Coach Laurel Marshall with Founder of World Toilet Organization Jack Sim at Opening Night of his film in Santa Monica, California, to showcase leadership and impact of large scale change, one country, one community, one toilet at a time.
Posted on by Laurel Marshall

Be The Change You Wish To See… One Country, One Community, One Toilet at a Time.

Be The Change You Wish To See... One Country, One Community, One Toilet at a Time.

WHO IS MR. TOILET?

I had the pleasure to attend the opening night of “Mr. Toilet, the World’s #2 Man” last night in Santa Monica. The WTO, or “World Toilet Organization” is near and dear to my heart. I had the opportunity of a lifetime to partner up with Singapore-based Jack Sim, better known as “Mr. Toilet,” and founder of the WTO and BOP Hub during my years living in Singapore, as an executive sponsor through the Hewlett Packard / Schwab Foundation. Living and working overseas affords a unique perspective into a whole new world of culture and doing business, not to mention, personally assimilating and learning how to be effective outside the bubble of the US where I was born and educated. What was personally transformational, was experiencing life through Jack Sim’s world of social work and activism around sanitation.

THE SANITATION CRISIS

Jack’s mission to raise awareness, mobilize resources, and affect change on a massive scale is unfathomable – UN stated that 60% or 4.5 billion people do not have access to a toilet at home or one that safely manages human waste – and the daunting challenge of affecting large scale change for something that much of the world takes for granted, having grown up in societies where sanitation practices were embedded as young children, and shiny porcelain thrones are abundant in our homes. The size of the challenge Jack has committed his life’s work, is enormous, dually noted by Goh Chok Tong, former Prime Minister of Singapore. Jack lives and breathes his mission and purpose, by thinking globally and acting locally; a fine balancing act, a bit of art and science, but one of the most critical skill sets and state of mind needed to approach such a behemoth aspiration and set of goals. I have huge respect for this ethos, experiencing and learning when I see it in action, as Jack balances the culture, rituals and beliefs in India, and China, and navigates through the sea of never ending hurdles, bureaucracy, politics, governments and customs to pave the way toward the goal that Prime Minister Modi has enlisted his help drive his campaign to build 100 million toilets. His film profiles in a serious situation, yet with his all so delightful sense of humor, that is distinctly “Jack.” His film portrays his trials, tribulations, setbacks and successes, to create awareness and change within India and China (not to mention the world beyond).  These two countries represent two of the largest opportunities to change behaviors through shifting “poop culture to pop culture,” and increasing toilet access to make strong progress toward the 2030 UN target of ending open defecation. His approach to destigmatize how we talk about poop; making the toilet an “object of desire” and the bathroom the “happiest place in the house,” makes his approach powerful and humanizing.

LESSONS FROM MR. TOILET & HIS FILM

Reflecting upon lessons learned from Jack’s labor or love, stories of setback and success from so many places across the world, and reflections on my time collaborating and working with Jack and his WTO team in Singapore, I’ve learned a ton of insights for leading change. Several characteristics of leading large scale change and transformation transcend Jack’s social work and activism world, and can equally apply to the worlds we all live in both professional and personal, where change is a constant and requires focus, self development and commitment:

  • Create an Inspiring Vision: dream big, and and build a shared picture to bring others along the journey with you
  • Lead Positive Change: day in and day out, be the positive force for everyone around you
  • Create Compelling Goals: milestones are critical and allow us to measure small inspired steps and wins every day
  • Courage is Key: to take risks, be a bit irreverent, and ask forgiveness later
  • It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint: patience, persistence, fortitude and resilience are all required capabilities to lead
  • Never Give Up: if at once you don’t succeed, keep an open mind, surround yourself with great minds, improve your thinking and stretch to new and uncomfortable paradigms – a breakthrough and insight could be just around the corner
  • Flow With It: strategies and actions evolve, shift and adjust as you go, as you learn, to incorporate insights learned out of hardships, setbacks, challenge and success
  • Be Mindful of Your Wellbeing: take time for self care, nurturing yourself and those important people around you. Now, Jack is one of those energizer bunnies that never seems to run out of batteries, but in the film, you can see the toll that his sense of urgency to fulfill his noble vision takes on himself, his family and the WTO team. Having worked with Jack and his team several years ago, I can say this is a critical factor that anyone embarking on change needs to focus on. It’s part of the training required for the marathon.

     

    For all who feel compelled to join Jack’s cause and support the vision:

  • Generate awareness with your colleagues, friends and family
  • Engage your local communities to take inspired actions
  • See Jack’s Film in Santa Monica through November 14th, or in New York: Mr. Toilet The Worlds #2 Man Film
  • Participate in local activities on United Nations World Toilet Day, November 19th!