Being a follower has negative connotations. Terms like “sheeple” are often used. This video “First Follower: Leadership Lessons from a Dancing Guy” (3 minute watch), published February 11, 2010 by American entrepreneur Derek Sivers flips the standard pejorative. He illustrates a natural emergence and NHPPA shares his views. It’s the followers who are the ones who create a collective voice and are critical to any movement that wants to gain momentum and make positive change inthe world. The tendency to “flock” can be a positive, neutral or negative phenomenon. The context matters. In this particular narrative the herd is elevated!
“The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. …The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.”
It’s not easy to get behind a “lone nut” at the onset of a new movement. It’s difficult to discern if you trust the platform, the action and its potential result. Stepping outside of what is the societal norm can be intimidating. “It takes guts to be a first follower. You stand out and you brave ridicule yourself”. Friends, family or colleagues may not always understand or support you. But becoming that first, or any of the subsequent followers, brings with it massive potential.
NHPPA wants to thank their “followers”, many of whom have emerged to become lone nuts themselves. To us, you are active and engaged “partners” and one of the most significant reasons we have had success over the past nine years. You will be equally significant when we start launching campaigns where we will, again, ask you to dance with us, when others may not. Writing letters, visiting your MP, collecting signatures for the Charter petition, sharing our work through social media channels, talking about the issues and being resolute in pursuing natural health is music to our ears.
“The best way to make a movement, if you really care, is to courageously follow and show others how to follow”.
