From Ideas to Impact by Michael (Mick) Sheldrick
I am delighted to launch my new book club this week. I’ve collected many good books leaders should read to remain inspired “to courageously serve humanity.” I will regularly recommend books that challenge leaders to think differently about their leadership style and the business model they are deploying in this world. My book club's first recommendation is From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing and Implementing Change in a Divided World by Michael (Mick Sheldrick).
It is no coincidence that I am launching the book club this week. It happens to be the week that I am heading to NYC for Climate Week 2024, like many others who want to engage on the issues. While the United Nations General Assembly is still the primary objective for world leaders, the week is now coined “Climate Week” by attendees, which represents an evolution and a merging of the global agenda toward shared business, government, and civil society objectives that place The Humanverse at the center of the agenda. No longer is the week only about business leading the dialogue with governments. Still, instead, it’s about a diverse set of stakeholders who are impacted by the decisions of governments and the actions of businesses.
The central reason for my trip this week is to attend the annual Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on Saturday, September 28th. Attending the concert is personal for me. I am excited to experience the outcome of what Mick Sheldrick and his co-founders of Global Citizen created many years ago, which is a global platform for citizens like you and me—from all around the world—to take action to end extreme poverty in our lifetime. The festival is a time for citizens to gather to continue to encourage governments, the private sector, international institutions, philanthropists, and themselves to support public policies and actions that advance the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
I met Mick over five years ago when we worked on a global movement called Social Gastronomy, which empowers local chefs to end hunger and malnutrition in their communities. When I met him, I had no idea what Global Citizen was. The more I listened to Mick and learned about his work, the more I realized I was in the presence of greatness. Mick co-founded Global Citizen as The Global Poverty Project before he was 20 years old. From there, this small effort has grown to become the largest global citizen movement in the world, creating public policy change and raising over $40 billion in policy commitments to end extreme poverty.
On September 12th, we hosted Mick here in the Twin Cities at the Economic Club of Minnesota and the Minnesota Sports and Events Champion’s Council, where he discussed the core takeaways from his book, from the eight steps any person can take to master policy entrepreneurship to the types of leadership required: The Visionary, The Diplomat, and The Implementer. Which type of leader are you?
As you read, you begin to understand his leadership lesson about why setting policy goals matters and the best ways to set achievable goals. Mick rallies his readers to become part of the solution in “A World on Fire.” Don’t be fooled, however. This high-level leader does not get overtaken by Utopian ideas; he shares lessons from his leadership journey that call for “pragmatic idealism.”
Whether you are working at the community level or trying to drive a global agenda, Mick’s book is for you. He took his local bake sales and poverty projects and elevated the effort to a globally recognized brand and movement fueled by famous musicians, revered business leaders, and notable politicians.
Spoil alert: You may want to read the Epilogue first, where the story of Len, a 105-year-old WWII veteran, speaks truth to all of us. Will you “give it a go?”
Give Mick’s book “a go!” Click here to order your copy here here today. The policy arena awaits!