Before tonight’s game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, Coach Greg Popovich was asked his thoughts about the women’s marches taking place all over the world. And, Coach Pop didn’t’ disappoint anyone that hoped he would speak his mind and offer up something thought provoking.
What Pop said was blunt and thoughtful.
This comes on top of the stand that Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul took to the stage at the ESPYs to talk about athletes being more socially active.
On both counts, I think that this is something we should applaud.
One thing that the rise of social media has done is give everyone a platform. (I get it, I’m saying it on a blog.)
What the other thing that the rise of social media has done is it has given everyone a platform to spread their ideas, even if those ideas aren’t well thought out, factual, or effective.
Where most activism falls flat is that it falls into the latter category or it is a one time event.
The powerful kind of activism or marketing or any activity is the kind that is consistent.
When you look at something like the Women’s March events that took place in cities all over the world, you will see lots of one day events, but the real question becomes, if you feel so powerfully, you need to find ways that you can take action each and every day, or, at least, most days.
This is the challenge that tumbles so many of us in sports, entertainment, nonprofits, advocacy, etc…and it comes down to consistency.
That means that you need to spend some time every day working on the one or two things that are going to really make a difference for you and your business, or, in the case of the country, for the country.
Getting back to Pop, of course you see a lot of people using their platform to tell each other that “no one” wants to hear Pop’s opinion. Or, “shut up and play.”
Or, anything else.
What’s funny is that no one ever thinks that maybe we want you to stop giving your opinions, no matter what your job. You feel entitled to it.
The same way that we all are.
We all are entitled to our opinions and our ability to share them.
That’s one of the things that makes America great.
The challenge that we all need to deal with is that it isn’t just enough to have an opinion and to share it, but you also need to make sure that your opinion is thought out and that you spend the time necessary to get the facts straight.