Anyone Can Change the World, Here's How

There, I said it. And I truly believe it.

Wanting to change the world is a common theme. From individuals to collectives, startups to "Big" industry, everyone wants to change the world. It's happening every day. All around us.  Ever hear of the wheel? the nanotube? the ipod? kiva? Gandhi?  Ok, those are big time examples. But they started out with simple ideas that grew and grew into big movements.  You can do the same thing.

Whether it's for profit or not for profit, changing the world HAS to be done. And I'm sorry, I know we've all heard that word a lot this year.  But it's really important.  I think too many people and too many companies are being lackadaisical about this lately.  I think everyone and every company, startup or established, needs to get back to the idea that they can change the world.  

You're going to find a lot of corollaries between the steps I'm going to outline here and the things that get drilled into your brain as an entrepreneur.  Maybe because I am one, and this is how I'd do it.

1. Ideate
2. Plan
3. Execute
4. Measure
5. Rinse and repeat.

So let's dive into each of these a little further.

1. Ideate
You're (most likely) not going to change the world completely and totally by accident.  Sure, the slinky was an accident (and yes, in my opinion it did change the world, if only a little).  But the idea that a coil could be turned into a child's toy took a different kind of inspiration. It took a eureka.  Eurekas can be accidents, sure. But you have to have a eureka to be the foundation.  No one is going to stumble blindly and impact change in the world.

2. Plan
An oft-overlooked aspect of this process.  Says the naive: "I've got an idea! It's going to change the world! w00t!" Says the seasoned: "I've got an idea. Now how can I implement it."  Refer to #1.  You can't hope your idea will just magically come to fruition.  It's time to work.  But you have to have a plan of action. You can't execute without a plan. Does your idea to change the world need a business plan? Well is it a business? Then yes. Otherwise. No. (sure, there are exceptions)

3. Execute
Startups are indeed all about execution. You don't execute you don't survive. If you don't execute, then the change you want to see in the world will never happen.  If your change is "cleaning up my neighborhood" then grab a trash bag.  Don't just stare out the window and wish.  At lease push the first domino.
I've you've ever listened to Dave Ramsey (and you should) think of the snowball method.  Start with the smallest goals/tasks first, and scale upward.  The small victories will give you the fuel to achieve the big goals. Do whatever you can to execute, execute, execute.  You're trying to change the world, remember?

4. Measure
Outside of startups you may think this is impossible, or worse, not worth it.  I argue emphatically that you should measure everything you can. And I will admit I need to improve in this area.  In startups, this is easy. Growth in users, sales, turnover, time on site, and on and on... There are a million things to measure.
Measure everything. Measure progress versus objectives. How much longer did it take you than you thought it would to get that goal done? What impact did it have?  Are there any measurable results to compare against? If you can't find something to measure, you're just not trying hard enough.
A slight twist on an oft-used proverb:
If you can't measure it, it didn't happen.
How do you know the world has changed if you can't measure it?

5. Rinse and repeat
Keep working. Keep affecting change. Keep coming up with new ideas. Keep working. Keep measuring. Keep trying to change the world. It is worth it, and it is important.  Even if it's a small change. You're trying to change the world. Don't forget it.

If you need some inspiration here, I'm working on a project that will try to help.  It, quite literally, is about changing the world.  We're going live soon.  Follow us on twitter here.

I'll leave you with was something my fiancé told me when I soured on a project I'd been working on.  


She said, "The worst thing an entrepreneur can have is a short wick. You have to keep the fire burning."


Sorry guys, she's all mine.