Invitation to Impact, a book about the founding of Impact100 by Wendy H. Steele

Make Waves

Be the One to Start Change at Work and in Life

I wrote Make Waves because deciding to make a change – and then taking action – was behind every important goal I’ve ever reached. Change is the constant undercurrent in our lives, so our only choice is to learn to thrive and keep moving in ambiguity.

Make Waves gives you the strategies, tools, and ideas to start and navigate change in your work and your life. We would be experts by now if we only needed a great change model! But change depends on changing human behavior – our behavior. So, I studied those who had started successful changes – from entrepreneurs to college students to community champions and business leaders. I added that research to my decades of experience advising clients on change and created the Wave Maker DNA – a profile of those who activate change.

Using the Think.Know.Do framework, we start by exploring how you think about change—which determines if you’ll ever start. Then, we discuss what you need to know and learn in this new situation.

Finally, we examine the actions and how agile planning, experimentation, and incrementalism are keys to real progress. Make Waves is packed with practical examples, stories, and insights from those who made their change work. I hope they will give you the inspiration and tools to begin your journey too.

Taking the first step can be the hardest – yet most important. In the wise words of the great Tina Fey, “You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.”

The 2nd edition was released in September. Order your copy here:

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Stay connected by subscribing to Patti's Insights & Tips Newsletter below, listen to her podcast, Be a Wave Maker: Conversations on Change, or connect on LinkedIn.

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Praise for Make Waves

See what readers are saying about Make Waves: Be the One to Start Change at Work and in Life

Mark Benton

"Patti Johnson has delivered an authentic collection of insights and real life testimony that will inspire and motivate anyone looking to elevate their project, organization or even their personal life. Make Waves will change your perspective on what one person can do when they put their full mind and passion behind an idea or belief!"

Rusty Shelton

"I am a huge fan of Patti's new book, Make Waves. It not only gives you examples of Wave Makers who have accomplished great things but also shows you very specifically how you can do it yourself. This is a must-read for those who want to be more successful."

Jon Mertz

"Starting change is one of the most challenging things to do. Change is wrapped in uncertainty, fears, and then people who need to join in. What Makes Waves does is provide a handbook and inspiration to not only get started but make the change happen."

Marta Steele

"I can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from this book. Moving ideas forward and getting people to believe in and take action on those ideas are two of the most difficult things to do in an organization. Few people do this well. But those who do, soar. Make Waves sets up, in a very practical way, how to think, what to know and what to do to be the one to start change. I walked away with tons of helpful tips (Chapter 9 - When Your Wave Hits A Wall is particularly rich with sound advice and practical tools) that I can use immediately - in work and in life."

Emily Bennington

"We've all heard the message that one person can truly make a difference, but this book backs it up with research and strategy. Like its author, Make Waves is that rare combination of heart and voice—and it comes through on every page. Well done."