From Rejection to Recognition: The Resilient Journey of Innovation at Camp

When Alfred Wegener, a meteorologist, proposed that the Earth's continents were not fixed in place, but rather drifted across the Earth’s surface over time, scientists laughed at the idea and ridiculed him. Wegener's theory of continental drift would eventually revolutionize our understanding of the planet. Yet, in his time, he was dismissed as an idiot and his idea was condemned fanciful.

Despite the skepticism, Wegener was undeterred. He meticulously gathered evidence, from the jigsaw puzzle-like fit of the continents to the striking geological and paleontological similarities found across oceans. Despite his research, his outsider status prevented his ideas being accepted during his life time. But as your 3rd grade science book tells us, ridicule would posthumously turn to celebration with his idea being seen as one of the most groundbreaking scientific theories to reshape our understanding.

The journey of Wegener’s Idea follows a classic path from initial resistance to retroactive acceptance, culminating in initial sceptics accepting the idea as obvious and often trying to take credit. British Scientist, and owner of some fine facial hair, J.B.S. Haldane having had to walk this path as a result of his research  on genetics comically (Not my word, but apparently the British science establishment found this hilarious back in the day) outlined the resistance he felt as follows.  1) this is worthless nonsense; 2) this is an interesting, but perverse, point of view; 3) this is true, but quite unimportant; 4) I always said so.

Expanded and written less flippantly the four stages could be understood as;

1.       Dismissal as Nonsense: Initially, a new idea might be dismissed outright as being without merit or nonsensical.

2.       Grudging Acknowledgment of Interest: As the idea gains some attention, it might be acknowledged as interesting but still considered to be a 'perverse' or unusual way of looking at things.

3.       Concession of Truth but Unimportance: Upon further evidence, the idea might be accepted as true but downplayed as being of little significance.

4.       Retroactive Approval: Finally, once the idea has gained widespread acceptance, there may be a tendency for some to claim that they always recognized and supported its validity.

What’s this got to do with Camp? Everything.  These four stages are why it’s important to persist with your ideas for change even if there is vocal resistance.  There are all sorts of reasons that your idea will be  difficult to bring about, but knowing in advance the opposition you will face will give you courage to keep going.  

At Camp we live in each other’s pockets, and our colleagues  become our friends.  But also people that we otherwise wouldn’t spend any amount of time with if we didn’t work together  become a part of our social network.  This creates frenemy’s and throw in geographic isolation and damp housing, and we can understand most of the defunction of our industry. Because of this the opposition to new ideas looks a little different at Camp.

It might look more like this.

1.       That’s not going to work.  Or - We tried that, or Camp with slightly offensive Native American sounding name down the road tried it and it was a disaster.  - Your peers dismiss your idea simply because it’s different and look for a reason that it will fail.  Because change is hard.

2.       Well, it might work, but this Alumni won’t like it or this staff wont like it.  But I can speak to them for you.  - They see the merit of what you’re doing but can’t admit they are wrong so point out the issues you may face, and how only they might be able to fix them.

3.       This worked but it didn’t have the impact we hoped for and if I hadn’t spoken to that alumni, it would never have got off the ground.  - They grudgingly admit that it was a good idea, but challenge the depth of its impact, while still highlighting their role in making it happen.

4.       This is great! What a great idea we had.  I’m already taking credit for it in meetings I don’t invite you to and soon everyone will think it was my idea. -  Like the little Red Hen, You becomes We or even Me.

I wish I was even half joking here but resistance to new ideas is deeply rooted in our nature; we often cling to familiar concepts and view novel ideas with skepticism. Our inherent conservatism of thought and resistance to new ideas runs much deeper at Camp because we hold traditions so highly.  Any change at Camp runs the risk of destroying a part of our history. Mix in the comfort of established knowledge, fear of the unknown, and the rampant professional territorialism at camp, it’s clear why even our colleagues, those with the most to gain from productive change, may feel threatened by disruptive ideas.

However, this resistance is not an insurmountable barrier but a natural part of change. Don’t be deterred as you navigate these stages.  As an innovative thinker you should not be deterred by initial rejection and vocal skepticism. Rather, you should view it as a predictable phase in the life cycle of change. It is crucial to continue refining and advocating for new concepts, bolstering them with evidence and engaging constructively with critics. Over time, as the idea proves its merit and gains allies, the tide of opinion starts to turn. This journey from rejection to acceptance is not just about the idea itself; it's a testament to the resilience and tenacity of those who champion it. The transition from being dismissed to being credited is often slow and fraught.  But you know you have made it when others start to claim credit for things they were not only resistant to but out right dismissed.

In 2019 when I moved to Florida my now Associate Executive Director had this dumb idea to get a button machine and make buttons that celebrated staff achievements.  I told her no.  Many times.  Then I eventually caved, mainly to make the asking stop.

It arrived, and Meagan played around.  “We” decided (begrudgingly) that we would make a button to recognize the staff’s years of service.  Recognize staff who were former campers and recognize our hardest working staff of the day.  Suddenly my idea to get a button machine was the single greatest idea I had ever had.  WE made them for everything.  The staff loved them.  I was a hero, and now I spend hours each summer unaided pumping out buttons.

This isn’t completely true as I am lucky to work with someone that is happy to tell me over and over that I thought it was a bad idea.  And she is lucky to have a boss who is self-depreciating enough to see that I dismissed one of the great break throughs of our program turn around and joke about it all the time.

In navigating the tumultuous journey of new ideas, we often confront resistance and skepticism, marked by stages where people can be surprisingly dismissive, even harsh. Yet, this journey is a poignant reminder of the values we cherish and teach at camp - persistence and resilience. Embracing change, challenging the status quo, and persevering despite setbacks. Isn't that what we teach the kids, this isn’t just part of our job; it's a fundamental aspect of personal growth and leadership. Whether facing resistance from those who pay us or from those who work alongside us, it's essential to hold fast to these principles. As we tackle the complexities of our roles, both professionally and personally, let's embody the lessons we impart on our campers. Let's apply these values to nurture and grow the business we're passionate about. Remember, the path from rejection to recognition is not just about the ideas themselves; it's a testament to our determination and the transformative power of staying true to our vision, even in the face of adversity.

(The image for the post is an AI generated one.  This shits getting clever.  Fear Skynet.)