How long must we wait for change? "Not long".

As a social entrepreneur, one thing I’ve learned over the past two decades in working on change within government is that it requires PATIENCE. I mean patience that maybe spans a lifetime.

In a world where we see more and more division, a world where we seem to be driven more by short-term gains, a world where transactional thinking takes precedence over investing in our next generations, patience may be a hard virtue.

But BIG CHANGE requires patience, grit and a never give up attitude.

And it requires passionate advocates for change, dreamers let's call them, who can envision a world that is better for generations to come.

That is why, today on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I call on my fellow social entrepreneurs to find inspiration from Dr. King's words when you find yourself frustrated, ready to give up, “How long will it take?"..."Not long".

"I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because truth crushed to earth will rise again.

Link to Dr. King's speech (2 min excerpt): "How Long, Not Long"

There are so many speeches of Dr. King that we can find inspiration from. But I thought this excerpt was appropriate for the time we are living in.

Our sense of humanity and common bonds is getting lost more and more in division and hatred. Our hope for a better day, a better world for our children and for generations to come is getting lost in the here and now.

So how can we stay in the game, continue to invest our heart and soul, continue to sacrifice when gains seem short-lived?

I know when I start losing hope, I look to Dr. King and watch this excerpt. I think about the sacrifice he made and others like him to work towards a better future for all.

As someone who has guided change in large organizations and now working on social change, I know it requires and extreme amount of patience. It also requires tenacity.

Above all, it requires never losing hope because we know the fruits of our labor mean a better world for all.

As Dr. King said: "How long must we wait? Not long."