Excellent article by Life Coach, Ginny Williams, that accurately captures the essence of The 360 Group’s mission and how it is making meaningful change in the world.
To attain happiness in another world we need only to believe something, while to secure it in this world we must do something. ~ Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Do you want to make a difference in the world? It’s easily the most common goal I hear from clients who want to change careers. If they are going to go through the effort of transitioning to a new profession, they want it to be one that gives them a sense of purpose and enables them to have a tangible impact.
Where do you begin? The answer may be right in front of you.
Begin looking at your own life and examine what matters to you most. Observe what frustrates or angers you, because that’s a guidepost for where you could be most effective. Taking on a new endeavor requires mental and emotional stamina. When you choose a direction that has personal meaning to you, you are far more likely to do what it takes to succeed.
My client Vincent used this approach to launch his executive search firm 13 years ago. Prior to that, he had been the Executive Director of a non-profit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area. During his time in that role, he noticed the lack of diversity in the leadership of many non-profit organizations.
The irony was that the people and communities served by these organizations were incredibly diverse, yet the senior executives that ran the organizations were predominantly white males. How could these leaders possibly relate to the people they were serving?
Vincent began his leadership search firm, The 360 Group, with the mission of changing that trend.
Starting out, Vincent had some potential road blocks to being successful with his business concept. He did not have a background in executive recruiting. He did not have much capital to keep him afloat while he built the business. While he had developed a network in the non-profit and philanthropy sectors, he wasn’t sure how to leverage and contribute to the network in this new way.
But perhaps the biggest barrier he faced was trying to change the way things had always been done. It was a daunting task for one person to undertake, but his desire to disrupt an outdated system was enough to motivate Vincent to act.
He began reaching out to influential leaders in the non-profit and philanthropic worlds. He built relationships with potential candidates. He joined the boards of several key organizations. He grew and developed his own team and suite of services. Now The 360 Group is a recognized leader in the world of non-profit and philanthropic executive search.
“Don’t let your belief about how things are supposed to work get in the way of seeing what you can do to make things to work.” ~ Vincent Robinson
When he started, Vincent had no way of knowing if he would succeed or fail. But he cared enough about the issue of diversity to choose one segment where it needed to be addressed. He didn’t set out to change the world, but there is no question that he has made a meaningful and lasting impact in an important corner of his world.
As a bonus, Vincent can now observe the ripple effect of his company’s efforts. The leaders that his firm has placed continue the mission of creating a positive impact on their organizations and communities. How cool is that?
If you have a desire to do work that creates meaningful change, begin by identifying what matters to you most. Then convert that angst and frustration into an opportunity to create a solution. The Ripple Effect begins with a single person tossing a single stone.
Use It or Lose It Tip
This week, observe your opinions, especially when you’re talking about something important that frustrates you. What issues do you debate with friends or on social media? What do you read about voraciously? What problem do you wish someone else would solve? It may be a clue for an opportunity for you to create your own Ripple Effect.