We’ve just recently celebrated one of our country’s most extraordinary leaders, Martin Luther King, Jr. I’m proud to say that my Dad was on the famous march with MLK from Selma to Montgomery. He and several others went from our town in Connecticut to be part of one of the seminal events of their time.

My Dad was a minister and a charismatic, compelling speaker. My Mom worked for change by supporting my Dad, and by also being a passionate voice for change with us kids, her students, friends and her communities.

One of my parents’ gifts to me was this legacy of passionate engagement, of speaking up and speaking out for change. It’s natural to me to be a voice for change. That’s what I grew up with. When I got older, I was involved in protests against the Vietnam war.

I’m now speaking out for change in the way we run our world. I speak for true partnership between men and women, rather than domination of one over the other (traditionally male over female). I speak out for change in our economy so we can have a planet we can continue to live on.

I empower women (and some men, too) to speak up and speak out with power and confidence so they can make the impact they were born to make with their transformational businesses. Our transformational businesses are part of the change we need.

The times are calling us to step forward, step up, speak up and speak out for the change we know is necessary, beyond our businesses. Every voice is needed. It’s time for YOUR voice.

You may say:

• the problems are too great
• I’m only one person
• it’s too hard
• my voice doesn’t matter
• my one voice couldn’t possibly make a difference
• or (the “spiritual” cop-out) I can’t deal with all that negativity.

You are wrong.

I’m a singer. I have been a soloist and I have sung in choirs. Yes, there is power in the solo voice, and beauty and profound expression. The skilled soloist thrills us, raises the hair on the nape of our necks, inspires us with a profound vision of something more.

But the power of a choir is something else entirely. Many voices raised together in the service of music can also raise the hair on the back of your neck, move you to tears, fill you with beauty, inspire you with a profound vision of something more. The effect of a choir is actually deeper and MORE profound than the effect of a soloist. It is simply easier for us to ascribe this effect to one person we can name and follow and, yes, set at a distance.

It seems easier for us to say to ourselves, I can’t be a soloist. I don’t have the skill, talent, charisma, abilities, training, whatever.

It seems harder for us to say, I can be an important, valuable, crucial part of a choir.

It seems easier to say, my voice is too small. My voice doesn’t matter.

I say “it seems” because, deep down, we really know it is NOT truly easier to silence ourselves. When we silence ourselves, the cost is deep and great.

The cost is that we deny our true selves, our authentic voice, our mission, our deepest beliefs.

The truth is there is only part of ourselves that says my voice doesn’t matter. There is a deeper self that knows its mission that must be undertaken, its true part to play, its authentic voice that must be expressed. We feel that deeper longing to play our part, to voice our gifts, to contribute to the change we know we need.

It is the part that whispers in the night with dreams of a world that works for everyone, a world that promotes partnership instead of domination, a world we can bequeath to our children and grandchildren without shame or sheepish apology.

Your deeper self knows it is not true to say “There was nothing I could do.” It knows you are called to do your part. It asks you to speak in its voice.

You do not need to be a soloist. You must simply be part of the choir. Every voice in the choir sings its own part in the service of a greater whole. What 150 voices can create together is ultimately more powerful and profound than what one voice can create alone.

I have been a soloist, and I have sung in a choir. The choir is infinitely more powerful.

Your voice is needed. It is essential that you play your part in the choir if we are to create the change we need.

The time is past when you can excuse yourself by claiming you are not a soloist. Your voice matters. You may no longer sit down and wait for someone else to sing. You don’t have to be a Martin Luther King, Jr. But you ARE called to be in the march, to be part of the choir.

It is YOUR time to speak out, speak up, speak powerfully, speak your truth, speak for change.

The time is NOW.

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What are your thoughts on todays article? Did you have any a-ha moments? I’d love it if you’d share them with me in the comments section below.

Ways I can support your further:
Would you like to learn how to turn your Speaking Into Dollars?! If you answered yes, I have a free gift for you. It’s my Authentic Voice Assessment! It’s a wonderful tool that will help illuminate your gifts and unique challenges so you can turn your speaking into six figure success!

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