Can't Not Do: The Compelling Social Drive that Changes Our World

by Paul Shoemaker

With so many social challenges facing our world, trying to effect change feels daunting. The problems are complex, the politics murky, and the players innumerable. Yet, every day there are regular heroes making a significant impact on our most intractable social issues.

“Can’t Not Do” is a catchphrase for the urge that captures the heart of effective social change agents—explaining, in their own words, their passion and drive: “I can’t not do this.” “It’s not that I can do this, it’s that I can’t not.” “I could not imagine not doing something about this issue.” The surprising truth from the trenches is: we already have numerous proven solutions for our many social challenges; what our world needs most, and what most changes our children’s future, are more people prepared and committed to act on their social impulses for the long haul. Innovation helps. Money helps, too. But greater numbers of committed people help the most.

If you feel an internal, persistent call to do more for the world, Can’t Not Do will help you to bridge the gap between “wanting to do” and “doing”—to access the drive of an effective change agent, to break through self-imposed barriers, to learn key principles for success, and to start seeing yourself acting as a change agent.

There is no “secret sauce” someone is born with and no special club needed to be successful at social change. Rather, successful change agents share some fundamental orientations to the world and to their committed cause and, over time, learn certain lessons that help them become more effective. These lessons are reflected in Can’t Not Do in seven seemingly simple questions that provide guideposts and unlock the reader’s potential to make a difference for a social cause they care about.

This isn’t a self-help book. It’s an inspiring narrative intertwined with a “street-readiness” dialogue, between the author and you, between you and your inner aspirations. These are authentic success stories, vital questions, and unconventional answers that can guide and inspire you to realize your greatest potential.

Web Copy (short):

Can't Not Do shows you how to get from 'wanting to do something' to 'actually making change happen.' You'll learn how to inspire and motivate others, remove mental obstacles, and unlock people's potential to become positive agents of change. Engaging stories illustrate these ideas in action, and the discussion will help you see clearly past the imagined limitations of economic background, perceived talents, or a jam-packed schedule. You'll learn how a simple shift in mindset helps you impact the world, and in the process, adds a whole new level of meaning and gratification to your entire life.

• Understand the motivations that drive successful change
• Break the inertia and start actually doing something
• Set goals, make a plan, and make an impact
• Gain a greater sense of purpose and bust personal barriers

Can't Not Do breaks you out of the rut and shows you how to make an impact.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 20, 2015

About the author

Paul Shoemaker is Executive Connector for Seattle’s Social Venture Partners. Social Venture Partners is a unique worldwide network for social change. SVP combines what social ventures need—grant-making, strategic volunteering, philanthropic education, and systems change—connected together under one roof, which had never been done before by a philanthropic organization. The organization started with its Seattle office and now has partners in 38 cities and 8 countries. In 2011 and 2012, Paul Shoemaker was named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential People in the Nonprofit Sector” by The NonProfit Times. He is the Founding President of Social Venture Partners International and currently sits on their Board of Directors, as well as the Board of Partners for Our Children and previously the Board of the Microsoft Alumni Foundation. In 2013, he received the Red Winged Leadership Award from Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics and the Philanthropist of the Year Award from Future in Review.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring read full of stories of people who found their passion and compass , applying themselves to make a difference in the world.

[Haizel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end part of the book containing all the notes and important links was the best ngl. More books should have that

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Shoemaker is the founding president of Social Venture Partners (SVP). Most readers are familiar with the concepts of venture capitalism. Venture capitalists (VC's) solicit business opportunities from which they typically expect well above average investment returns. If a venture is selected by a VC, they bring both their financial resources and human resources to the opportunity so that together all the parties will hopefully achieve financial rewards.

SVP was formed in 1997 and now operates in many cities in the US and throughout the world. Nonprofits and similar organizations which are expert at delivering their programs apply to SVP in a similar manner to the solicitation process for a VC. SVP are expect guides in building organizational capacity. Like a VC, they bring financial resources and intellectual capital that a nonprofit might not otherwise be able to obtain on their own.

This book is not a self-help book; it's a help-the-world book. Shoemaker introduces the concept of "Can't Not Do" which is more than "Can Do". In Chinese, "Can't Not Do" translates to "a stronger passion than must do". Shoemaker also emphasizes that "Can't Not Do" persons don't have to spend full time on their endeavor. The endeavor can take a wide variety of forms. This book tells the story of many such endeavors most of which were successful but not all.

There are a few key questions that Shoemaker provides to someone contemplating how to live a more meaningful life rather than focus too much on how to live a happy life. They include:

1. Are you a determined optimist?
2. What are you at your core?
3. Are you willing to go to the hard places?
4. Are you ready to be humble and humbled?
5. Can you actively listen?
6. What is your "Can't Not Do"?

Personally, I have been contemplating thoughts on some meaningful endeavors for several years now as I wind down my UCLA/UC activities (albeit more recently I have substantially added to my UC activities). I have even tried out a few. Certainly, I don't expect to start a full-time endeavor at this time of my life. But on a smaller scale, perhaps there is an endeavor that will help fulfill my "Can't Not Do" attitude. We shall see.

[Lyndsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is a great sort of template for figuring out how to make a difference. I think the layout was a little bit off though and I felt like I needed to see the layout throughout the book.

The author consistently references the 7 questions, but they're hard to remember throughout the book while reading the stories.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the advice of asking your colleagues what you are good at. Nice to get out of your own head, and hopefully it's what you enjoy doing!