Why Sharing Our Stories of System Change Matters More Than Ever

Sometimes it's easy to get stuck in the negative.

This can be especially true when we are trying to make the world a better place. We notice all the things that could be better. All the things we aren't doing. All the people we are letting down.

We get tangled in the weeds. Putting out the fires that we see all around us.

So I've spent some time this year trying to get onto the balcony. This concept is useful and hard in equal measure.

Lots of us are doing good work in difficult circumstances with very real consequences if we take our eye off the ball. So it's obvious why our conversations often pivot towards challenges and problems. And while it's crucial to recognise and address these issues with our eyes wide open, we must also keep our hearts open to the possibilities and opportunities that lie in collaboration and shared success.

Sometimes we are so busy rushing to the next problem that we rarely stop to celebrate and mark when things do go right.

It is far easier to get on the balcony when you fly lightly, not when you feel like you are trudging through treacle.

One of my favourite parts of my job - and easiest ways for me to get back onto the balcony - is to speak to people also trying to create change in the world. Writers, business people, charity folk, public servants...I have a lot of uplifting and inspiring conversations each month.

But over the past several months, I've realised that not everyone is quite so lucky.

This realisation sparked a thought—what if we could capture these fleeting moments of success and share them? What if we could create a space where stories of successful system change are not only shared but celebrated as sources of inspiration and learning?

These moments when things go right are the nourishments that sustain our drive for change.

So What Now?

We learn from experience, but it doesn't always have to be our own experiences. Connecting with like-minded individuals who share the same passion for change strengthens our resolve and opens up new avenues for innovation and collaboration.

We can build a community that supports, challenges, and grows together, and my particular passion - creating a community across traditional sector lines and boundaries.

Share Your Story of Change

I'm asking you to share your stories of system transformation. This isn’t about boasting or claiming perfection or that you've reached an 'end point' where everything is neat and tidy. I want to elevate your stories so we can explore what has worked and using those experiences as stepping stones for future efforts. Whether it's a single system, or multiple, simple or complex - I'm curious to learn more about what happened and how.

You also don't have to have been the 'main' person. I think the beauty of systems change is that it's not just one voice or one perspective so hearing yours, from wherever you were stood, is valuable.

You have something to say:

Please don't talk yourself out of this, or think that your story isn't worthy; they all are! I want to create a tidal wave of success stories for us to swim in.

So ping me a DM, or fill in this wee form to collect the details and then I'll get in touch to see how we can best put these stories into the world.

Thank you!