ACTIVIST
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
THE ACTIVIST ARCHITYPE
Do you want to change the system, are you committed to being the change you want?
Do you think you have what it takes to show up, lead by example and speak out loud?
Do you have a better solution for the people in charge?
Activism is fuelled by the dedication and drive powered by entrepreneurial curiosity, passion and purpose. The organisations, cultures and the way we consume are challenged and shaped by rebellious Activists and change-makers turning seemingly impossible and wildly ambitious ideas into reality. In the heart of all activism lays the most important force on the planet: The power of the people.
Be the change
Modern-day activism is everywhere. Conscious consumers are shaping society and the new standards in sustainability. Startups are challenging the status quo. Corporate cultures and business communities are challenged by activists and change-makers shaping the futures with a creative approach.
Life on this planet would have been very different without the relentless work of the activists. The progress and the process of the world becoming a better place have been heavily influenced and driven by the activist mindset. Innovation and inventions, startups, social movements, peace protests, coups and demonstrations have and will continue shaping the story of our planet.
Creating Impact
While the majority may see the world getting only worse by the moment, the reality is actually the opposite. The past decades have been a constant win and positive development in extreme poverty, equality, victims of war, child mortality and crime. This forward movement and the change is often led by the Activist spirit.
While Corporate Social Responsibility starts to be an outdated approach, the purpose-driven forerunners in sustainability are changing the world with woke businesses committed to being aware of social injustices and fixing them.
“ Either you repeat the same conventional doctrines everybody is saying, or else you say something true, and it will sound like it's from Neptune. “
–Noam Chomsky, Political Activist
Activism is fuelled by the dedication and drive powered by curiosity, passion and purpose. As the opposing powers are often greater than the individual activist, finding the right resources and ways to tackle frustration and the risk of burnout becomes crucial. Collaboration and finding complimenting investors and allies is the key.
‘The challenges we face as a society require leadership. Once we identify a problem, we act. We embrace risk and act to protect and restore the stability, integrity and beauty of the web of life.’
–Patagonia
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
ACTIVIST
STRENGTHS
Change Maker
The willingness to confront challenges and create change is a key strength of the Activist archetype. In addition, it is the ability to assume responsibility for a particular issue and understand that it takes more than just individual action to work towards solving a collective problem.
Communicator
The power of the voice persuades, convinces, and connects people to the Activist’s cause. Activists are often natural-born campaigners executing clear and engaging communications creating movements, impact and change.
Community-driven
There is a magnetic attraction in the power of a community that is united for a single purpose. An activist leader is a capable organizer who can draw together disparate ideas and individuals calling on cooperation to create the momentum necessary for change.
ACTIVIST
WEAKNESSES
Burnout
With the high stakes and relentless work ethic, the Activist is often challenged by personal work-life balance. Luckily we have started to see a new wave of activism highlighting the importance of balanced performance, allocating time for recovery, and the importance of sleep.
The journey starts with creating awareness of your stress factors and what sustainable growth means. The path forward is built on a holistic approach and a new standard highlighting your most critical resources: mental and physical health.
Lack of Sufficient Resources and Consistency
In Activist Steve job’s words: “To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed. They are just a multiplier. Execution is worth millions.”
Receiving attention is just one part of the equation. To create a lasting impact, the Activist must secure access to the needed resources and manage a consistent process to create impact. The same thinking continues in the art of delegation and building a winning team with complimenting roles and responsibilities.
Me against the rest of the world
Creating change requires understanding and strategy to navigate resources, power structures and politics. Iconic Activists such as Gandhi and Mandela were by profession lawyers and were well aware of the ‘rules of the game’ and how to lobby and impact the power structures.
Success requires a team effort, and the Activist should pay attention to their potential lone-wolf tendencies. The only way forward is to become part of a diverse group with complementing talents creating scale for the sought-after impact.
CONCLUSION
You are tasked to impact millions and to make it happen!
An Activist has dedicated their work to affecting change. Choosing a sustainable strategy to create the forward movement and securing your own energy and wellbeing becomes crucial. Due to the counter powers bigger than yourself, the Activist belongs to a risk group facing burnout.
Eventually, it’s only two things keeping you at bay: Your Fears and Your Beliefs.
Change requires another. It makes sense to make this journey together with a structure and a like-minded community providing accountability, support and good laughs.
Book a call if you are open for a zero-pressure discussion where I can listen and find out if we can add value to you or not.
Learn more about the Eight Archetypes
The Eight Archetypes are distributed in four different spheres where Seekers lead the need to change, Builders are here to manifest, Connectors to connect, and Leaders to lead.
The Seeker sphere introduces the two archetypes of the Healer and the Activist. The second group of Builders hosts the Designer and the Engineer archetypes. The third level is the group of the Connectors - the Captain and the Dealmaker. The fourth level introduces the Leader archetypes: the Alpha Leader and the Omega Leader.
