Description
Book SynopsisWith so many social challenges facing our world, trying to effect change feels daunting. The problems are complex, the politics murky, and the players innumerable. Yet, every day there are regular heroes making a significant impact on our most intractable social issues.
Can't Not Do is a catchphrase for the urge that captures the heart of effective social change agentsexplaining, in their own words, their passion and drive: I can't not do this. It's not that I can do this, it's that I can't not. I could not imagine not doing something about this issue. The surprising truth from the trenches is: we already have numerous proven solutions for our many social challenges; what our world needs most, and what most changes our children's future, are more people prepared and committed to act on their social impulses for the long haul. Innovation helps. Money helps, too. But greater numbers of committed people help the most.
If you feel an internal, persistent call to do more fo
Table of Contents
Prologue: The Power of Can’t Not Do xi
Introduction: Why Our Social Drives Matter More Now—Multipliers 1
Part I Finding Your Focus 13
Chapter 1 David Risher, the Lost Key, and Eradicating Illiteracy: Are You a Determined Optimist? 15
What’s the Point? 19
Haven’t Had That “Aha” Moment? 23
This Work Does Not Have to Be an Epic Endeavor 27
So What’s Mine? 29
Optimism + Determination 31
= Grit 34
Chapter 2 Lisa Chin Is Not Doing This to Be Happy: Who Are You at Your Core? 37
What’s the Point? 40
A Cause Connected to Your Core for Someone Else 42
The Right Time and Place 45
Putting Optimism to Work: 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 10 49
Chapter 3 Eleuthera Lisch, Stepping Out from Behind the Fourth Wall: Are You Willing to Go to Hard Places? 53
What’s the Point? 56
Some Hard Places Aren’t Places 59
What If You Have to Leave a Hard Place? 62
Failure Never Feels Good to Anyone, Including Me 64
Finding Meaning in a Hard Place 66
Part II How You Do This Work Well 69
Chapter 4 Jeff Tollefson, Losing It All and Becoming Richer: Are You Ready to Be Humble and Humbled? 71
What’s the Point? 75
Power (and Humility?) in Philanthropy 77
Humility Has Power 81
Your Mindset 84
Level 5 Leaders and Humility 85
My Own Lesson in Humility 86
Even the Great Are Humbled 88
Chapter 5 Lori, I Got Married a Little Too Early to the Right Woman: Can You Actively Listen? 91
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood 91
What’s the Point? 93
Levels of Listening, Where Are You? 96
You Hear Interesting Things When You Listen 97
Chapter 6 Suzi Levine, Learning When Not to Raise Her Hand: Do You Believe 1 + 1 = 3? 103
What’s the Point? 106
1 + 1 = 3 with Connectors 108
Learning to Connect 109
Pacing the Floor Like an Expectant Father 111
Director or Connector? 114
Part III Bringing It All Together for Your World and You 117
Chapter 7 Heidi Breeze-Harris, a Sick Pregnant Lady with an Idea: What Is Your Can’t Not Do? 119
What’s the Point? 124
A Different Kind of Career Dedicated to “Can’t Not Do” 125
Can’t Not Do for Others 126
Can’t Not Do Takes Time, A Long Time 129
What Is It in Your Life That You Can’t Not Do? 130
Chapter 8 Why Your Social Drives Matter More Now: The Equation 133
The Equation 135
What’s Possible 137
Conclusion Surrendering to the Intention 141
A Meaningful versus a Happy Life 142
Start the Journey 146
My Family, Where It All Starts . . . and Ends 146
Appendix Introduction 149
Appendix 1 20 Questions for a Personal Checklist: Finding Your Focus 151
Appendix 2 20 Suggestions for a Personal Checklist: How You Do This Work Well 157
Appendix 3 Which Stories Fit You Best? 161
Appendix 4 Additional Resources for Getting Started: SVP Stuff, Books, Websites, and Blogs 163
Appendix 5 Chapter-by-Chapter Summary 167
Notes 175
About the Author 181
Acknowledgments 183
Index 187
