Heresy

Unless you are a musician or other performer with a recognized single-name name, or unless you have a recognizable shorthand mash-up of your first and last name, the opportunities to re-brand yourself are few and far between. As I take on a(nother) new career turn, I find myself in that position - to rebrand and redefine how I hope to influence the way my colleagues will recognize me and my work.

This is my new brand: Heretic.

I just finished reading Tribes, We Need You to Lead by Seth Godin. Judging by the multiple colors of the underlinings and highlights on the pages, it is likely my third or fourth reading of this book. I'm sure it will not be the last.

Successful heretics create their own religions.

No, I do not intend to cultivate a crazed-following of a new religion. Rather, in my new position I do intend to tear down the status-quo. Dismantle dated practices. Try new tools. Establish new strategies. Prove new methodologies. Change culture. This is the work of a heretic.

What's hard now is breaking the rules. What's hard is finding the faith to become a heretic, to seek out an innovation and then, in the face of huge amounts of resistance, to lead a team to push the innovation out the door into the world.

I believe in the work I am doing. I am excited for it. I know my plans will work. People will notice: some will hate it, some will love it. There are those on my team who will dig in their heals - afraid of change. Others will join in - excited for the change that will come.

Heretics are the new leaders. The ones who challenge the status quo, who get out in front of their tribes, who create movements

As it turns out, my brand of heresy wasn't welcome in church-work. I learned this the hard way. And pushing against the owners of radio stations seems pointless, because even if you win... who will know? (If someone turns on a radio in the woods, would anyone notice?). The advocacy world requires a portion of heresy, but I never got my traction before moving on.

My current work is ripe for a good portion of heresy. What worked before no longer works. The fear of failure is greater than the fear of doing nothing. I am at the right place at the right time.

Heretics, troublemakers, and change agents aren't merely thorns in our side - they are keys to our success.

How about you? How will you brand yourself? You don't have to call yourself a heretic. However, I have to imagine there's something you want to see changed. There must be something important you're willing to stand up to, or stand up for. You have a perspective that matters. You have a solution that will work. It may not be popular or understood, but you know others who believe the same thing you believe. Get them together. Make it happen. Make a difference. Make a scene, if necessary. Find your tribe; we need you to lead us.