Unleash the Beast

Published on by elephanatic

Uncovering Your Power to Drive Change

by Tessa Vanderkop, VP Elephanatics

If you want to unleash the power of one, you must first look within.

Years ago, I used to speed skate. I started as an adult in my thirties and barely knew how to skate. For many years, I was a part of the children’s group where I was frequently partnered with a teen. Most teens willing to partner with the “old” person in the group were old souls themselves. For a few years, I partnered with Brendon, a tall, lanky, awkward kid of about 14, but somehow we always got on.

I had a natural tendency to hold back, to be very careful, and to never step outside my comfort zone—cautiously navigating the corners like a hundred-year-old lady. Brendon was the exact opposite. He flew around the corners like a windmill, his arms and legs flying as he navigated the tricky ice. Once when I was racing, I could hear him urging me on from the sidelines. “Unleash the Beast!” he urged. “Unleash the Beast.”

I will never forget that. I was never able to quite unleash the beast while skating. However, when I discovered my passion for elephants, I finally found my true calling. I learned to take my passion and my skills to unleash the power of one, step outside my comfort zone, advocate on their behalf, and find my community of changemakers.

When I have spoken to other advocates, I often hear a similar story that goes like this:

1) You uncover an issue or a problem that you feel driven to change. It is often a seemingly insurmountable problem, but you wake up every morning thinking what can I do today to help move this forward. What is within my “hug zone” to drive change?

2) Every one of us has unique strengths. What are yours? Are you a great writer? Are you a social media whizz? Are you an organizer? Do you have expertise in a certain area? One of our greatest strengths collectively is our network of family, friends, work mates, school mates.

3) Your purpose is the intersection between your passion and your unique strengths and the social or environmental issue you want to solve.

So how do you unleash the power of one?

Unleash the Power of One Toolkit

Step 1: What moves you?

We don’t usually choose the issues we care most about—they choose us.
Reflect on the moments, experiences and injustices that stay with you and ask yourself:

· What issue do I keep coming back to, even when no one is asking me to?

· What makes me angry, hopeful, or deeply curious?

· What problem would I happily spend years helping to solve?

· When have I felt, “Someone should do something about this”…. and realized maybe I am someone?

· If I could improve one thing for future generations, what would it be?

· What is inside my “hug zone”—the change I can realistically influence?

Reflection: What change do you want to help create in the world?

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Step 2: What do you bring?

Everyone has assets that can help create change. Some people communicate. Some organize. Some connect people. Some raise money. Some build ideas. Some influence policy. Some simply know how to bring others together.

Consider:

Skills

· What do people naturally come to me for?

· What am I good at?

· What skills have I developed through work, volunteering or life?

Relationships

· Who do I know?

· What communities am I already part of?

· Who trusts me?

Experience

· What lived experience gives me insight others may not have?

· What challenges have shaped who I am?

Personal Strengths

· What comes naturally to me?

· When do I feel most energized?

· What kinds of contributions make me lose track of time?

Reflection: What unique combination of strengths could I contribute?

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Step 3: Where do they intersect?

Purpose lives where your passion meets your strengths.

Ask:

· How could my strengths help move this issue forward?

· What role feels authentic to me?

· What contribution could I make consistently over time?

· What first step feels exciting rather than overwhelming?

Reflection: What is my unique contribution?

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Step 4: Find Your People

No one changes the world alone. Every movement begins with people finding one another.

Ask:

· Who is already working on this issue?

· Who inspires me?

· Where are people gathering around this cause?

· Who could I learn from?

· Who might benefit from my skills?

Reflection: Who could I collaborate with?

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Step 5: Start Small. Stay Consistent.

Change rarely begins with one giant leap. It begins with one conversation. One introduction. One article. One volunteer opportunity. One act of leadership.

Ask yourself each morning:

· What is one thing I can do today that is within my influence?

· Who can I encourage?

· What conversation needs to happen?

· What small action moves this issue one step forward?

Meaningful change is created by thousands of small actions, taken consistently, by ordinary people who decide to use their unique strengths for something that matters. While I wasn’t able to unleash my beast as a speedskater I am forever thankful to Brendon for showing me that passion can drive change. It look me a few years to find an issue that was very deep in my heart, but when I did, I was able to harness my power for change!