This is not my... Interview
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Isabel Losada is the author of ''A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World; For Tibet, With Love" and "The Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment". In 2003, she founded Act for Tibet, a web-based initiative, to harness passive support for Tibet.
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For Christmas a friend gave me Isabel's book, ''A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World; For Tibet, With Love". I had told her about the website and she had thought it an appropriate gift.
Initially I was little cynical about a book which purported to be a guide to such a lofty goal. However, only days later I was to find myself awake at 3am stumbling around for my computer to fire off an email to Isabel in the hope of an interview!
Isabel had wanted to see what would happen if she gave up a year of her life to a cause, in order to find out what difference she could make. She detailed the challenges, the setbacks and the successes in this funny, honest and inspiring account of her journey. A journey which saw her both meeting the Dalai Lama and getting the Tibet issue onto news headlines across the globe.
If your really do want to make a difference in the world - this book will show you how.
Your book provides a guide for individuals who want to change the world. Where did this idea come from?
The idea was based on the moment when you are watching a TV programme or reading a paper and think, "I can't bear it one more second. That's it. I am going to do something. Somewhere, somehow, I am going to act."
The project to act for Tibet was about following through from that. I acted on the story of the Dalai Lama and the terrible things that have happened in Tibet but people can act on anything; saving the rainforest; supporting a local school; anything. I gave up one year of my life to explore what I, as one person, could do.
What steps would you suggest to other people who also want to make a difference.
I have a ten step guide I advise people to try. A version of this would be:
Step One: Buy a cupboard - then put the TV in it! Make TV an activity to be decided upon, rather than a fall back activity. I am convinced that that step alone will liberate your life.
Step Two: Before you start anything make sure that you are happy with yourself. My book 'The Battersea Road to Enlightenment ' is about doing just that. If you want to make changes and spread happiness you have to be happy yourself.
Step Three: Now that you are able to think, step three is to decide what you like to do, what brings you joy. There are so many causes out there that you want to support one that you can enjoy supporting. I have met a lot of people working for good causes who experience burn out as they don't enjoy what they are doing.
Step Four: Tackle the way you will support this cause one step at a time. There is a saying, "How do you eat an elephant? - One bite at a time." You need to do this so that you don't get overwhelmed. Set achievable targets.
Step Five: Set up a website. You can't do anything these days without a website. Make sure that you can update it yourself so that you aren't dependent on anyone else. Dreamweaver and other programmes are actually simple to use.
Step Six: Bring joy into fundraising. Whatever your cause you will need to fund raise, so do something exciting. Joy is infectious so people will always want to sign up. One lady I know was talking to me about fundraising for Tibet and so I put her in touch with a contact of mine who organises fire walking. (I have the details here if anyone else is keen to brave incineration! - Susie)
Step Seven: Create a classic win-win situation. What you don't want is a job pulling you one way and your desire to make a difference pulling you another. I was able to spend a year working for Tibet as I am a writer, so I could write about it.
One example I heard of was of a of a nurse who forged links between her hospital and one in Africa to their mutual benefit. Another was a builder who wanted to build his first ecologically sound building but could not afford to do so in the UK. He went to Bulgaria, built it there for a tenth of the cost and was then able to give the building to a local junior school. He returned home with all the experience he needed to work back here.
Linking what you want to do with what you are doing is not selfish. It is common sense. All your energy is going in the same direction.
Step Eight: Remember how wonderful making a difference can be. If you give up one hour a week to teach a child to read then that hour will probably be more enjoyable than the rest put together. Making a difference is often viewed as volunteering - i.e. not getting paid for something. Actually, it is a lot more exciting.
Step Nine: Create a project with others. If you are a couple then why not start a project together. It will be much more fun than watching TV. Just set out what you want to undertake and a time frame for doing it. The energy that can be created is massive and the opportunities endless.
Step Ten: Make changing the world a hobby. Even if you can only give up one hour a week give yourself a challenge to see what you can do in that hour. Whether a big project or simply changing the light bulbs in your house - I can recommend it!
As a start, why not get yourself a copy of 'A Beginners Guide'. For more details of the book have a look at Isabel's website. (You can also buy the book here through Amazon).
Then let us know about any projects that it inspires and, if they are fun, what we can do to help! - Susie
