Can one person change the world?
We often hear this sentence:
“It’s not me who’s going to change the world.”
And yet…
History, science, and even our daily lives show exactly the opposite!
Every gesture matters. Every choice ripples out.
That’s what Rutger Bregman calls the ripple effect in his latest book Moral Ambition:
We underestimate the impact of our personal decisions on the collective.
Why?
Because we’ve been steeped in a hyper-individualistic view of humanity—as isolated beings.
But it’s not true.
Humans are ultra-social creatures.
Our behaviors are contagious—for better or for worse.
You smile at someone on the street → they relax → they’re more patient at work → they hold back a hurtful comment → someone goes home a bit more at peace…
And so on.
One right action can have cascading effects.
In my book Not Everyone Will End Up with an Axe in the Forest, I talk about self-amplifying phenomena.
Those moments when a small change triggers a loop that becomes exponential.
A few examples:
Rosa Parks: One refusal that changed history
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger in a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
This seemingly minor act sparked a year-long bus boycott and became a turning point in the U.S. civil rights movement.
Claudette Colvin: The forgotten teenager before Rosa Parks
Nine months earlier, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin also refused to give up her seat.
Her lesser-known act influenced leaders of the movement and showed how “small” actions quietly accumulate before becoming visible.
She inspired civil rights lawyers and paved the way for more publicized actions.
Mohamed Bouazizi: One desperate act that triggered a revolution
In 2010, this Tunisian street vendor set himself on fire after being humiliated by police.
His action ignited protests in Tunisia, then across the Arab world—leading to the fall of multiple authoritarian regimes (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya…) in what became known as the Arab Spring.
An unknown nurse in a hospital
She starts systematically checking that each patient is called by their first name.
At first, it’s just a gesture of kindness.
A year later, internal audits show a significant drop in medical errors.
Why? Because everyone—from doctors to aides—starts paying more attention to the person, not just the illness.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
How to become a “ripple starter”
Not sure that term exists, but I like it!
Here are three micro-habits—what I call Exponential Routines—that I share in my keynotes and that can lead to great impact:
- Name a quality you admire in a colleague — it can dramatically boost cooperation.
- End your day by noting one thing you did that might have had an impact — even a tiny one.
- Make a choice that feels right, even if no one sees it — ethics doesn’t depend on others’ eyes.
So, what’s your next small action that could change everything?
→ 5 tools to thrive in uncertainty
Bruno Marion is an expert in chaos theory applied to leadership and management. An international bilingual English-French keynote speaker, he works with executives and organizations in more than 40 countries. He is the author of Chaos, A User’s Guide and Not Everyone Will End Up with an Axe in the Forest.
