6. Top tips from dyslexic changemakers

We asked our circle of dyslexic changemakers to share their top tips on becoming a changemaker and using their Dyslexic Thinking skills to change the world. Here are some of our favourites.

Don't be afraid to be different. Again, particularly in the public sector. So my experience is with the world of the UN, where the donors are all powerful because that's where the funding comes from, and organisations rely on whether or not they have money to implement their programmes or not. And so I think that organisations, as a result, have become very risk averse. And they are also extraordinarily overworked.

The crises around the world are getting larger and larger. The sheer volume of displacement, of hunger, of pain, is quite overwhelming. And so there is very little scope for people to do things differently. And then there's not much encouragement for people to be different, to think outside the box. And I think that if you're going to make change, you do have to throw caution to the wind, and you have to go big. As much as it is wonderful, yes, every individual life is important, but if you're part of a system like the UN, go big or get out.

And I guess my three tips, the first one would be to listen, to really listen to the people that you are actually wanting to help drive the change with, because they have the answers. The second thing is never go it alone. I think way too many people in the world feel like they have to be the sole one driving something or have to be the hero. That's how we're taught from the time we're little, is that we have to be the superhero. And in reality, no change happens just with one singular person.

So the second thing I'd say is, make sure you build a set of deep connections around you that can help you drive that change and help you be exponential in your change rather than singular. And then I would say that the third thing, actually I'm going to cheat and do four, the third thing is to make sure that you're thinking big, whether again that's in your local community. And when I say big, it doesn't mean that it has to be on a global scale, it means don't underestimate the power that you have to drive change in this world, because each one of us has some type of power to make a difference. So don't underestimate that.

And the last thing I'd say is have great joy. And, you know, Archbishop Tutu used to say that, 'Joy is a discipline'. That always sticks in my mind that the world is in such a discombobulated place right now that we each have to be responsible for bringing that joy to the table and making sure that we bring that joy.

Making a difference in this world. We have but one world. It’s precious. I think if we all can just play our little part in trying to make a difference, hopefully, we can make sure this world is a better world in 20 years time than it is today. And if we all do that a little bit, we can look back and say life was well lived.