WANNA CHANGE THE WORLD? JUST DO IT
Ever noticed how the internet is full of outrage. He said this, she did that, the world is screwed and we have to fix it. It’s an exponentially growing repository of everything that needs to change in the world. And it’s awesome at amplifying causes.
With catchy hashtags and shareable soundbites we can make ourselves heard like never before. But how much do we actually achieve? It’s not what we say that makes a difference. It’s what we do. So here’s a story of a brilliant woman who just did it.
Allyson Felix is fast
Allyson Felix is an American track and field athlete who runs pretty fast. By 32 she was one of the most decorated athletes in history. Six-time Olympic gold medal winner, 11-time world champion. She’s fast and she’s good.
So good that Nike chose to partner with her to sell more sports shoes. These endorsements are the primary way that athletes get paid. Big dollar deals to inspire a new generation of athletes and shoe sales. At 32, Allyson Felix was doing okay.
Allyson Felix is human
At 32, Allyson was ready for more. She wanted to be an Olympic athlete and a mother. “In some ways, that dream was crazy.” She told The New York Times. At the same time, she was renewing her contract with Nike. And here’s the thing. Despite her profile and incredible performance, Nike offered to pay her 70% less.
On the one hand, maybe she was past her best. It’s a commercial deal at the end of the day. But dig into the detail and Allyson asked Nike to guarantee that she “wouldn’t be punished if [she] didn’t perform her best in the months surrounding childbirth.” Nike declined.
Allyson Felix changed the game
Allyson could have been cross and jumped on the internet and built a bunch of hashtags to hammer home her point. And to an extent, she did. But Allyson went further. She moved away from Nike and started making shoes for herself. “The Saysh Collective is for women who recognise the effort it takes to be effortless.”
And when she ran to gold in the Tokyo Olympics – she ran under the banner Know Your Place. Her Instagram was abuzz with inspiration. For women, by women, not just talking, but doing something different – actually making a change in the world.
Her protest was heard, respected and acted upon. Nike announced a new maternity policy for all sponsored athletes. Too little too late? Maybe. But not really – something changed.
But why did it change? Because somebody stepped up and did something. Not just a bleat on the socials on the latest social cause – but action in the real world that forced some social change. And that’s a gold-worthy achievement. And then some.
That’s what I reckon, what do you think?
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