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In the film “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood”, Mister Rogers is asked by cynical reporter Tom Junod why he produces his TV show.
To “give children positive ways to deal with their feelings”, he said.
And if you know anything about Mister Rogers, you’ll know he wove this idea into everything he did.
It was his revolution.
Revolution: the ultimate transformation you want to make with the people you serve.
It’s big—as in it might not even be achievable in your lifetime.
In Mister Rogers’ case, it was nothing short of his life’s mission. In fact, Junod credits his friendship with Fred Rogers (which came out of his Esquire cover interview) with changing his perspective about life.
Your revolution isn’t about crafting a clever tagline you use to get media attention or attract clients (even when it helps you get there).
It’s about the outcomes you create for the people you serve—the driving, energizing force that propels you and your work.
And if you’re navigating a transition, it might be less about how much revenue it delivers and more about the legacy you want to build with the people you care about.
If you’ve struggled with articulating your revolution, try this exercise.
Complete this statement:
I______________ (insert action verb)
________________ (insert your best
audience) ________________________
(insert how you make your best audience feel or an
outcome they can consistently rely upon).
A few examples to stoke your thinking…
I save kids from drowning.
I create companies for CEO’s that their customers love.
I teach young lawyers to build their first book of business.
I coach beauty brand founders to grow internationally.
I advance girls’ skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders.
Take some time with this. Leave it and come back to it. Ruminate. Salivate. It might scare you a little—as in “Who am I to think this big?”—but you know it’s time.
Once you have your statement down, there’s one more step: using as few, emotionally compelling words as possible, zero in on the outcome that matters most to your ideal people:
Save kids from drowning.
Build a beloved company.
Create your first book of business.
Take your beauty brand global.
Unite girls to change the world (GirlUp.org).
Now it’s your turn: what’s the revolution you’re ready to lead?
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