There are three types of people in the world. There are those who take their environments the way they are, no matter how good or bad they may be. Then, there are those who think, "Maybe there’s more to life than what is right in front of me,” but do nothing to uncover the endless possibilities life has to offer. Finally, there are those who act on their thoughts. These are the people who want to make a positive impact on their own lives, their communities, and the world they live in. Those are the people who want to leave their marks.

So, you want change? Many of us want to see the world change for the better every day. Most of us aspire to leave a positive footprint on our world and the people in it before we leave for good. However, like anything in life, that is much easier said than done. There are a few things to take into consideration before jumping into what sounds like a pretty ambitious idea: Changing the world.

1. Find out what you’re passionate about.

What kind of change do you want to make? Anybody can say they want to change the world, but it’s never that simple. Do you want to make sure every stray animal in your area finds a home or shelter before winter? Do you want your school to host more events to raise money for charities you care about? Do you want your local worn out park to be a safer place for kids to play? If you’re reading this, you must be a pretty ambitious person. But, you can’t fix everything at once. Make a goal that is practical and achievable, set a reasonable timeline, brainstorm a plan, and then get to work! It’s amazing how much one small change can affect a community and even snowball into bigger and better change.

2. Share your ideas.

Studies have shown that people who write down or verbally share their goals double their odds of reaching them. If you can get others as excited about your ideas as you are, you aren’t going to want to let yourself and others down by giving up. You could write a brilliant book full of the answers to the universe. But if no one ever reads it, it will have no impact on the world at all. So, start small by writing it down for yourself. Then, tell close friends and family. Maybe you could even post about it on social media. Get everyone as excited as you are!

3. Don’t try to do it all alone.

Another reason why number two is important: with goals as big and as daring as yours, you’re probably going to need some help. Find people who are passionate about the same things you are. If you can put together a team of creative people with a common purpose, different connections, and a wide range of skills, long story short--you’re going to kick butt at whatever you put your minds together on. Also, don’t be afraid to share credit for your successes. Making a community, nation, or worldwide change means teamwork.

4. Take it step by step.

As cliché as this sounds, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Change takes time, and as long as you make a plan, work hard, and stay motivated and passionate about the change you want to make, you will be successful. Another reason you need to have help from others is that you can help keep each other motivated. People with your ambition can also, by nature, be somewhat impatient. Work hard now and see the effect of your hard work later (soon, if you work extra hard. I promise.)

5. Don’t be afraid to fail.

If you’re failing, all that really means is that you’re out there trying. Nobody invents something, writes a perfect story, or really gets just about anything right the first time. Good things take time, effort, and a ton of failure to begin with. Do not let failed attempts discourage you. You are too passionate about changing your world to let setbacks keep you from achieving your goals. Remember that the only way to truly fail is to never try at all. Now, get out there and be the change you want to see in the world.