Onefluence: The One Percent Factor

1%. It appears to be such an insignificant percentage.

It’s one out of a hundred. It’s just a penny out of a dollar. It’s just a year out of a century. Can any fraction that small affect the whole? Can you really do anything with a number that trivial?

You might be surprised. History reminds us that 1% of a group of people has been able to impact the other 99% over and over again—when that 1% has bought into an idea with reckless abandon. In other words, the few can affect the many, with the right people on board.

During the 1960s, the Civil Rights movement in America changed the course of history for minority groups. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “I have a dream” in 1963, he was the point man for a movement that within one year would change legislation in the U.S. Believe it or not, it was a relatively small group of people. Millions sympathized with them, but never acted. In fact, only about 1% of the population was on board with the civil rights movement. But that’s all they needed. They marched together, stood together, faced opposition together...and they changed history.

During the “Hundred Years War” in France, a teenage girl named Joan of Arc caught a vision from God to lead her nation to freedom. It seemed ridiculous to her—she was a child and a female, both which worked against her. France was divided into three factions and outside armies were bullying the French at will. They were at their lowest point in history. But in 1428, Joan approached a commander and offered her services. At 17 years old, Joan was leading 3,000 French knights into battle, and winning. When she died at the age of 19 she had accomplished her goal. Less than 1% of the French were even behind her, but her troops restored hope to a nation. Without knowing, she led a movement that changed France’s history.

John Wesley wanted to see spiritual renewal in England during the 18th century. Although he was kicked out of the Anglican Church, he didn’t give up on his goal. He traveled on horseback through the country speaking to crowds and organizing groups who responded to his challenge. His goal was to transform the nation by first transforming individuals. It worked. One historian wrote that Wesley almost single-handedly saved England from bloody revolution in the 1700s. He launched the Methodist Church and impacted the British population profoundly...with a small fraction of the people. We are told he had about 1 1⁄2 % of the English people involved.

Even today, we see this 1% factor. Elections have been won by a 1% margin of the vote. The media can produce a movie or a message and create a buzz that changes the minds of a people, even when less than 1% see it. The business community has changed cities and states by leveraging a tiny portion of people to move in the same direction. It’s called “critical mass.” A fraction can impact the whole when they are first impacted, then commit to influencing the majority. This is the story of human history. Jim Collins states that 26 billion people have lived on earth. Those 26 billion have been most influenced by 3,000 people. Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

So What About Us?
At “Growing Leaders” we dream of a world where this next generation of students harnesses their gifts and serves them up to the world. Let me ask you a question. What would the world look like if just 1% of the people under 25 years old joined a movement to transform the world? What if these young people committed themselves to a worthwhile cause, and joined hands to impact the whole?

It might take on a variety of approaches. Perhaps some commit themselves to the AIDS crisis in Africa or at home. Others might determine to build and run hospitals in developing nations. Some may want to provide food to impoverished groups in Asia. Another bunch will want to teach children to discover their gifts and identity so they can make a better life for themselves. Some will want to start churches or other non-profit organizations to provide hope for the hopeless. Still others might want to create media programs that will ignite others to get involved. The common ground is that these young people have joined forces to lead the way for everyone else.

For the first time in history, we have a chance to actually connect this entire generation worldwide, thanks to technology. Any one of us can know what’s going on in nearly every nation of the world, in a matter of moments. We can actually interact and swap wisdom. And, because of this interaction, we may be able to accelerate a movement. We can equip and encourage each other, by sharing the same commitment to transform the world. The key is this: we must first commit to being influenced by some common values, then commit to influence the world in a positive way.

I recognize this sounds idealistic. The world’s population is larger than ever. And so needy, too. Why now? I believe these facts are the very reason we must act now. The world certainly won’t get any better if we fail to act.

Why the Young?
Why young people? Why not older, more experience people? Good question. Certainly, students need experienced adults to act as mentors and coaches. But, world change often happens through the energy of the young. Consider this:

• Mozart: Composed his first symphony at age 6
• Bill Gates: Started Microsoft at age 19 
• Trevor Ferrell: Began Trevor’s Place to feed the homeless at age 12
• John Wesley: Launched the Methodist movement at age 17
• Albert Einstein: Wrote first paper on theory of relativity at age 16
• Mark Zuckerberg: Launched Facebook at the age of 19
• Louie Braille: Designed reading system for blind at age 15 
• Josiah: Became a reformer as king of Israel at age 8
• Joan of Ark: Led 3,000 French knights into battle at age 17
• Sagen Woolrey: Started free lunch program for poor at age 12
• Student Volunteer Movement: Pioneer missionaries: ages 18-24
• Cassie Burnall: Stood for her faith at gunpoint at age 17
• Steve Jobs: Launched Apple Computer at age 21
• George Williams: Stared the YMCA at age 23

Sociologists tell us that by 2015, one half of the world’s population will be 21 years old or younger. That represents between three and four billion people. What an incredible pool of talent to harness. Now consider this. If just 1% of the population can impact the other 99%, we must only leverage a fraction of that 3-4 billion people in order to impact the world. That’s our goal. To focus the energy and gifts of 1% of the population, under 25 years old...to influence rest of the population.

What is a movement?
First, let’s start by answering the question: Just what is a movement? A movement is the result of the work of a percentage of any population who decides to act together toward a common cause. A relatively small group acts, begins to grow and eventually affects the whole. Certainly, good things are going on all over the world, without people working together. There are smaller factions doing good things that change communities or even cities.

We just believe incredible momentum could be generated if all those little works were shared. What’s more, what if we could foster ideas and plans in other people by communicating what’s happened in our part of the world? Difficult challenges can be faced more easily if we have someone else offering encouragement. In fact, a university once conducted an experiment proving this. It was quite strange. They wanted to see how long a person could stand bare-footed in a bucket of ice water. Do you know what they discovered? A person could endure standing in a bucket of ice water twice as long when someone was next to them encouraging them. Few people really want to take on a challenge all by themselves. Most of us benefit from the ideas of others. This kind of movement could help emerging leaders worldwide see that they are not alone.

What’s the desired result?
What does a movement do to society? Good question. The kind of movement we’re looking for is one that has a dramatic and positive impact on society as a whole. It improves the condition of the world. Past societal movements improved working conditions during the industrial revolution; they liberated ethnic groups from imperialist nations; they fed the hungry; they rescued at-risk animals; they provided for latchkey children and they brought spiritual renewal. You’ve heard of many of these movement leaders: Mahatma Gandhi, William Wilberforce, David Livingstone, Joan of Arc, Mother Teresa, William Carey, Clara Barton, Martin Luther King, Jr., the Apostle Paul, Florence Nightingale, John Wesley, Winston Churchill, William Wallace and Nelson Mandela to name a few.

Jesus Christ, the leader of the largest movement in history, spoke about a people who saw the hungry and fed them; saw the naked and clothed them, saw folks in prison and visited them. In short, he spoke of ordinary people acting when they saw a need they could do something about. They were leaders who took initiative and caused change. This movement is about people using whatever gifts they have to improve—even transform—the world in which they live.

What’s the timeline?
The window of time we’re shooting for with “The 1% Factor” is about twenty years. The challenge is directed at Millennial generation students, (born between 1984 and 2002), who will change the world between now and 2025. That’s’ when the youngest of the Millennial generation will no longer be in school. By 2025, the entire generation will be adults. Our hope is they’ll be living in a better world than they do today, because they led the way.

The Onefluence Commitment
The commitment of a student who joins the 1% is as follows:

1. They choose to be lifelong learners committed to growth.

2. They learn continually. They choose to discover their strengths and employ them. They loan their gifts in service.

3. Those choose to multiply other leaders. They lift up apprentices to become leaders, too.

In short, they choose to positively influence their world. They lead the way in causing change. We want you and your students to be part of it all. Join the revolution.

Copyright Tim Elmore / Growing Leaders