I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful Oklahoma State University Journalism students who reside in JB House. I was there to talk about PR but, for those who know me well, the conversation meandered, digressed and at times was perched high on a pedestal.
Topics ranged from what they could do to better their chance of getting a job after graduation, thoughts on a portfolio, and then my favorite topic, how each of them, individually or collectively, could do something monumental, something really big.
My thoughts on the subject surround the fact that the OSU School of Journalism is filled with students whose ultimate purpose in life will be, through a variety of communication channels, to educate, persuade, make change, etc. Put several hundred in a room and imagine what we could do. But then came the rub, "I wouldn’t know where to start" was the comment from one.
A fair and common comment, one I hear from all too many adults. I think there are two elements to this comment: First, it is an easy out from doing the work to accomplish something monumental. Second, we are trained to think that way. I always offer the following to people who say they wouldn’t know where to start – Ask an adult how to put an elephant in a refrigerator and they will respond that you can’t. Ask a five year old the same question and they will tell you to open the door and put the elephant in. Point being, don’t over think it. If you want to do something monumental or small, just do it.
We chatted about several local, national and international monumental efforts going on right now. One of my favorites is the Earth Hour Campaign being coordinated by WWF (no, not the wrestling WWF, and, as a matter of fact, there not called that anymore). The campaign is simple. Have everyone turn their lights off for one hour, March 29 at 8 p.m.
I plan on doing it and encourage everyone I know to also participate. We chatted a bit about how cool it would be if Stillwater could be involved. However, since we are just a few weeks out from the deadline, I commented that there probably wasn’t enough time to coordinate something like that for our town (a lot goes into having a city power down and then power back up an hour later) but that there is always next year. Then, a moment of greatness occurred. Bobbi Kay Hooper, who was attending the meeting, suggested we try to coordinate a Lights Off/Earth Hour the day after Lights On (an OSU event that occurs the beginning of every school year ~ August 2008 is the next event). Not only would that be cool, but it would be Monumental! Now, imagine if you (yes, you, the one reading this right now) were the one to stand up and decide to lead this charge. How awesome would that be? And, how awesome would that look on your resume!?!?
So, where do you start?
If anyone is up to the challenge and knows how to put an elephant in a refrigerator, drop me a note. I would love to help you do something monumental. And, I am willing to bet there are a bunch of others willing to help as well.