Choose Hope. It Lasts Longer

Anger and division fuel a fire, while hope takes patience and time to build, but the payoff is worth it. Advocating for a cause is not merely about expressing a point of view; it paints a vision of a better future.

The challenge we face today is that it has become easier than ever to gain attention by loudly opposing something.

I’ve seen it first hand recently, I’d like to share with you.

In January, a local business in my area received considerable media attention following a single LinkedIn post.

Cas Paton, the founder of OnBuy, announced the company’s departure from Bournemouth. Attributing this move to the local council’s lack of support and commitment. He criticised the region’s “Silicon Beach” identity, calling it a smokescreen that ultimately failed to fulfill its promises. Read the post here.

This post ignited a storm. It was covered by local media, and eventually, picked up by the BBC (read here). As a result, many people began sharing their own frustrations about the area. Anger spread rapidly, along with a growing narrative of despair regarding the region.

Cas’s message criticised Bournemouth, its council, and the surrounding area. Although his concerns may have been valid, the message lacked any sense of hope or constructive vision. As a result, it only added to the negativity.

My goal here isn’t to pass judgment but to emphasise the contrast between tearing something down and building something up.

As someone who believes in grounding your work in your town, I believe there’s a more effective way to create an impact: by standing for something rather than against it.

Anger is an incredibly powerful motivator. It’s immediate, visceral, and so easy to spread. 

When you’re vocal against something, the heat you generate attracts attention, often from like-minded people who feel the same way. Social media thrives on this and this creates a ripple effect, amplifying the message.

However, there’s a downside. While anger can quickly draw people in, it’s not a sustainable foundation for growth. It fosters division rather than unity and promotes resentment rather than progress.

Hope, on the other hand, takes time to build momentum. While it may not be as emotionally intense, it provides something much more valuable: a vision for a brighter future. Standing up for a cause invites others to join you in creating something meaningful.

This approach demands more effort and patience, but it has the power to create lasting impact.

You unite people around a vision, you can’t unite people around frustration and anger. The fire burns hot and then the fire burns out.

It’s hope and purpose that keeps people going.

👎 Anger is solitary
👍 Hope craves company

It all begins with being proactive rather than reactive.

When we are reactive, we often end up frustrated and complaining about problems without proposing any solutions. Reactivity is driven by personal grievances, whereas standing up for something requires a broader perspective that encourages others to join in creating a positive outcome.

When you commit yourself to a cause or an idea, you open up opportunities for growth, understanding, and change. Rather than criticising or blaming, you channel your energy into creating something meaningful that others can support. This mindset encourages curiosity and collaboration instead of division and hostility.

For example, my ongoing motivation has been rooted in empowering people to promote themselves and their work without over dependence on algorithms or paying for visibility. By prioritising community and mutual growth, I have discovered a sense of purpose that inspires others. This has enabled me to push boundaries and unite people around a common vision.

To lean into what you stand for, ask yourself these guiding questions:

1) What captivates your attention and ignites your curiosity? Identify the ideas you’re naturally drawn to and explore them deeply. 

2) Why does this matter to you? When your efforts align with your interests, it rarely feels like work.

3) What’s your ultimate goal? Articulate the vision you want to work toward and use it as a compass to guide your actions.

Asking meaningful questions opens the door to discovering solutions, not just for yourself, but for others. This is how you transform curiosity into action and create a foundation others can believe in and support.

Standing for something means aligning your actions with your values and consistently demonstrating what you believe in.

Here’s how to start:

1. Your Values Are Your North Star

Your values define who you are and what you stand for. Over time, they become easier to express and integrate into everything you do. At YATM, our values include interdependence, creativity, visibility, experimentation, and support. These principles guide our decisions and help us connect with like-minded people.

2. Focus On A Specific Problem

Broad messages can dilute your impact. Instead, narrow your focus to a specific problem or challenge that you are passionate about solving. For YATM, the focus has shifted from general marketing to helping people grow their own audience and ensuring they are not overlooked or ignored. A clear focus makes it easier for others to understand and support your mission.

3. Be Insightful, Not Just Informative

Don’t just share data or news; provide insights that help people understand the bigger picture. Use your experiences and observations to create value for your audience. This approach brings people closer to you.

4. Involve Your Audience

Your audience should be more than passive consumers; they should feel like active participants in your journey. Invite collaboration, seek feedback, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement.

5. Act with Integrity

It’s simple to claim that you stand for something, but actions speak louder than words. If you say you run an environmentally conscious business, demonstrate the steps you are taking to minimise your negative impact. If you are passionate about your community, showcase its strength through events or initiatives.

Here are some principles for making it work when your actions are driven by what you stand for:

☀️ Be present.

Commit to showing up consistently. If you only ever share sporadically and frequently change the main theme, it becomes confusing for people. Consistency helps build trust and understanding.

☀️ Don’t jump on bandwagons.

Just because a topic is popular, right now, doesn’t mean you have to weigh in. Focus on sharing content that comes from what you genuinely care about, rather than chasing trends.

☀️ Develop your own unique voice.

This ties into avoiding bandwagons (see above). Your perspective and genuineness will resonate far more than imitating popular opinions. Over time, you become more confident, read more on confidence here.

☀️ Be relatable.

Show what the change you help bring about looks like through examples your audience can connect with. Avoid distant, corporate examples that feel distant, instead use tangible, real-life scenarios that demonstrate how your approach can make a difference.

☀️ Make the invitation continuous.

The people who join you might start as subscribers, but this can be just the beginning. Be open to forming collaborations and partnerships. By inviting others into your world, you create a stronger, more enduring community.The choice to lead with hope and purpose is not always the easiest path, but it is the one that has longevity. 

What you stand for isn’t just an ideal, it’s a tangible force for unity, growth, and a shared commitment to building something better, together.

People are drawn to those who have a clear sense of purpose and are ready to act. Standing for something goes beyond making a statement, it inspires people to believe in and work toward a shared vision.

Anger captures attention, but hope supports connection and encourages people to return. You are uniting people around a cause that has the power to drive meaningful change.

What you stand for isn’t just an ideal, it’s a tangible force for unity, growth, and a shared commitment to building something better, together.