In this point of modern world history there are plenty of individuals who claim themselves to be “activists” but haven’t a single clue on what an activist really, truly is or what it takes to become one. Right now, all over the world there are individuals who are stepping up their game but those are few and far between. I would be safe at putting it somewhere between 1 in every 100,000 are stepping up their Activist game. Those few step up to be a leader. Why do so few step up?
Vision without Action is a daydream. Actions without Vision is a nightmare.
– Japanese Proverb
To put it quite simply: They would rather be an un-informed “Johnny-come-lately”, they would rather be detached third party followers led by the nose rings to the next trough. To go into even more simpler terms: Because it is EASIER to say they are an activist than to actually be an activist!
Being an activist involves just a little more than posting on Facebook or re-tweeting someone else’s original post on twitter, and anything else on social media. Being a true Activist means so much more than just being a social media warrior. It means being informed, contributing, recognized member of the community you support plus a whole lot more to include being a leader, a Genuine Leader to ALL PEOPLE.
Now, let’s break it down!
Definition of the word: Activist
The Merriam-Webster dictionary and website states an Activist is defined as, “one who advocates or practices activism: a person who uses or supports strong actions (such as public protests) in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue.”
“one who advocates”
Let’s break that word down as well.
There are three definitions as a noun, an advocate is “one who pleads the cause of another”, number two “one who defends or maintains a cause or proposal” and number three, “one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group”
I will not insult your intelligence but as I read these definitions I can see where things start to break down.
If we stop at the first part of both definitions, it all falls apart, because far too many people live by the TLDR effect they get stop at the first part of the definition.
Let me go one step further and this might be where I will lose some of you as what I will be presenting in this post might not be to the liking of most people. It stands to reason that I will lose some readers because I am about to share one word that many know and understand but absolutely refuse to do because of any number of reasons. That word? That word is WORK.
If I have not scared you off, then give me a minute or two.
I want to break down the word ACTIVIST one more time. The word is rooted in the word ACTIVE.
Active is defined as “characterized by action rather than by contemplation or speculation”, “producing or involving action or movement”, “quick in physical movement”, and “marked by present operation, transaction, movement, or use”. There are several other definitions and they all continue to focus on action.
Action! Action means you are doing.
Therefore, to truly make an impact you have to take Action and that means stop with the passive activism (talk about an oxymoron) because any keyboard warrior can be a passive activist. But where’s the fun in that? Seriously, the fun is in the doing. The fun and adventure is doing more that just hitting the like button or the subscribe and follow.
The fun, adventure, and the doing come from going just one step beyond being tagged as a keyboard warrior.
The fun, adventure, doing and accomplishment comes from actually putting in the work.
YEP, HERE COMES THE WORK PART.
It is time to back away from the keyboard and get into the thick of it.
Being active means, you have to do the work, put in the work, get to work.
How do you put in the work, do the work, get to work?
You stop posting the passive-aggressive and start working with those you support
By being passive aggressive you do more to hurt your cause than you do to support it
By being passive aggressive your message might just be that, your message and not the message of what you are “supporting”
Thus, by working directly with those you are supporting you are getting the CORRECT and DIRECT access to their mission and vision.
By having direct access to the MISSION and VISION you are able to properly present your direct support and apply direct action to the “cause”. Now you are making more of an impact instead of being someone who is just “buzzing” around, making noise and not taking it to the next level. Taking it to the next level is what you must do to get recognized as someone committed to the “cause” whatever it may be. Taking it to the next level is how you get to be part of something that is bigger than you. Being committed to the “cause” is what is going to earn you the respect of your peers, your followers, and most of all it is how you become a greater leader because you are leading by example.
What I am trying to say is it is high time to get involved to get active with your activism, be an Active Activist.