Ode to the naysayer
I see you, I hear you, but you're not going to put me off my campaign.
“You’ll never achieve that”
“We will do our best but we’ll fail in the end”
“What you’re asking for is impossible”
Oh, dear campaign target, sitting across the meeting room table. I know you don’t want to do what I’m asking. I know it’s a departure from business as usual. I know it will upset other stakeholders. And I know if you convinced me what I want isn’t realistic I might go away and campaign on something else.
Ah, my esteemed conservative media host. Are you enjoying putting me down and ridiculing my goals in front of your friendly niche audience? You’re just doing your job - I understand.
Why hello there, social media warrior. Did it feel good to blurt out that prediction of my failure? You’re welcome, but know that your cheap derision won’t deter me.
Uncertain member of the public, maybe the fault is mine. Maybe I haven’t been clear enough, or compelling enough, or inspiring enough in my explanation of how you can make a difference. Maybe I just caught you on a bad day. It’s easy to feel small and powerless against governments and big business - if only you’ll take a chance and lend your support.
Movement partners… really? What are you playing at? By all means offer criticism and analysis that makes me rethink my objective. Challenge my ideas and ambitions where your experience and knowledge can improve them. But what’s with the defeatist attitude? Don’t you want me - and us - to succeed? If you’re assuming failure from the beginning, why are you campaigning in the first place? Perhaps this negativity is simply a projection of your own insecurities, but if that’s the way you’re going to be, I might need to work on this without you. Defeatism will get us nowhere.
Funders - no way! You told me to think big and be ambitious! Will you - can you - tell me what it is about my strategy you don’t think will work? While your funding allows the work to be done, I hope you understand how powerful your encouragement is alongside that.
Teammates… ok now we have a problem. We developed this strategy together. We pitched for funding! We’re now in a position to run the campaign and you tell me it’s not possible? It’s okay to feel doubt - we’re not here to achieve easy things. But you should never work on anything you don’t believe you can win. Is this prediction of failure a ploy to relieve the burden of accountability if we don’t ultimately succeed? Do you just need some more encouragement and belief? I’m happy to provide it - I wrote the plan with you.
I know nothing is certain, and even my best efforts might lead to failure. But I’ve developed a plan based on thorough research and analysis. My strategies make sense. I’m ready to give the effort it’s going to take to win and push through my doubt with self-belief. I have no time for naysayers, wherever they may be.