Want to Really Change the World? Do This!

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

                                                    -George Bernard Shaw

I read this quote in Tim Ferris’s Four-Hour Workweek.

The other ending I would put to this quote is: 

“Whereas the unreasonable ones force the world to adapt to them. Thereby bringing great change.” 

The other way I’ve heard this proposed is to have boundaries. But setting boundaries is just applying a detail or process to the situation you’re already in. And it doesn’t sound near as fun as being unreasonable!

Being unreasonable has the promise of creating a whole new situation.

Being unreasonable can be as simple as only answering emails at a certain time and on certain days. It can be saying No to things in order to leave you time to do the things that are important to you.

Being unreasonable is speaking out against things you don’t agree with, in an inspiring way.

Being unreasonable is not being afraid you’re going to be exploited, but knowing your true worth no matter what someone else says.

Call it selfish, but aren’t those expecting you to go with the status quo being selfish? They want you to do what’s most comfortable for them. They want you to answer their call or email so they can get you off their to-do list.

We see on a daily basis right now, how being unreasonable can be used to exploit people and their ingrained beliefs.

But the best examples of being unreasonable are Steve Jobs, John Lennon, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Nelson Mandela and Elon Musk. They use being unreasonable to further humanity, to help us to see new vistas, and to connect people.

You can use being unreasonable for good or to be explotive and damaging. This is something we often see in narcissist and the really loud ones.

f you were to be unreasonable what would that look like? What would you do differently? If you weren’t concerned that someone was going to get upset with you for not doing something on their time-schedule, what would you do instead?

Post in the comments below, one way you can be unreasonable, in a good way, today!