Why Are You Relying On Your Leaders To Change Your World?

I think we can safely say that 2016 has been one crazy ass year. The year started out with half a million of us watching a puddle on Periscope and 11 months later we are looking around us and wonder what the hell just happened. Without getting all political, this year really has been a shocker! Whilst the dust is still settling on the latest shock election and we get to the end of this year, many will look back and reflect. And then they will look forward and wait in hope that this change many have voted for will actually change things.

But what things? You see this is the bit I don’t get. People voted for Brexit but 5, nearly 6 months later we still don’t know what Brexit actually is. We are still waiting for our so-called leaders to tell us what it will entail. And that to me is wrong. But also, in not knowing what it actually was, what have people actually voted for? Because I don’t think they really know. And that’s also very scary. The fact that people are willing to throw a whole country into chaos, into the complete unknown for actually something they don’t really even know about. It’s all well and good to vote for change, but you have to know what that change is. And why are you relying on your leaders to make those changes?

What Do You Actually Want?

You see, unless you understand and know what changes are required then how do you know if they are achievable or realistic. Or maybe even if they are something that you can do yourself and you don’t need your leaders, governments or anyone else to create that change for you. The reason I think so many people voted for what they think is change, both in the UK and America, is because the world is changing at such a rapid pace these days, many people don’t actually understand the world we live in and probably want things to go back to the way they were.

Technology is developing so quickly that it’s now fully expected that within the next 5-10 years around 38% (that may not be the exact figure but it’s there about) of all jobs will be lost to robots. Robots. Not immigrants. Nor refugees. Not even cheap foreign labour. Robots. So when people voted for change because they say they want jobs creating or they want to stop immigrants taking “their” jobs, actually it’s more likely that a robot will. But what are those people doing to future-proof themselves? What they need to do is learn to programme the robot that will take their jobs. Not keep insulting the person working 50 hours a week for minimum wage and never missing a day sick. Because that person will also eventually be replaced by the robot.

But Risk and Change Is Good?

As an entrepreneur (I prefer business owner) every day I take risks. I started my current business with £25 in the bank, spent £20 on a domain name and then literally prayed that I’d make some sales quickly. Every time I spot a new opportunity I have to weigh up the risk involved and potential reward. And sometimes I don’t take the risk because I don’t think the reward is worth it. I’ve also made massive changes in my life and I’ve a few more planned soon. But it’s all calculated risk and change. I don’t just wake up in the morning and think that today’s the day I take over the world. I make a plan first and follow the plan. And if I see signs that this might not work out as planned then either the plan gets changed or it gets ditched and we cut our losses.

You wouldn’t just decide right now that you were moving to Australia and expect to go tomorrow. You wouldn’t expect your family to just go along with it. You’d make a plan and ensure that everyone understood the plan and was onboard with it.

So I don’t really see why, as a country, we are blindly going down a path with no actual road map. Someone needs to turn on the sat nav quick before the passengers get nervous.

But What Change Do You Really Want

I totally accept that some people are very disillusioned with the political sphere and how the country is run. I accept that some people really do get a bum deal. But, how much power are these people giving to the wrong people to change their lives?

Probably far too much.

The only person that can change your life is you.

A politician cannot change your life. If you think your life is shit now then chances come the day of Brexit, your life will still be shit and it will continue to be shit. Because if you do absolutely nothing to change your life it will always be the same. All a politician is going to do is perhaps cut taxes by a few pounds, increase benefits by a percent or two. A few more jobs may be available because it won’t be as easy to come and live in the country, but then the robots will probably take a good chunk of those jobs anyway.

If you don’t like immigrants living in “your” area, rather than making them feel unwelcome why don’t you move to an area that hasn’t become multi-cultural? There are still plenty of suburban towns and villages that haven’t enticed minorities in. And don’t say that it’s your home and why should you. You’ve said you want to change, so change it yourself. Your home is not the bricks and mortar that keep the rain off you at night or the patch of land your bricks are on. Your home is what you make it. The environment you create for you and your family to live in is your home. Everything else is just geography. Ironically, home is where the heart is.

Embrace Change

As I said earlier, I think a lot of people can’t keep up with the ever-changing world we live in and most of that is due to the technology we now have. And yes, it is difficult to grasp that in a few years’ time taxis will drive themselves and robots will perform surgery on humans. But it’s happening whether we like it or not. Kids are not going to look up from their smartphones because we are out of Europe. But they may be annoyed that their opportunities are now limited.

We live in a time when it’s easier than ever to do whatever it is you want to do with your life. I think we only have to look at the US elections to realise anybody really can achieve anything. It’s easier than ever to start a business and to earn a living whilst never even leaving your home. Being a blogger is actually a thing now and people make money from it. Zoella is a household name. Nobody even knew what blogging was 10 years ago let alone accepted it as a career option. We are connected to everything now through the touch of a button, or click of a mouse. We all have the power to make our lives the very best we can.

So why are so many people giving that power away and expecting them to change their lives?

Be The Change

Rather than sitting at home and ranting at your tv or posting on Facebook about what our Government should be doing to help the elderly, homeless, the NHS etc, ask yourself what change can you make to help them?

If you are concerned about the elderly in your area, then go and pay them a visit! Take them a meal. Offer to do some housework for them. Cut the grass. Keep them company for a few hours. It would make the world of difference to them and you’ll probably feel quite good about it too.

What about the homeless in your community? You might not want to take them into your home, and that’s ok. But how about buying them a cup of tea? Getting them a few toiletries so they can at least have a bit of dignity. Buy them a meal? Stop and have a conversation with them and actually find out what their issues are. Sometimes you can’t help people who don’t want to help themselves but you might just find someone you can help and make a real difference to their lives.

You think the NHS is being crippled? Well, stop going to the damn doctors for every cough and sneeze you get or if your child throws up. We all get ill from time to time, kids more than most. But often a couple of paracetamol and a day on the sofa is all that’s needed. Because we do live in a very fast-paced society, if you don’t look after yourself properly then you will get run down so you will get ill. Try looking after yourself better. Smoking 20 fags a day and then complaining that you can’t get a doctor’s appointment for your cough is not helping the NHS. Drinking a bottle of wine a night whilst sitting on your arse watching tv and eating chocolate is a fast track to hurting the NHS with the chronic liver issues, obesity and possible diabetes you will eventually develop.

Change Comes From You

Do you see how small changes in your life could actually be the stepping stone to making the world we all live in a slightly better place?

Get off Facebook and go and actually talk to your elderly neighbour. Buy the homeless guy you pass every day on your way to work a cup of tea. Examine your own health and take actionable steps to make yourself a bit healthier. Take an interest in the technology your kids are embraced in and discover what YouTube is all about. You might actually learn something and you may just feel a little less like your own life is shit.

Don’t look to what the so-called bigger issues are. If you embrace yourself in thinking that immigrants and lawmakers are what is actually wrong in the world you will probably miss out on what is actually going on around you. The reason we have politicians and law makers and people we elect to run the country is because we don’t have to do it. It’s their problem. Our problem is creating the best possible lives for ourselves and our families and only we can do that. No politician or lawmaker will ever do that.

Be the change that your life requires