solvers
They ask as many questions as they can without any hesitation as they are deeply passionate about solving a problem. They always look to find creative solutions. They do not bind themselves to traditional methods but actively seek to find effective solutions.
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Risk Takers
The future belongs to the risk-takers, not the comfort seekers. Changemakers are risk-takers and believe in their instincts. They trust in themselves and take every step with sheer confidence. The willingness to take risks distinguishes changemakers as trailblazers who are unafraid to challenge existing norms and pioneer transformative initiatives.
The Bottom Line
Greta Thunberg, Katharine Viner, J.K. Rowling, Serena Williams, and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, are some of the renowned changemakers. Their contribution to the entire world has been phenomenal. It’s time for you to become the next changemaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is a changemaker?
A changemaker is a person who takes creative action to solve a social problem.
2. What are the well-known qualities of a changemaker?
A changemaker is resourceful, open-minded, inquisitive, a facilitator, courageous and creative enough to drive positive change.
3. Who all comes under changemakers?
Changemakers include social entrepreneurs, activists, NGO leaders, artists, and volunteers from across the globe.
4. Who are the top 5 change-makers of the decade?
- Malala Yousafzai
- Serena Williams
- Greta Thunberg
- Angela Merkel
- Janina Kugel
