First Follower

While an evangelist needs courage, it is almost more courageous to be the first follower, the one who openly shares the aspiration for re-imagining the possible. These first followers step up to help develop a cohort of innovators that inspires a movement.

These first followers are the ones who look at the potential new from the context of the existing old.

They must evaluate if the risk of moving to a new paradigm is worth the risks of retribution from those who hold on to the existing paradigm, that which has been the dominate norm.

While the evangelist believes, the first follower is the first one who must decide whether or not to Walk into the Unknown with the evangelist.

But when others see the Confident Courage of that first follower, they are empowered to also join this Quixotic Quest.

Here is a short TED talk about the importance of the First Follower: