What an inspirational night! I was privileged to be front row with an audience of nearly 3,000 people in Vancouver as Dr. Jane Goodall spoke about her journey to observe and conserve primates and their habitat.
She faced so many barriers. A lone female living in the jungle? Impossible. The host asked, “Weren’t you afraid?”
She replied calmly, “I believe that if you don’t threaten animals, they won’t threaten you. I saw a cobra coming my way and sat still while it approached, climbed my leg, went over my shoulder, and into the tree.”
Dr. Goodall is famous for observing that primates used tools and exhibited feelings. In the 60s and 70s that was heresy. Science believed that tools and emotions were unique to mankind. How did she overcome such deep-seated resistance? “Change requires a connection with the heart,” she explained. Contact with nature was just what many needed to shift their beliefs. They needed a new experience.
Jane wrapped up a night of great stories with a simple plea to take care of the planet. She explained that when we look at all of the problems in the world, fixing them seems impossible. That’s the wrong focus. Look around and do what you can. Thousands of people making small changes can move a mountain.
It was the perfect reminder of how some people view disruptive change. “It seems impossible.” And, of course, if we believe it’s impossible, we are unlikely to try. Smart leaders like Dr. Goodall redirect our attention. Don’t focus on the end goal. It’s too daunting. Instead, do what you can this moment:
- Take one module of the training
- Try just one of the new tasks
- Visualize success for one moment
One of the best things we can do for people who fear change is to help them take one simple step. We can’t save every rainforest in one fell swoop, but we can plant one tree.
Thoughtfully yours,
Jeff Skipper
