Shaking Up the Status Quo: Three Stages of Acceptance

Shaking up the status quo is no easy task. The status quo usually has but two goals:

1. To stay the same.

2. To keep those trying to change it, out.

Also, the concept of status quo, changes. During the 1970s, black men shaving their heads bald was radical. Today it's commonplace. There was a time when only hardcore bikers sported tattoos. Today, you see them on school teachers and librarians. 

If you are one of those adventurous souls who finds him or herself going against societal norms, here are three (3) stages of acceptance you might want to keep in mind.

Stage 1: First, they DOUBT you.

Stage 2: Then they LOVE you.

Stage 3: Then they IMITATE you.

Ornette Coleman fits this idea perfectly. When he first appeared at the Five Spot in 1959, it was hardly a hero's welcome. He was yelled at, physically assaulted, and someone even set a car on fire in front of the club in protest.

However, some critics and few forward-thinking musicians praised his adventurous explorations. And soon many started to come around. This was quickly followed by a whole free jazz movement inspired by his musical vision.

 So as I said:

Stage 1: First, they DOUBT you.

Stage 2: Then they LOVE you.

Stage 3: Then they IMITATE you.

If you are shoving at the shoulders of the status quo or knocking over a few pins of everydayness, and folks are doubting you, just remember that stages 2 and 3 may not be far behind.