How an Activist Uses His Skills in a Powerful Way

Tags: activist, civic engagement, gifts, patriotism, skill

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The Activist for Activists. Author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism and The Happy Activist: Journey the 5-Step Activism Path to Focus Your Passion and Change the World. Teacher, Psychologist, Environmental Activist, Animal Lover.

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Powerful Political Activist Nathan Higdon

Powerful Candidate Activist Nathan Higdon Nathan Higdon participates in our democracy by doing all three – running for office, managing a political campaign, and voting. In 2016, while managing the campaign of state House of Representatives candidate Jay Clark, he was also a write-in candidate for Tennessee State Senate District 2.

Nathan decided to run as a write-in candidate for Tennessee State Senate District 2 when there wasn’t a Democrat on the ballot. Although he realized his odds of winning as a write-in candidate were not good, he used this as a platform to educate people about the voting process. Write-in candidates are a way for us to exercise our rights if we are unhappy with the status quo. Because of his powerful political activism, Nathan was elected the 2018 Blount County (TN) Democrat of the Year.

Interview

I interviewed Nathan for my book The Happy Activist (formerly What’s on Your Sign?) because I love the way he uses his skills in a powerful way. Here is an excerpt:

Why did you choose your activism cause?

I grew up in East Tennessee, and it has always been more conservative than my personal values and belief system. Social justice, community activism, and progressive politics tend to run together, such that activists see one another over and over until the causes in small towns build capacity together. I think community activism, as a whole, found me.

How did you decide what method to use for your activism?

I have run for office, and I realized that my favorite part of politics is actually behind the scenes. I am a serial entrepreneur, and a political campaign is just like a lean startup business. A well-run campaign is just a well-orchestrated marketing campaign. I am simply attempting to sell a product that people need, but don’t necessarily want to have to deal with buying. Unlike a roll of toilet paper, the product talks, which makes a marketing conversion more difficult.

Were there areas where you felt unprepared for your work?

In all of the work I do, I have felt most unprepared when I have gone into a situation with the intent to bring my change, instead of asking what others want, and if they, in fact, want change.

What advice do you have for new activists?

I initially dealt with “white guilt” and wanting to be a “white savior,” until I learned to get past that to become effective. You must ground yourself in restorative practice. It can be exercise, yoga, meditation, or whatever helps you relax. Activism work, once you commit yourself, is a lifelong endeavor. You will get tired, you will fall down, but you must get back up. That means grounding yourself, finding champions to keep you going, and realizing that many individuals do not get the white, male privilege of being able to step away from the struggle. If you can come to realize and appreciate that the work you do is not yours, but it was likely started and lived long before you and will be here long after you, then you can prepare yourself for the long, slow process of effecting change.