We are never inspired to take on a new initiative without some setback.
There is a whole new generation of morning walkers who started walking consistently after a stroke.
A whole new generation of gym attendees after gaining over 10 pounds.
Our behaviors and perspectives change after a negative outcome.
So, writing a positive-themed narrative before segueing to a cause has the least impact unless the inspiring person or event is globally renowned or the focus of the narrative is the beneficiary.
A chance to participate in a Special Olympics as a volunteer after a friend asked for a favor to fill in for her became a motivation for an applicant to offer consulting services for an architecture design company. The company was integrating wheel-chair access to 100-150 year old government buildings. The gap from volunteering to now offering consulting service for design is 10 years. The involvement were continuous – at least once a year.
Such segue works when the narrative focuses on the beneficiary instead of applicants themselves and there is a long association of helping the beneficiary.
We can’t change human thinking that has kept us on a path of survival for millions of years.
Prioritize negative events.
One client shared the toxic work culture in a startup that triggered her exit. On joining another venture, she ensured that the seeds of the previous work culture never took root. By engaging with the talent team and starting a social engagement event on building awareness of belonging and equity, she started a training program for newly recruited candidates that continue to offer critical orientation on working in a diverse team.