10 ways kind-hearted leaders can change the world, one act at a time

“You can walk down the street some days and everything is a problem. But you can also change your perspective and every single little thing is an opportunity to make a difference. You can change somebody else’s life.” Ole Kassow

We wrapped our latest Friday Fireside chat and it was one of the best yet.

If you missed it live we’d recommend listening in to the replay here.

I have a feeling it will inspire you to be an everyday changemaker and give you fuel for making a difference.

Our guest Ole Kassow has been an inspiration to us ever since we started The Happy Startup School back in 2012. He’s grown Cycling Without Age from one bike in Copenhagen to a movement with 2000 chapters in 50 countries, serving over 1.5 million people worldwide. Amazingly the oldest ‘pilot’ is 90 and oldest passengers are 107.

Here are my top takeaways from our discussion for any budding changemaker:

1. Don’t search for an idea, start with your values
   Ole’s desire to bring more kindness and generosity to the world led him to searching inside and that along with a little serendipity led him to his idea.
2. Keep it really simple
   Big problems are solved with simple solutions so don’t overthink things. Little successes build momentum and help you move forward.
3. Try and communicate your idea with a photo (or even a few words)
   People can relate to something so simple and naturally want to be part of it.
4. Big things can arise from small beginnings
   A movement starts from an individual trying to tackle some kind of injustice. Don’t think too big at the beginning, focus on solving the problem in front of you.
5. Move from idea to action quickly
   Ole has been an entrepreneur for many years but has never written a strategic plan. He went from idea to taking action in a few hours. We hear this story again and again — action brings clarity, not planning and researching.
6. Find the joy in your solution
   It’s important to find a solution you’re passionate about that will last. Even though you might be looking to address an injustice or suffering, you can still find enjoyment from your solution. Ole loves cycling and hearing the stories of elders, just like Ash Perrin loves performing and helping refugee children smile again. From happiness comes impact.
7. Your story is as important as the story
   Every changemaker has a reason they are doing what they are doing and typically it relates to an experience they have had personally that has impacted them. For Ole his experience of connecting with his Dad whilst walking him in his wheelchair made him realise how people open up when you’re both looking the same way and the importance of getting wind in your hair.
8. Don’t think of yourself as a do-gooder
   This implies that you’re solely giving and not getting anything back in return. This can lead to a martyr mindset and isn’t sustainable. Ole talked about offering his friendship and in return gets stories and wisdom.
9. Through tiny, baby steps we can begin to change the system
   Over time we gain a voice from the bottom up by moving from direct impact to getting in front of policy makers and other influential voices.
10. You don’t need to start a global movement to be a changemaker
    Every little act of kindness is changing the world. CWA has 33,000 volunteers and each one is making a difference, one bike ride at at time.

As Ole highlights, if there’s one thing this pandemic has taught us, it’s that many of us now know what it means to be socially isolated.

Through being generous with our time and creative with our ideas, initiatives like this demonstrate how we can make a difference to others by spreading joy and create a better world for everyone.

🎥 Watch/listen to the webinar with Ole Kassow

🚴🏼‍ Learn more about Cycling Without Age

🚀 Join other budding changemakers on their journey on 2020 Vision