If you have read any of my columns this semester, you have likely noticed a trend. They all advocate for self-development and informal credentials with an anti-establishment and anti-tradition tone. In other words, I’m all about making a ruckus by challenging the status quo. Am I the only one?

Last week I suggested you spend short periods of your summer blogging about what you’re teaching yourself. I asked you to share the stories you create while on your summer adventures, or at least to let others know about the mistakes you make so they don’t make the same mistakes themselves.

I noticed a problem with my appeal for action. Many people don’t know where to begin this summer, or where to find topics to write about. For most people, the plan is to work, relax and drink all summer.

However, I have come to discover that there are students on campus who think there is no one else with the same mindset as them, that there is no one else coming up with cool ideas, no one else who actually wants to get together to make them happen! Ideas like drafting a business plan for your one-of-a-kind business or putting together your own type of TED talk, or anything that involves your passion, whether it is folk music, art or Twitter.

The First Invitation

Roughly two weeks ago, I posted a Facebook status on the University of Wisconsin’s 2013 Spring Transfer Group expressing my interest in working on a few summer projects. I wrote, “I’m looking to collaborate with a few designers/artists/web designers for some weird, memorable projects over the summer. We’re going to work on something remarkable and that represents, what I call, humanitarian energy.”

Less than a week later, I received the following response from a junior majoring in philosophy, Reed Kinning.

“I’ve always wanted to do a big project (of the scope that I believe you’re talking about) but I haven’t met someone with the same enthusiasm,” he replied.

This article – more or less – is for all those who haven’t met someone with the same enthusiasm. I’m writing this article to tell you that we’re here and we want you to join us.

A Group Project

As it is summer and all, it seems applicable to quote Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, “A dream alone is only a dream. A dream together is a reality.” And this dream is where ideas are happening.

This will be a group like no other; where there is no misunderstanding or lack of interest because you are going to get to do exactly what you are passionate about, what you have dreamt about, what you wish you had other people to help you complete.

And, unlike in class, it’s quite difficult to dislike people who think like you do. So, in one sense, were breaking the stigma surrounding “group project.”

Make a Difference Or Make a Revolution

While Make a Difference Day makes an impact and gets organizations, clubs and a variety of people together to, well, make a difference – it’s only one day. Perhaps it is only me, but even the title seems to imply the results of the event are quickly forgotten once the day is over. I think one day of national good is a bit satirical.

On the other hand, making a positive ruckus by creating content and manifesting ideas produces a substantially larger impact – one might even say an immortal impact. Especially when you make one passionate event after the other, all the while connecting and sharing the events, results and personal experiences of those affected. This is the goal of our team.

This is a summer to make ideas happen. Actually, it’s a revolution.
An idol of mine, bestselling writer and marketer Seth Godin, wrote on his Blog, “A friend asked me the other day, ‘… given the sorry state of so much in the world, what’s possible to look forward to?'”

Seth responded, “The state isn’t sorry. It’s wide open. Interest rates are super low, violence is close to an all-time low, industries are being remade and there’s more leverage for the insurgent outsider than ever before in history. The status quo is taking a beating, there’s no question about it. That’s what makes it a revolution.”

And the best part is that we are the leaders of it.

If you are interested in being part of the team and you want to make your ideas happen, email me.

Garth Beyer ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in journalism.