These days I’m watching Pose, an inspiring series set in New York at the end of the 80s. It tells the story of how a group at clear risk of exclusion decides to create their own code and environment, aware that the old social model prevailing at the time systematically rejects them. Both worlds are parallel universes that never mix. Today, this small, almost clandestine cluster has evolved to become one of the most powerful communities when it comes to diversity and inclusion and the creators of highly influential cultural and lifestyle trends. When we talk about evolving (at any level), we tend to think that the new can only be built by convincing or tearing down the old, when this is not the case. It is often a waste of time and opportunity for evolution to try to convince those who cling to something old (which is usually obsolete, decadent, corrupt or a mixture of all). In such situations, it is much better to make a clean slate: just create from scratch something new and fresh and leave the old model to its own devices. .
Styles, tools and procedures from the old times are still embedded in the heart of a large number of organisations and institutions. Day after day, we shake our heads at ways of working, communicating or simply behaving that should have disappeared long ago or, in any case, should be unanimously rejected by the entire community, without exception. And day after day, we continue to see how in some cases these behaviours are justified, minimised, patched up or simply overlooked. The instant reaction is to rebel, to appeal to reason, to logic, to legality, … Often all you get is the classic picture of the struggle of the new against the old (which to date occupies the role of power), a debate is generated where everyone has an opinion, the focus is lost and in the end everything stays the same as it was. And that is the beginning of drift (or non-evolution).
Growing seeds in damaged soil is extremely difficult. At best, we will manage to get a few green shoots to appear timidly, only to die after a few hours, scourged by the adverse conditions. It is worthwhile to stop investing in this ungrateful terrain that will leave us without strength and resources. Let’s look for another place with better conditions so that the seeds can sprout quickly and grow healthy and strong. Maybe this new land is not as big as the old one, or maybe it is a little further away. But what is certain is that we will be able to work there in peace and quiet to grow our orchard.
The famous case of RFEF and women’s football in Spain is a clear example of this. The evidence shows that, for certain reasons, RFEF is an institution whose framework is the opposite of what women’s football represents. So, rather than wasting time trying to fix something that doesn’t seem to be fixable, it would make sense to use that time and energy to create a women’s football federation that has nothing to do with the RFEF and its modus operandi.
At this point in the 21st century, we are not in a position to waste energy on issues that time has shown us have no possible solution. To create something from scratch we only need the people who want to create that something, so let’s leave behind those who don’t want to build anything and let’s get started, because we are already late. It’s time to make a clean slate.
