Reflection 13 of 52: Can quiet passion motivate?
March 31, 2014
At 80 years old, Jane Goodall is on the road 300 days a year inspiring people to make the world a better place. She has been keeping this schedule since 1986. Commendable at any age but astounding at 80.
Upon arrival at her speaking engagement we were told no electronic devices allowed. Harrumph, I thought. They need to get into this century. I take notes with my iPad and was frustrated to be restricted to memory or handwritten notes in the dark.
Then, she started to speak. With a hint of a British accent her words were softly delivered. She stood quite still, no powerhouse movement across the stage, just a conversation from the podium. I was enthralled as was the rest of the crowd. You could hear a pin drop. It was mesmerizing. I have become so accustomed to the dazzle of exceptional video, creative PPT images and energetic speakers I forgot what it was like to listen intently to a quiet, thoughtful presenter.
She never looked at notes. Her speaking tour would provide the basis for a well rehearsed speech but it never felt like a speech. She stood there wrapped in a blanket that had been presented from her First Nations friends during the introduction... it felt like the whole room was snuggled in there with her.
Her comments were frank but not sensationalized. Her topics of caged animals and deforestation could easily go that route. She did not motivate with guilt, it was more about empowering youth and creating hope.
Her stories will stick with me for the rest of my life. I took away lessons that will come in handy in my work, my personal life and my everyday actions.
Regurgitated from my perspective, here were just some of my takeaways:
1. Remember the experts are not always right. Her early professors totally knocked her observational learning processes and said naming her chimps was wrong.
2. Passion wins out. She forged ahead without credentials and went to Africa at the age of 23 to get a secretarial job that might somehow lead to getting to work with animals. Her self study knowledge impressed the right people and set her on the path to become world renown for her work.
3. Listening is always a good starting place. Her work with local communities to understand their needs first, made the conservation work possible. Forcing your ideas on others without knowing their barriers does not work.
4. Embracing alternative points of view, even if ignorant can generate positive results. When faced with people who had no understanding or appreciation for her work she embraced them (even when criticized for it) and moved them gently to a new way of thinking.
5. Never give up. She gave us four reasons for hope at the end of her speech:
- Our brains and the ability to do amazing things like go to Mars
- Reliance of nature... it can come back
- Young people... her conversations with youth often started with a feeling of being powerless, individually, in changing the world but they were inspired as a group... evidenced by her Roots & Shoots organization. Click here to learn more.
- The Human Spirit... of which she is the epitome. On her birthday April 3rd there will be a big event in San Francisco. She will continue using her birthday all year long to spread her gospel. Wow.
Your quiet passion motivates me.
Happy Birthday, Ms. Goodall.
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