When you see a problem in the world that you want to address, you have two choices:
- You can complain about it.
- You can do something about it.
I find that many people fit squarely into one of those options every time a problem comes up. Some people always sit back and complain, and some people always roll up their sleeves and get to work.
I know a lot of people on Facebook that just choose to sit back and complain. All day long, they post about how awful things are, how bad the government is, but they never do anything about it. Best case, you might get some “thoughts and prayers” if something tragic happens.
What I love to see are people that are trying to really make a difference. If Blake Canterbury sees people struggling, he’s going to fight to fix it. If Tim Villegas sees an inequity in education, he’s going to do all he can to right it.
As Dale Carnegie famously said, “Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain—and most fools do.“
As I’ve spent more time on LinkedIn recently, I seem to find myself surrounded by more of the people that want to make a difference and fewer than just want to complain. I don’t know if it’s the platform, the algorithm, or just pure luck, but it’s a refreshing change of pace.
If you see a problem in the world, there’s nothing wrong with criticizing it. If you stop there, though, I think you’re doing a disservice to those around you.
