Writing books on Revolutions. Why write about them? I have heard that quote from time to time. Below is a snippet from my book, “How to Create a Revolution: a Step-by-Step Guide to History’s Social Influencers” on what sparked Our Revolution and my search for social good. Enjoy! Before we begin…. In 2010, I was asked to speak at the 140 Character Conference in Detroit. I spent the morning before my speech walking around the city, trying to get to know the people and tap into the energy around me. To be honest, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to speak on and was in search of some inspiration. What I found would not only be the inspiration to speak that day, anything else. After an hour-long stroll through the barren streets of downtown, I came across two parking attendants, a homeless guy, and a shop owner. When asked about their city, they all began the same way, “Despite what you hear about Detroit….” I couldn’t help but think, “Why are you defending your city? This town seems great. Wow! How disheartened the residents must be if they feel that have to defend it.” Here is that 140 Character Conference [...]
April 24, 2012 – 12:36 pm
I cannot tell you how excited I am for Our Revolution Week starting next Thursday or for the launch of the book (click link for details on what to expect). With the release of How to Create a Revolution: A Step-By-Step Guide to History’s Social Influencers, I thought it would be fun to give you a little revolutionary motivation on this beautiful Tuesday afternoon. Here are some of the quotes from the book. Enjoy! “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” -William James “All I was doing was trying to get home from work.” -Rosa Parks “The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” -Carl Jung “It’s really not so uncomfortable. Why, I think I easily would be able to hold out for a week. I was a little worried about the roof at first, but after I watched it for hours and it didn’t get any worse, I’ve sort of eased off thinking about it. But I don’t sit under the side that’s caved in [...]
Between revolutionary reenactments and the marathon, Boston is all abuzz today. I know several people that are running today and they have been training for several months just for this day. With all that goes into running a marathon, here are three life lessons we could all learn from today’s runners: Find Your Stride and Quickly: When beginning a race, it is very easy to start off so fast that you cannot keep up the pace. Throughout training, a runner explores where to find his or her stride. Finding your stride is not an easy thing. Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that sweet spot where you can keep momentum and continue to thrive. However, you won’t know until you experiment. Find your stride and keep it. There is no need to rush. Consistency is the key in any aspect of life, professional or personal. Overcoming “The Wall”: During a race, all runners will hit “the wall.” It could happen at mile 17 or 21, but it does happen. Well, the same goes for those times when you hit the proverbial “wall” within life. What happens when it does? Do you give up, even though you have come so far? No. [...]
April 12, 2012 – 12:52 pm
Game Changers. They come in all shapes and sizes. Today on my Game Changer segment on The Pulse Network, I dug into the definition of transmedia and how brands are using it today. Check it out: But there is a major misconception when it comes to transmedia storytelling. Many believe that you have to be associated with a film or a large brand. That just isn’t the case. You can be a small business, an entrepreneur, a group, non-profit, volunteer organization…you name it. And for you “little guys” out there, here are three ways to get started: What is Your Story: Before you can do anything, you must decide what your story is about. What is the journey? What obstacle(s) do your “characters” face and how do they overcome them? Pick 3 Entry Points: Once you have your story in place, pick three entry points for into your story. These entries points can be a segment of time, a sub storyline that compliments the world you’re trying to create, or the introduction of a supplementary character. Pick 3 Channels: For each entry point, use a different channel to tell the story. Maybe a piece of the story is told through video, where [...]
Game Changer, homeless hotspots, caused controversy at SXSW this year. Check out my Pulse Network segment on the topic: Despite what you think about the project, it has opened up the question of, “now what?” Here are 3 projects and next steps to consider: Street Treat: Though overshadowed by the SXSW Homeless Hotspot story, Street Treat is plugging away as an alternative to giving a homeless person the opportunity to make money by selling iced cream. Mark Horvath just wrote a great article on the program. Check it out. Partner for Employment: Many individuals who are homeless want to work. Some have the skills you’re looking for and some may not. Either way, they are just lacking the opportunity. Have your company partner with your local homeless shelter to create that opportunity and a training program. Community Gardens: Community Gardens are a fantastic communal focal point and an effective crime prevention strategy. Why not employee the homeless to help tend the garden and run a farm stand? This is a great way to pay someone, feed them, and make your neighborhood safer. What ways do you think we could employee the homeless? Do you know anyone who is working on something [...]
March 22, 2012 – 10:30 am
The satisfaction one feels after donating to and supporting a cause is inherent. In fact, two recent studies suggest that giving to others makes us happy, even happier than spending on ourselves. It may not be bold to state that giving is a key to happiness. And with today’s technology and rapid social media growth, the internet can make it even easier to do. Did you ever think you could increase your happiness with a click of a button? Through my work with Our Revolution, I’ve come across some great services and resources that help with social activism. Check them out: Endorse For A Cause – Endorse for a Cause is an exciting new online community where Members are able to recommend products and brands to their friends over social networks and earn money for their favorite non-profit Social Vibe Gives – Social Vibe is the leading social media utility connecting people with brands, empowering them to engage with sponsors and share branded content to benefit a cause of their choice Rec.fm – Rec.fm is a tool that allows you to make recommendations to your friends about brands and products and help your favorite charities by integrating with popular social networks like [...]
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As usually, my head was spinning upon my return from South by Southwest this year. The sheer intensity of the conference could do that to you. If you have never been, it is hard to explain the sensory overload that occurs, no matter what your level of participation. As I reflect on the most important thing I got out of the conference this year, I would have to say that it was the Badgeless 2012 movement that I stumbled upon. As someone who was going to SXSW badgeless, I want to see if others were badgeless as well. What I found really astounded me. Yesterday during my Game Changer segment for the Pulse Network, I highlighted some of the badgeless and their reasons why they were badgeless. Check it out: Whether the Badgeless Movement continues or not, there are three key takeaways that I think SXSW can learn from this: Listen: If so many veterans are going badgeless, then there is something that has gone astray with the conference. This is a fantastic opportunity for SXSW to listen to what its loyal attendees are looking for within the conference. Open Innovation: The veterans of SXSWi feel that the conference is losing [...]
January 20, 2012 – 11:40 am
I was walking to get my morning coffee, when I saw them. Huddled together around a table with icy noses, their girl sashes gave them away: Girl Scouts. Though their dedication and frozen faces weakened me to buy 3 boxes of thin mints, it also made me think about the leadership lessons we can learn from these little ladies. In honor of the organization’s 100th Anniversary, here are 3 lessons we can learn from the Girl Scouts: The Leaders: Lessons from the Girl Scouts View more presentations from Ja-Naé Duane What other lessons can we learned from this organization? How you ever been a Girl Scout or a Boy Scout? What leadership skills did it instill into you? We would love to hear from you. Related Posts How to Recognize Opportunity How to Read Body Language 50+ Business and Leadership Quotes
January 3, 2012 – 8:56 am
We live in a world of constant change. The events of 2011 have exhibited that all too well. As in life, change comes in cycles: birth, growth, death, and renewal. Understanding these cycles can help us thrive in change, rather than fear it. Though change can be painful, it is a source of creativity, innovation and transformation. While working on my upcoming book, How to Create a Revolution, I created the Revolutionary Change Cycle. Take a Look: During my research for the book, I found a transformation system developed by family therapist, Virginia Satir. Divided into five segments, her system illustrates how the family unit can transform the status quo into something new. While not related, it strengthens the correlation of change behavior amongst all group dynamics. Here’s the deal: Feel free to share. Tweet it, Google +, Facebook it, or post it on your own site. I would love your thoughts. The Revolutionary Change Cycle by Ja-Nae Duane is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Related Posts: The Power of Vulnerability How to Breed a Team of Innovators How to Recognize Opportunity What Do You Believe In
By Ja-Naé Duane
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December 13, 2011 – 12:03 pm
Have you ever felt like you had a fantastic idea, were working hard on something that everyone should know about, or thought that people would line up at the door once they knew what you knew? You’re not alone. Jason was like that as well. Jason had been trying to negotiate this deal for a while now. As a start-up with very little money coming in, he could not afford to do everything that this potential partner was looking for. They were too big. It would be an amazing opportunity, if he could land it. “All I am doing is giving in this deal. Where is the WIN-WIN,” Jason thought. “I’m bringing a ton to the table. No, I do not have the clients that these guys have, but my resources must be worth something too. Isn’t there value in having me as a partner?” When Jason came to me and recanted his story, it became clear what the issue really had been. “Jack, you haven’t realized your true worth yet,” I said to him. He stared at me with a puzzled look. I could tell that he was wondering if I had listened at all to what he was telling [...]
