Clay Nelson, Life Balance: Start Making a Difference Today

Positive change doesn't happen on its own; it requires people with a purpose to step up

By Clay Nelson, Life Balance | Published on 05.25.2009

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Singer/songwriter John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change” has a catchy tune, but I became frustrated by the lyrics. The lyrics talk of the perception that until the world changes, there isn’t anything we can do to make a difference. That simply isn’t true.

Clay Nelson
Clay Nelson

The world, your neighborhood, your work environment, your government, your schools and your communities are all made up of people. Doesn’t it stand to reason that if we want to change what is around us, we first need to change ourselves? We need to change our assumptions. We need to give up “knowing” everything and being right. We need to change negatives into positives. The list goes on.

If we don’t stand up for what we believe in and be the change we want to create, how can we expect the world to change in the way we would like it to?

» California is going bankrupt because we keep waiting on someone else to change — someone else to say, “I can do without this service or that perk.” Yet, we aren’t willing to change how we do anything ourselves.

» Genocide in Darfur continues because we’re waiting on someone else’s thoughts and beliefs to change.

» Schools in many areas of the country are falling short. People are willing to complain, but few are actually doing something about it.

» Children are killing each other in the streets, and we just avoid the seedy areas of town so as not to get caught up in the violence. What about doing something to help the children make a positive change?

While speaking on the topic of global warming and climate change, professor Varun Sahni, vice chancellor of University of Jammu, said, “Such issues will not be resolved by any single country unless all of us join hands together.” This philosophy doesn’t just apply to environmental issues.

Positive change — no matter what the issue — doesn’t happen on its own. It requires people whose passion runs deep to step up and create that change. If we all sit around on our hands, no one will ever move forward.

Agree with his politics or not, Barack Obama is someone who believes change is possible. His passion mobilized masses of people to the point that this not-so-long-ago freshman senator from Illinois is now president of the United States.

Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past couple of years, you’ve witnessed the power created by one person being willing to step out and make a difference. Don’t tell me that any of us has to settle and be willing to wait on the world to change.

I know children who want desperately to make a difference and change the lives of other children who are fighting cancer. You know what? They are doing it. Have they made millions of dollars yet? No. But notice the use of the word “yet.”

We have examples all around us of people who believe that change is possible — that we can make a difference. The cool thing is that a difference being made isn’t predicated on someone else making a move first. Each of us can be the first to break inertia. Each of us can be the one who others choose to follow.

To all of those who have been waiting around for the world to change, let me ask you: Are you tired of waiting yet? If so, step out there and make a difference where a difference can be made. You don’t have to be rich, you don’t have to be “beautiful” and you don’t have to be famous. You only have to be committed to change and get in action.

— Santa Barbara resident Clay Nelson founded Clay Nelson Life Balance™ to provide businesses and individuals with what may be missing in their lives: purpose, personal and business planning, fun, effective delegation through team management, and accountability. Click here to download Clay’s complimentary e-book, The Balanced Life — How to Put Fun, Family and Financial Freedom into Your Business and Personal Life. Click here to subscribe to the free podcast of The Clay Nelson Life Balance™ Hour.

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» juliana on 05.26.09 @ 05:30 PM

Loved the article! Am I the only one…...no other comments. Well let me say that even a thank you creates positive change and so I say thanks to clay for writing this hopeful article which I am definitely showing to my teen age sons. The kids of today need some inspiration especially with the media that exists in their entire life these days.

Keep writing the good stuff.


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