<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591843162/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=elevate-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1591843162"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2037" title="linchpin" src="http://leadchangegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/linchpin.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>I read a paragraph the other day that reminded me of why I started the Lead Change Group.
<blockquote style="padding: 10px 50px 20px 30px;">Fit in too much, though, and nothing much happens. Where are the self-appointed agitators and firebrands, the people who will egg you on and push you to stand out for something?  Seth Godin <a title="Linchpin on Amazon.com" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591843162/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=elevate-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1591843162">Linchpin</a> page 202.</blockquote>
This group was created before it was fashionable to egg people on and push them to stand out for something.  No, I didn’t start the idea.  In fact, no one in this group created the idea.  Over the years, many have encouraged standing up and <a title="Posts tagged Stand Out" href="/tag/stand-out/">standing out</a> for essential beliefs.  Most great leaders started by standing against injustice or standing for an idea.  And today, you can find great posts on that topic all over the Internet, including from friends who are Instigators here.  Even the title, Instigator, comes from our desire to instigate a leadership revolution.

As for me, I don’t want to be lukewarm.  I don’t want to “go down easy.”  I want to make a difference in the world and I believe my difference is to help you make your difference in the world, at least in the area of character-based leadership.

In Linchpin, Godin suggests that the world and the "system" or the "factory" train us to surrender our ability to make a difference.  We're taught to fit in, go along, and be cool.  We get pressured into conforming to the system and we surrender long before we even knew what we were doing.

But we don't have to stay surrendered.

Don’t give away control over your ability to make a difference.  Your circumstances, friends, income, or challenges can limit or direct the difference you make.  Don’t surrender to anyone or anything by granting authority over your ability to make a difference.

So what’s your thing?  Are you doing it?  Have you told anyone?  How could you do your thing more?  Can we help?  Share your ideas below on how readers of this blog can make a difference in their sphere of influence this week.  Every little bit helps.