A little while ago, my Dad moved from my hometown to a new state. His new house is not far from the state capital.
When I’ve visited, there have been protests near the State Capitol—people protesting Trump.
I feel for them. I don’t approve of his actions either. I’m not proud of my country right now, either.
That said, I notice these protests make me angry. Not because I disagree. But because I don’t believe they’re going to work very well. Because I think they could find better ways to make an impact.
When I was a teenager, I attended protests. I thought that that was how the world changed. I just had to go outside, hold up a sign, and the world would change.
Now, I don’t think that theory of change makes very much sense.
Sure, sometimes protests work. They’re not there for no reason.
But I just don’t think it’s a very sound theory of change, in general.
My theory of change is basically The Service Guild, and the playbook we’re using.
I could explain this at length, but here’s what I’d point to, as elements of that theory of change:
- stand for something good (like Love, or Curiosity, or Empowerment). articulate your vector. know what good things U stand for, tell the world, help them to help U. play long games. “play good games, win good prizes”
- build relationships. “if you want to go far, go together.” coordinate and collaborate with virtuous, skilled actors who have aligned visions and values. develop shared intent and fingerspitzengefuhl with your crews and teams
- cultivate not just friends and collaborators, but allies and alliances. actively look for ways to benefit your friends and allies. always seek win-win, all-win / omni-win solutions
- play long games. let positive momentum grow, positive effects compound.
- use the internet. tell people what U are doing.
- develop skills, get good. get better every year, always be improving.
- think strategically, use strategic thinking. play conditions-consequences, not means-ends. develop mutually supportive positive positive feedback loops, self-reinforcing virtuous cycles.
- play nice, play fair, play well (ethically)—have integrity, cultivate ethics. do the right thing, treat people well. “love everyone and tell the truth”
I’m sure there are other implicit elements of our playbook that I haven’t articulated here, or other aspects
But I do think this is a playbook that will have a larger, more positive, more historic impact, on the order of years and decades.
We’ll see whether I’m right, how my life turns out, what effects my projects and work have in the world. But I know where I’m choosing to spend my own time and energy.