Emphasize Choice

Frank Jordan told us: “I tell people they have a choice, and at first they don’t believe me. But I say, ‘I’m like you; I grew up with one parent and not much to do, and I chose a life of service, and so can you.’” There are two aspects of his pitch that are noteworthy. First, he doesn’t look down on people, no matter their cultural stage, and as a result he slowly builds rapport. Second, he emphasizes the one thing that Stage One doesn’t see: choice. As he told us: “If people can see that they have a choice, they sometimes choose a life better than gangs and drugs.”

Dave, Logan. “Tribal Leadership.”