Knowledge = power ?!

Knowledge is power, that’s what I hear sometimes. And maybe this was true 30 years ago.

Today, however, there is no lack of (free) knowledge. Webinars, e-books, trainings, online courses, even Google will help you find so much information.

The power of knowledge in itself is in decline…

It is not so much about having or holding the information, but more about what you do with the available knowledge.

Therefore, the no. 1 secret for any (aspiring) changemaker is that in order

To #bethechange, you need to ACT!

Use the knowledge to take action

When we work together, I will make sure you have all the knowledge you need in order to create a movement for change. Strategies on grassroot campaigning, storytelling, marketing, lobbying … with 20 years of experience in working in strategic communication, lobbying and campaigning there are no more secrets as to how to inspire others to join you to create a movement for change.

But don’t expect to sit in and listen to all my successes (or failures) and all the books and knowledge I have stored somewhere in my head. When we decide to work together, we start with YOU, your knowledge, your story, your networks and how YOU take ACTION.

Your story, your strategy

It all starts with getting your story out in a way that it inspires others to join your movement for change. Based on your story, I help you design a strategy that works for YOU! And off course I do so in line with all the knowledge I have, which contains several strategies that can work.

So don’t expect a system that works for everyone. Yes, we go through some basic steps, but the outcome is always a strategy to create a movement for change that works for YOU!

Because in order to be the change, you need to ACT!

Is it time to stop reading & thinking about how you can contribute to change? Time to ACT? Contact me by email (mail@irenejanssen.nl) and we will discuss what your next step could be.

These are the 3 steps you need to take as a pioneer or a changemaker with a mission for the world and you want to contribute to positive change. It is all about a clear message, reaching out to the right people and creating a movement for positive change.

You might be wondering though what to expect once we will be working together …. So I thought I would give you a bit of an insight in how I go about. But with or without me … these are the steps you need to take!

To me it is all about you, your message, your mission for the world and the audience you want to reach out to to create a movement for positive change. – Irene Janssen

Figuring out your authentic story

When we start working together, I will always want to get to know the real you. What are your values? What is your WHY? What is your drive to be the change in your industry, your business or organization?

I will ask you lots of questions, when we meet, but also in preparation if you feel like starting immediately!

Together we will find out what your authentic story is, your why, so you can tell your story to inspire others to join you for positive change.

Making sure you involve the right people

In another session we will build on your story to connect to your audience, your fans. Who are the people in (and outside) your network that you need to involve to contribute to change? Together we do a mapping of your (potential) network and we define what makes the main stakeholders interested in joining you in your mission?

Depending on your goal and your audience, we will come up with a communication or campaigning strategy that works not just for your audience, but for YOU. Because after all there are plenty ‘proven strategies’ (and yes I will tell you all about those!) but if they don’t work for you … they will not help you to create a movement for change.

Take action & make an impact

When you have clarity on your WHY, and you know how to tell your story in a way that inspires others to join; when we have figured out a campaigning strategy that helps you to increase your impact as a changemaker, you just have to do it!

So the last bit is all about implementation; I will make sure you keep going and get the advice to twist and tweak your strategies so you can #bethechange and truly increase your IMPACT on the world and on the people around you!

If we work together there is no holding back!

We dive into how you want to bring about positive change in your business, your organization, your networks. I give it my all in order for you to be successful as a changemaker!

Because as a changemaker you want to bring about change for a world with more love, wellbeing and happiness, right?!

You want to create IMPACT!

So make sure to be ready to be BRAVE & ACT to create a movement for positive change!

And I make sure you do so by working with PURPOSE, POWER en FUN!

Work with purpose!

I loooove the double meaning of purpose … as in having a purpose in live, a goal, a BIG WHY for all the things that you do. All changemakers should have clear understanding of their purpose, their WHY.

But for me it also means working with determination, perseverance, persistence. Because bringing about change is not just about ‘getting your story right’, ‘putting out a series of video’s’ or ‘doing a 6 week campaign’ it is really about persistence, about keeping the drive and taking action also when there is resistance (and you can expert it as a changemaker!)

Work with power

Let’s face it, if you are a leader or expert in your field and an (aspiring) changemaker, you want to challenge the status quo. You know that in order to bring more green into our cities, some moneymaking buildings might have to make space for trees. You know that if you want to bring in more humanity and wellbeing into our care systems, some well-known and often used systems have to go.

This means you will face ‘old’ powers and you have to create new ones. By creating your own (grassroot or bottom-up) movement, you are creating power for change. I will show you exactly how to do that so you can create IMPACT!

Work with fun … 

You don’t want to be the sour activist or the nerdy know-it-all. It’s no fun (not for you nor for the people you work with)!

So while we work seriously and seriously hard on your purpose and creating power for change, I make sure that it is also FUN! Together we dive into a world where you re-write the future of your organization, your business for a positive change. And while you create IMPACT, I make sure you enjoy every bit of it (oh well … most of it al least ;)).

You can expect critical and to-the-point feedback on your story and your campaign ideas especially when you try to sell me (or yourself) some bullshit excuses … but always with smile, a whimsical note or a little joke.

Because lets face it … life is too short to not play and have FUN!

Are you ready to be brave and act for positive change? Do you get exited about working with purpose, power and fun? Don’t hesitate to email (mail@irenejanssen.nl) me so we can schedule a (video) call to find out if we are a match!

You probably know that you need to contact me if you are a leader or expert and you want to contribute to positive change. Especially if you know what changes are needed, but you just don’t how to make sure others will join you to create IMPACT.

You might be wondering though, what to expect once we will be working together ….

So I thought I would give you a bit of an insight in how I go about.

To me, it is all about YOU, your message, your mission for the world and the audience you want to reach out to to create a movement for change.

Figuring out your authentic story #tellyourstory

When we start working together, I will always want to get to know the real you. What are your values? What is your WHY? What is your drive to be the change in your industry, your business or organization?

I will ask you lots of questions, when we meet, but also in preparation if you feel like starting immediately!

Together we will find out what your authentic story is, your why, so you can tell your story to inspire others to join you for positive change.

Making sure you involve the right people #createamovement

In another 1-on-1 session we will build on your story to reach out to your audience, your fans. Who are the people in (and outside) your network that you need to involve to contribute to the foreseen positive change? Together we do a mapping of your (potential) network and we define what makes the main stakeholders interested in joining you in your mission?

Depending on your goal and your audience, we will come up with a communication strategy that works not just for your audience, but for YOU. Because after all, there are plenty ‘proven strategies’ (and yes I will tell you all about those!) but if they don’t work for you … they will not help you to create a movement for change.

Take action & make an impact #bethechange

When you have clarity on your WHY, and you know how to tell your story in a way that inspires others to join; when we have figured out a communication strategy that helps you to increase your impact as a changemaker, you just have to do it!

So the last bit: is all about implementation and I will make sure you keep going and get the advice to twist and tweak your communication strategies and campaign so you can #bethechange and truly increase your IMPACT on the world and on the people around you!

Are you ready to #bethechange?

Send me an email at mail@irenejanssen.nl for an IMPACT strategy session so I can help you discover your next step for positive change!

You have been reading some stuff about me. You know me for some time, and you feel that maybe you should give me a ring. But you are wondering if you are a changemaker and – if so – how exactly I can help you on your path to increase your IMPACT.

Are you a changemaker Y/N?

Well first of all, if you are figuring out whether or not you are a changemaker it is very likely that you are:

“Changemakers are those leaders that make a difference in their communities and organizations in a way that contributes to a happier, healthier world.”

These are the people who dare to stand up and speak out about what needs to happen in order to make sure we take care of the world and all living creatures in it.

Not sure if that is (or can be) you? Read my post Are you a changemaker?

Let me help you to be succesful…

Maybe you feel that increasing your IMPACT and making a difference for positive change is precisely what you should be doing as a leader in your field. But you might be wondering how to do that, how to become a succesful changemaker.

In short, I can tell you that becoming a changemaker means that you:

• dare to speak up and #telltheirstory
• can #createamovement and built a fanbase for their mission
• but most importantly … that you have the guts to keep going for what you believe in … even though it is scary and takes a lot of courage. #bethechange

And these three things are exactly the things that we will be working on once we decide to work together.

… in a 1-on-1 programme tailored to your needs

I prefer working with you 1-on-1 as this has proven to give leaders the fastest route to increase their IMPACT in an easy, fun and effective way.

We will work together to get your story perfect in a story statement. We make sure you have a smart and effective strategy to create a movement of fans that will help you bring about the necessary change. Finally, we will keep working together to make sure that your message stays aligned with your personal values and that you feel confident as you roll out your strategy for change.

Now is the time to #bethechange

Do you think this could be just what you need? Send me personal message or an email atmail@irenejanssen.nlso we can explore together how I can help you on your path as changemaker.

 “Irene, what do you do all day?”

Is what many people ask me.

Helping changemakers to increase their IMPACT

I chose a business as a vehicle to help changemakers to bring in feminine or soft values like love, happiness and wellbeing into their organizations and our communities. It means that a lot of what I do is similar to what other business owners do. I spend some time on (online) marketing by writing about how you can increase your visibility and your IMPACT by telling your story and creating a movement for change. Sometimes I make a video or a video series interviewing inspiring leaders for change. Often I ask team members to help me with technical or organization support to make sure things work as they should.

Empowering groups to #bethechange

Regularly I am asked to speak or give workshops for an audience of leaders that want to lead for change. Every time I am grateful to see leaders inspired and feeling empowered to take the next step in their journey to #bethechange.  I loooove to be the match that lidstheir fire!

Helping changemakers to be visible working 1-on-1

On a daily basis I have wonderful conversations with leaders that want to start to increase their impact. Connecting with them and hearing their stories is one of my favourite things.

Some of these leaders decide to work with me … and that is when I am at my best! I get to know these changemakers in their field. Not solely as director of a health facility, as Alderman, researcher, or entrepreneur but I get to know the true Helene, Susan and Mark and what drives them.

Change comes from the inside out

In my 1-on-1 sessions, but also in my online lessons I help ‘my’ changemakers to connect to what they truly care about and align their personal values with the mission for their organization and their community. Together we build a campaign strategy to build a fanbase and #createamovement for change.

Expertise and knowledge combined with lots of FUN

With the strategy sessions I bring in all my knowledge of strategic communication, lobbying, campaigning and (online) marketing and I mix it with my expertise on how to get things moving in an easy, fun and effective way. Both for you and for your fans!

Feel the connection  

In between group sessions I give feedback in my group programme called the Changemakers Academy through a Facebook group. Or I respond to an email of one of my VIP changemakers to help find the exact right words for her story statement. In live events or online Masterminds we meet up to share the passion and struggles to be the change.

These are just a few examples of what my day can look like.

Want to be part of that?

Drop me a line so we can start the conversation to discover if I can help you in your path of changemaker!

Lots of people feel they need to contribute to the necessary changes in their organizations.

They just don’t always know how to ACT like a changemaker.

Because, between thinking like a changemaker and acting like one, lies a huge gap.

And remember, it is not about leading a team or being responsible for a budget of 3 million, it is about making a profound difference for the world and the environment you work and live in.

“Changemakers are those leaders that make a difference in their communities and organizations in a way that contributes to a happier, healthier world.”

These leaders can really be found anywhere

Even at the schoolyard. Remember that dad that got the soda machine out of the school building? He felt strongly about the health of his daughter and her classmates and decided to take action. He knew how to #bethechange.

But what about if the same guy took action in line with his values about healthy living and eating in a different capacity? What if he would put a plan into place in his capacity as director of a child care facility to get rid of all sugared drinks? What if he would help his colleagues to put a healthy cooking programme in place for the children in his facility?

How much more IMPACT would that have on his organization, the people working for him, the children in his care and their families?

You can be a successful changemaker for your organization!

Maybe you wonder how you can become a changemaker? You might have tried to bring about change, but noticed that it was hard and unsuccessful in the long run?

I have worked for several years now with Changemakers worldwide and I have discovered that in order to be successful as a changemaker you need to:

• dare to speak up and #telltheirstory.
• #createamovement and built a fanbase for your mission
• but most importantly … you have to have the guts to keep going for what they believe in … also when it super scary and takes a lot of courage. #bethechange

Does it require any special super powers to be a successful changemaker?

Well I guess the things above are pretty amazing if you master them.

However, the most important thing in being a pioneer or a changemaker is ….

… to simply START!

If you feel that you want to increase your IMPACT and #bethechange, put START NOW in the comments below and we start the conversation about what is your best way to start now to be a successful changemaker!

I often get questions about what I consider a changemaker. So here you go … please do let me know if – after reading this – you think you are a (potential) changemaker!

“Changemakers are those leaders that make a difference in their communities and organizations in a way that contributes to a happier, healthier world.”

These are the people who dare to stand up and speak out about what needs to happen in order to make sure we take care of the world and all living creatures in it.

I believe – and I know many of you do too – that our society and our businesses, are out of balance. Organizations focus too much on the short run, the short gain, next months profit, the next elections.

Hard or masculine values such as power, money and status are valued way too much.

In order to take care of the world, ourselves and all living creatures around us we need leaders that have the courage to bring in feminine values such as love, happiness and wellbeing into our organizations. These leaders can be changemakers.

Once these leaders decide to speak out, they become changemakers that help our organizations to stop throwing out plastics and people alike if we are ‘done with those’. If they act and inspire others to do so as well … we can start taking care of the world by truly valuing and celebrating life and the world around us.

This means that you are a changemaker if you are a father who takes action for a healthier canteen at your kids school. It means that you are a changemaker if you are working as a director of a health facility and you start a dialogue on how to contribute to your patients happiness. It also means that you are a changemaker if you take the lead as an owner, researcher, marketeer, or CSR manager to make a product line in your company that respects the cradle to cradle principle.

If you are still reading this, chances are that you are a changemaker. Maybe you are not yet ‘out there’, maybe you have already taken steps in your private capacity, maybe you are already working to increase you IMPACT for change.

Are you a leading for change? Or do you long to do so to increase you IMPACT on the world?

Put YES or NO under this post to let me know if you are a changemaker!

As a changemaker, a leader who truly wants to make a difference in the world, it is so important to start by speaking up. It is only by telling your truth in an #authentic way that you can inspire others to join you. It is your first step to #bethechange

It can be very scary to do so because if we stand out from the crowd it makes us very vulnerable.

This goes for all changemakers but even more so for female changemakers in politics.

The reason for that is that the political environment anno 2019 is still very much a macho or masculine environment. So often a woman in politics is still the only one at the table. Or one of the few.

For example, the regional government in Limburg (Gedeputeerde Staten) consists of men only. In all of its history only 3 women were ever regional minister. The most recent female minister only lasted for part of the current term.

Just by looking at the picture when her cabinet was installed … you can tell it was hard for her … she tried to blend in with her black jacket … most probably got critical feedback and then changed her outfit drastically for the next official photo shoot.

She couldn’t win!

Even if she is not talking, she stands out. She is not the same.

0 – 1 for her … even before she speaks up about what she thinks needs to change.

With or without the black jacket, she is vulnerable as soon as she walks into this masculine environment that not only consists of men, but in which also a macho way of doing is the norm.

Now any changemaker who is about to start telling her or his story is vulnerable. It takes a lot of courage to speak up in order to inspire others for positive change.

But what if you already feel like you are standing out as soon as you enter the room?

You are twice as vulnerable as anybody else!

That is why it is particularly difficult for women changemakers in politics to tell their story. Women politicians who dare to stay true to their values, leaders who stand up, tell their story to inspire others for change. There are many good examples and I just want to point out Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez’s successful courage to change campaign. As an inspiration to all those women who are about to take office in the next months.

You are my hero’s!

If you are a changemaker who is starting in office in the next few months, in politics or otherwise and you feel it is time to speak up your truth, to tell your story, dare to ask for help!

Send me an email to find out how I can help you feel sure about your story and your message.

#tellyourstory #createamovement #bethechange #changemaker #purpose