Interview with Steve Elliott
Interview by
Mehroo Siddiqui
As co-founder and president of
Grassfire, Steve Elliott understands the influence that one person with one idea
can have on the world. Elliott, a nationally recognized communications
specialist, developed Grassfire in the fall of 2000 while searching for a way to
use the Internet to expand the impact of conservative citizens.
Today, Grassfire is one of
America’s largest online grassroots citizen action networks. Elliott and his
associates have utilized the tools of the Internet to expand the organization
and rally a dynamic network of more than two million participants across the
country in support of traditional values. Approximately 10,000 new team members
join each week.
Through Grassfire, Elliott has seen
his influence expand from one voice to that of hundreds of thousands of citizens
who take action on issues that impact their lives. Elliott brands this
phenomenon “the Grassfire Effect” and describes it as the fundamental principle
of individual and organizational growth. In his book The Grassfire Effect,
Elliott elaborates upon this theme and tells of his own experiences in launching
Grassfire. He hopes to show how tiny sparks of ideas can ignite world-changing
grassfires.
Elliott earned a M.A. in Public Policy from
Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1994. Today, he is a
frequent guest on talk radio shows across the country. He resides with his wife,
Stacy, and their five children in Chesapeake, Virginia. For more information,
visit
www.grassfire.org.
To schedule an interview with Steve
Elliott or to request a copy of The Grassfire Effect, please contact
Briana
Brukardt.
Tell us about Grassfire. When did you form
this organization and what inspired you to begin it? What are its aims and how
far is it able to meet them?
As I explain in the book, the
inspiration for Grassfire came from an unlikely source-- wondering what I would
say to future grandkids when they asked what I did during the Internet
revolution! That’s the exciting thing about this principle I call the Grassfire
Effect-- creative inspiration can come at any moment and from any source. From
that tiny spark, we developed an innovative online system to rally citizens on
pro-family issues that has involved more than 2.5 million people and has nearly
1 million active participants. The organization has far exceeded my initial
thoughts, yet we still have much more to do now-- in many ways we’re just
beginning.
Was The
Grassfire Effect written to complement the organization? Can you tell us
about the book? What is the main idea behind it, whom do you visualize as its
audience, and what do you aim to achieve through it?
I use my story as a platform to share
this idea I call the Grassfire Effect. My story is merely the backdrop to this
fundamental principle of how the world is changed and how individuals can change
their world. That’s what the Grassfire Effect is-- a principle that explains how
world-changing events start with the tiniest of sparks and grow to become a
grassfire of influence. My goal is to ignite thousands upon thousands of
creative “grassfires” in individuals that will apply in three areas: their jobs,
their personal dreams, and as a life principle.
Was this your first
book? How was your experience writing it? Were there any problems that you faced or other issues
that you came across while writing it that you want to discuss? If it wasn’t
your first book, could you tell us about the works you have previously written
or edited?
This has been my first book and the
entire experience has been quite rewarding. Book writing is a great
entrepreneurial leap-- hundreds of hours invested with no guarantee of return
and the odds seemingly stacked against you. The key lesson I’ve learned from the
process is that The Grassfire Effect is truly my book and I am responsible for
every aspect of it: the concept, the content, the cover design, the
endorsements, the final editing, and even the marketing. That’s not to say I’ve
attempted to do all this by myself. I’ve been fortunate to have a great partner
in Broadman & Holman. My point is that the vision for a book is the author’s
vision, and the author needs to make sure that vision comes through in every
aspect of the book.
You say that
the book discusses how “an idea created in the smallest cubicle of any office
can spark a change worldwide.” Do you really think this is true? Probably not
every idea can do that, though. So which ones are you talking about? Why do you
think people don’t act upon these ideas or let others cash in on them?
The principle is that every great
world-changing event starts with a small spark. Think of Rosa Parks refusing to
move on that bus. Who was Rosa Parks? And why did it really matter what one
person did? But she forever changed the world! She was just one person! But the
focus needs to be on changing my world, not the world. If I can change my world,
then the rest will take care of itself. Of course, every tiny spark of an idea
dreamed up in a cubicle doesn’t radically alter the world, but that spark could
change your attitude, it could greatly benefit your business, and it just might
lead you to another spark of an idea that has even greater impact. Yes, every
cubicle has the potential to change the world, because a human being with a
creative core resides there!
Are there any
specific risks involved in acting upon these ideas? And are there any ways you
would suggest to minimize those risks and maximize the rewards?
I outline this pretty clearly in the
book. The most important ingredient to the success of developing your spark of
an idea is… people. I argue that world-changing ideas are ultimately about
people, so it makes sense that involving people in the idea-development process
will lead to greater success. This will also help you avoid the pitfalls. There
is wisdom in counsel.
You talk about the Grassfire Effect
and Grassfire Quotient in terms of business economics and future growth. What
exactly does that mean and can you elaborate upon it?
The Grassfire Effect and the Quotient
are ways for businesses and organizations to specifically track this principle.
I am convinced that the Grassfire Effect as an economic principle is perhaps the
best forecaster of business growth and future potential, yet it is generally
overlooked. No amount of marketing or advertising can ultimately overcome a
negative Grassfire Effect.
How do you
think a person can get other people interested in her or his ideas? How did you get
someone interested in the idea of your book, for instance, or in Grassfire?
Be a shameless idea promoter. It’s that
simple. You have to believe in what you’re writing, and then start telling
others about it.
Was it
difficult to find a publisher for The Grassfire Effect? Did you have an
agent? What would you recommend to new writers? How can they build on an idea,
and how can they go about getting their work published? Is there anything you would like
to share from your own experience?
Finding a publisher is a tough nut to crack.
The best way is to approach your book topic from the platform of your
professional experience. If you have an audience to whom you can directly
market, or if your book targets a very specific audience, that helps. I’m also a
big fan of self-publishing, given the advances in technology and relatively low
costs.
What is a “Grassfire
environment”? What tips can you give on how to create one?
I outline several ways to create the
Grassfire environment. The bottom line is this-- as an employer and manager, do
you see your employees as your most important asset? If the answer is no, then
retire quickly! If yes, then the next question is: do you see your business’s
future linked directly to the creative potential that resides in your employees?
Again, I would argue that the answer is a resounding “yes”! That’s the heart of
a Grassfire environment-- a real commitment to cultivating that vital creative
core in your employees. Then follow the pointers I outline in the book!
Was there any point
while you were writing the book when you felt that you couldn’t go on? How did
you overcome that?
Yes…when I came to this interview
question! Seriously, no! From the beginning, I saw this as a great opportunity
to put a concept in print that could actually help motivate individuals and
businesses with a fresh look at the basic life principle of how the world is
changed. There were bumps along the way, but most worthwhile endeavors require a
few pounds of flesh!
Do you think
the book is having an impact? Is it getting the kind of response you hoped for?
What, for you, has been the best part about writing, and what has been the worst
part of it? What about the organization, Grassfire? What do you like most about
it? Why?
I’ve heard back from budding
entrepreneurs who have been inspired to pursue their dreams. A woman whose
husband is very ill found encouragement to pursue her music dreams in spite of
her troubles. One person called our office and ordered a case of books. And just
about everyone is catching the spark of giving; they are giving the book away
and seeing how gifts can inspire a personal Grassfire Effect. One person
credited the book with helping him understand the historical context of his life
and resolve his difficult relationship with his father. That’s my passion-- to
see the spark of creativity ignited in individuals and organizations, and to
help people see their lives as a grassfire of influence that can spread across
generations!
Originally from
Pakistan, where she worked in the publications department of an organization,
Mehroo Siddiqui is currently doing her Masters from George Mason University in
Virginia.
