Conversations about Local Leadership
Interview with Stephan Abrams, candidate for Teton County (Wy) School Board
A Different One Percent
When I conceived of both the Circle of Impact model of leadership and the Two Global Forces perspective, my underlying motive was to see people find within themselves the motivation to take personal initiative to make a difference in their local communities. In the Introduction to Circle of Impact, I set a goal for this idea.
As I started over in almost every aspect of my life, my Circle of Impact model of leadership grew in significance and practicality. For two decades my purpose was “To inspire leadership initiative,” by living my life with integrity as one of my core values. It brought me to ask myself, “What should be the measure of my impact?” Is it selling a lot of books, becoming a professional speaker, or becoming a recognized expert on 21st-century leadership? Each of those measures would be personally gratifying. But, they are not the measure of my impact.
If impact is change, then, “What is the level of impact that I want to create, that would make a difference that would matter long after I’ve passed from this earth?”
One percent. One percent of what?
I’ll know that I have achieved the impact that I seek when I see one percent of the world’s population take personal initiative to create leadership impact. That is 3.5 million people in the United States and seventy-five million worldwide taking action to make a difference in their local communities. The ripple effect will be a collective wisdom of learning to solve problems, create new opportunities, and create a better world from the ground up. More important to me, it means that the most insignificant person in any place, organization, or social group can, by their own actions, change the world.
Think about the lowliest, most invisible person you know personally. Imagine them doing something that makes a difference to someone, just as small and insignificant in the world’s eyes. What would it be like if one percent of all people worldwide found a person who believed that they could have a significant impact in their local community? The world would change for the better overnight. I’ve known people like this who have had an impact on a small segment of the world. Our world is far more resilient in the face of change because of them.
This vision for impact leadership in local communities is happening in places all over the world.
One of those impact leaders is my friend and colleague Stephan Abrams of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Earlier this week, we sat down in front of our computers and talked about his life and why he decided to run for public office. Here’s our conversation.
Stephan Abrams - Candidate Jackson/Teton County School Board
Contact information for Stephan’s campaign
https://abramsforeducation.com/
https://www.facebook.com/StephanAbram... committeetoelectstephanabrams@gmail.com
Donations: Venmo - @CTE-Abrams
I don’t expect everyone to run for public office. All I hope is for is that you take personal initiative to create impact that makes a difference that matters. Do it within the sphere of your relationships, your neighborhood, your workplace, and the broader community where you live.
If each of us takes personal initiative to care for our communities, then many of the problems that have been visited upon us by the global institutions of governance and finance can be mitigated.
The Eddy Network: Global Conversations for Local Leadership
You probably notice that I spoke about a thing called The Eddy Network. It is the podcast that I am developing that will launch in the New Year. The podcast will serve two purposes.
The Eddy Network will feature people from around the world who are doing things that matter where they live.
This is why it is a “global conversation for local leadership.” I’ve recorded five interviews so far. Stephan’s is the first to go live because election day is November 8.
In doing this, I want people in places around the global to hear local people from places that they have heard about, know little about, and maybe some day go there for a visit. Over the past ten years, I’ve visited fifteen countries on three continents. Some of the people that I met in those travels will be interviewed.
The Eddy Network is an experiment in networking to see how many people I can interview who I don’t know and yet, who I meet through people that I do know.
So, Stephan is the first American. I’ve also interviewed friends from England, Australia, and Kenya. And I have interviewed a fella from Namibia who I did not know prior to being introduced by one of the people that I have already interviewed.
You’ll be able to find the podcast here on my Substack page and on my YouTube channel now. By the time of our launch, I anticipate being on Rumble, Bitchute, Odysee, and Apple podcasts. A local radio station in Winston-Salem, my home town will carry the video version on their website, and broadcast the audio version on their station, WTOB.
As an experiment in networking, I want to ask all of you the following:
Who do you know,
that you think I should know,
because they would make a good interview about local leadership,
and would you introduce me to them?
Please reach out to me at my email - ed@edbrenegar. com - with your suggestions.
Thank you.