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The Lone Nut




Derek Sivers in his now-famous "How To Start A Movement"  TED talk talks about how the lone nut is responsible for starting a movement. 

Using a video of a shirtless dancing guy who is least concerned about people around him Sivers goes on to highlight important leadership lessons and insights. 

But all said and done, it takes guts to be the lone nut. Because you need a strong belief in yourself to stand out and be ridiculed for what you're trying to do. Till the time you find a follower the journey can be a long and arduous one. You need to be able to hang in there. 

Hang in till the time people start believing in you and following you. The lone nut usually believes in a cause worth fighting for. He/she may be avoided by the people but it's him/her paving the path for the movement to start. 

The lone nut is always going to be one fascinated by or passionate towards something different which may have nothing to with what's happening around. He/she might be 10 steps ahead, or may have the solution in sight or maybe fighting for a cause or may have stumbled upon something that will change the course of things. But most times these are lone battles till the first follower comes along. 

The battles they fight however worthy of a cause are initially ridiculed and laughed at or are least accepted. Because they are way out of what a normal mind may comprehend and make sense. 

So when Derek Siver says, "... And when you find a lone nut doing something great, have the guts to be the first one to stand up and join in. Because It's you who will transform the lone nut into a great leader. 
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