A manifesto is a public declaration of your intentions. It’s a simple articulation of what you believe and a vision of the world that you wish to create.
Whether you realize it or not, some of the speeches and documents that have most shaped the world could be called manifestos:
Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech casts a vision of the world the MLK spent his life working to create.
The Declaration of Independence is an articulation of what the founders of the United States believed about humanity, and their intention to be free from outside rule.
On a much less epic scale, but much more recent example, the company Holstee created a simple manifesto to communicate their hopes for life and work. It has been adopted by countless people.
If you’re familiar with my work, you might know that I began the Meaning Movement with a short ebook called The Meaning Manifesto: Foundational Truths for Work Worth Doing.
My friend Jeff Goins launched his blog with a manifesto called the Writer’s Manifesto.
Another friend of mine wrote a birthday manifesto when turned 24 that she reads on every birthday to remind herself of who she wants to be.
A Manifesto is a tool for letting the world (and yourself) know what you’re about, or to communicate the ethos of a business or project. The most poignant manifestos come in times of change, as an individual or group embarks in a new direction.
As I have conversations with people about calling and vocation, and a new vision of their work begins to emerge, they often ask, where should I start?
I tell them to start with a manifesto.
Why You Should Start with a Manifesto
A manifesto sends a message to the world that you’re doing something. It declares your intentions to the world. A manifesto is an opportunity to put a stake in the ground and say: this is what I’m doing, this is what my work and life are about, this is what I hope to create.
A manifesto can become a rallying point for you as well as for the people that you hope to affect. It’s a concise articulation that can offer people the chance to say, “Yes. Me too!" It’s the foundation upon which your work can build.
Not everyone will agree with your manifesto, which is why it’s important. If everyone agrees, then it’s not interesting. When you stand for something, you also stand against something. And when you stand against something, some people won’t like it.
This is the most difficult aspect of writing a manifesto: opening yourself up to be seen and possibly criticized.
But without that risk, you’ll never be found by the people who need to find you.
Whether or not people connect with what you’re saying and doing in the manifesto, people will respect that fact that you’re trying something. The manifesto becomes a helpful talking point for you and anyone who encounters your work.
Your manifesto tells me what your work is about, which makes it much easier for me to tell someone else what you’re doing— even if I’m not one of the people you’re set on helping.
How to Write a Manifesto
There’s no wrong way to write a manifesto. Here are some questions to get you started. Begin by answering them, and then continue to craft what you create into a document, pdf, blog post, or image that can be easily consumed and shared.
Begin by answering these questions:
What you want to be true in the world?
What’s your dream?
What are you tired of?
What do you want the world to know?
What’s the one thing that you believe would change everything?
Who do you want to become?
If one idea could change things, what is it?
Who do you want to connect with?
What do you want to say?
Use decisive, strong, and unapologetic words
The strength of a manifesto comes from the language you use. Say it like you mean it. This an opportunity to put aside mitigating words like, “I think…” or “some might say…” These words make your thoughts more palatable and agreeable. But we’re not here to be palatable and agreeable. We’re here to start a fire. And you won’t if you water down your message.
How Long Should it Be?
Simply put: long enough and no longer.
There’s no right or wrong length. I’d recommend keeping it short in order for others to be able to quickly digest it. But it can be any length. Many famous manifestos are quite long.
After you write your manifesto, share it with me in the comments below. I’d love to see what you’re creating and the dreams that you’re seeking to express.
Let’s see it!
Once you write it and publish it, comment here with a link. I’d love to read it!
