There’s a lesson from Abraham Lincoln’s legacy to learn. He dared to look down on people and circumstance that discouraged him. He did what a significant number of Americans were against when he declared the emancipation of slaves. He dared to drive change with the heart of uniting a nation and setting precedence for the rest of the world.
A heretic of note, he used a slightly different language but meant the same thing. In his speech before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois, he called heretics, genius…
Effective heretic leaders do not sympathize with the status quo but with people in driving change.
Many great and good men, sufficiently qualified for any task they should undertake, may ever be found whose ambition would aspire to nothing beyond a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or a presidential chair; but such belong not to the family of the lion, or the tribe of the eagle. What! think you these places would satisfy an Alexander, a Caesar, or a Napoleon? Never!
Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored. It sees no distinction in adding story to story upon the monuments of fame erected to the memory of others. It denies that it is glory enough to serve under any chief. It scorns to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor, however illustrious. It thirsts and burns for distinction… ~ Abraham Lincoln
Heretics have to disdain something. Bringing about change is undermining the status quo. It is belief in how change brings about the greater.
When you consider change you disdain the status quo. Unfortunately people will resist change because they will take your disdain on the status quo as a disdain on them. This happens when they feel strongly for the system their actions are keeping alive. The status quo.
As you drive change and disdain the status quo, make sure that you are clear with people that your disdain is more on the status quo than on those keeping it alive. Be bold. Be /ˈherətik/