Do I Look Like I Have a Few Minutes???

There's a disturbing phenomenon happening throughout NYC right now.

Hippies are mobilizing.

Before you hippies get all pissy, I'm not disturbed by the actual mobilizing, just the way it's happening.

I first noticed it nearly a year ago while walking down the street. A cute girl with a clipboard walked up to greet me.

"Do you have a few minutes for Gay Rights?" She asked.

"Honey, I fight for gay rights every day of my life. Good luck to you though."

I regret that. Wishing luck onto clipboard Nazis may have been what started this whole trend.

You see, ever since then, I've seen hundreds of twenty-something, bleeding heart youths begging for a minute or two to spout out their version of what's wrong in our world. From environmental destruction to petitions for impeachment, there hasn't been a day since where I've not seen these people begging for someone's, anyone's time.

So here's a bit of advice for those who do this for a living, or may consider joining the ranks:

1. Get a real job - Mommy and Daddy didn't pay for your college education so you could harrass perfect strangers on the street.

2. Find another way - Signing petitions does nothing. Lead by example and you'll influence people much more than by yelling things like "Does Anybody Care?" at them on the street.

3. Lose the clipboards - These are dead giveaways. If you really have faith that this system works for you, you should play it more covert. Stand in the middle of a sidewalk with a sign that has a catchy slogan on it - something to engage people. This will surely grab their attention more. For example:

They may not be brilliant by any means, but they're straight to the point, eye-catching, and are WAY less obtrusive. Personally, I'd be much more likely to stop and chat with someone who had more to say than "Do you have a few minutes?"

4. Come up with a better pitch - No one you need in New York has a few minutes to spare. Sure, a few nobodies with nothing better to do will stop and engage you, but you need to think bigger. This is the capital of the world and you literally have access to anyone and anything. Use it. Take a lesson from the anti-smoking campaign that was launched a few years ago. They took everyday situations and made the message so striking that everyone paid attention. Asking people for a few minutes won't get their attention, it'll make them think you're going to beg them for money - and we have plenty of beggars already.

5. Maintain Engagement - Perhaps you've gotten a few people to sign your petition. They bought your speech hook, line and sinker. Now what? Most of you let them go about their lives, never following up with anything. This is a huge mistake. If you've engaged them once, find a way to keep them engaged. Invite them to events, speeches, clean-up efforts, whatever you can. Building support isn't solely about new recruitment - you must keep those you've already gotten on your side.

6. Think Mainstream - You may not like it, but capitalism is how the world works. The old adage about "if you can't beat them join them..." well, it's true. Get a corporate job and start making changes internally - recycle, encourage low-energy usage, request partner benefits...do anything to chip away at the existing stereotype that liberals don't do anything. Nothing changes overnight, but everything changes eventually. Be a catalyst for the change by working with the system, not against it.

Look, these aren't incredibly insightful tips, I realize. But maybe, just maybe they may help. So get out there and put them to use - and STOP ASKING ME IF I HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO SPARE!

xoxo,

GM