Be a "First Follower"

One of the highlights of the Harvard Social Enterprise Conference was the keynote address by Premal Shah, President of Kiva, who played this hilarious and insightful YouTube video by Derek Sivers about the importance of being the “first follower.”

Did you watch it? I love that video, and the idea that the “first follower” transforms the “lone nut” into a leader. I know many social entrepreneurs would identify with the idea of the “lone nut:” as one successful but unconventional entrepreneur told me, “In the beginning, everyone told me I was crazy.” Michael Brown, Co-founder and CEO of City Year has also said, “Quitting [my prestigious job as a clerk to a federal judge] to work on City Year was, to my family, the equivalent of running off and joining the circus.” But not only have these successful entrepreneurs had the courage to “look ridiculous” in the beginning, they have recruited and embraced great teams of people who are equals in their mission, and who play critical roles in driving their organizations forward.

The most effective organizations are also adept at attracting those next dancers: the “champions” of the cause who add to the momentum of the movement and push an initiative to the tipping point. As Derek Sivers, the video’s commentator says, “The best way to make a movement, if you really care, is to courageously follow, and show others how to follow.” It is inspiring advice to magnify our personal impact: not all of us have to invent the next great social innovation—we just need to find those innovations, get behind them, and become "champions" who connect others to the larger vision.

Here’s one way right now to become some of the first followers of new, innovative ideas for social good: vote with your dollars for your favorite idea in the Unreasonable Institute’s Unreasonable Marketplace, where aspiring social entrepreneurs are competing for access to great mentors, capital, and training to make their idea a reality. There are only 22 days left to decide which ideas will move on. Who will you follow, and why? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

Come on, you know you want to—can’t you see how much fun those dancers are having?