Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. – Steve Jobs, 1997
It gives me chills.
It’s not a “how to make change” or a “call to action” but a poetic meditation on how many change makers sit outside of the norm. They might be considered “the crazy” ones, but they’re also the ones changing the world.
It’s a reassuring perspective for those receiving push back for a big idea to change their part of the world. They might be called a fool, but it might be all the motivation needed to go ahead anyway.
Change happens when people fall in love with a different idea of the future.
It takes leadership to describe a different idea of the future. Effecting change is an act of leadership.
“The world is changed not by the self-regarding, but by men and women prepared to make fools of themselves.” – P.D. James
It’s all a choice. A choice to lead. To lean into the discomfort of it. To make fools of themselves. Knowing they might be called one of the crazy ones.
Leaders take responsibility. Leaders choose to lead. Leadership doesn’t have to come from the top, it can happen at any level. It’s a choice. The challenge in leading, however, is you must be willing to choose to stand out.
If you don’t want to stand out, you’ll need to fit in.
And by fitting in, you’ll never change anybody or anything.
Are you foolish enough to change the world?
AI image generated in Canva
