Jane Goodall was the epitome of grace during her appearance on last Tuesday’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She was there to promote the new documentary Chimpanzees, which arrived in theaters on April 20, also known as Earth Day. Goodall looked fabulous opposite Stewart, donning a beautiful warm-colored shawl and a lovely amulet necklace against her black outfit. We can only hope to be half the person Goodall is at the age of 78. The world’s foremost chimpanzee expert is a great source of inspiration for this drab Monday morning. Here are a few things we can learn from her.
Eschew Expectations
Goodall was born in London in 1934, and was fascinated with animals and Africa at a young age. She dreamed of living in the wild amongst the animals; her favorite books were Tarzan and Dr. Doolittle. Eventually, an opportunity arose to spend time on a friend’s farm in the Kenyan highlands and she jumped at the chance. From there, she met Kenyan archaeologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey, who hired her as his secretary before he sent her to study chimpanzees in Tanzania, where she would begin her renowned 45-year study in Gombe Stream National Park.
It was highly unlikely for a woman born in the 1930s to have the chance to live in the African wild amongst chimpanzees, but Goodall knew what she wanted and went headfirst in that direction. She followed her dreams passionately, with the fervor of someone who knows exactly what they want. Eventually, Goodall became one of only a handful of people to be awarded an honorary Ph.D. at Cambridge University without first having a bachelor’s degree. She’s an ideal role model for following your dreams despite social norms and expectations.
Think Outside the Box
Goodall’s research on the Tanzania chimps was received with skepticism at first because of her lack of a college degree and her unorthodox way of researching. Rather than assign the primates she observed by numbers, which was the universal practice at the time, she gave each of them names lending them personality and individuality. She challenged long-standing beliefs within the field of chimpanzee research (that only humans use tools and that chimps are vegetarians) and became the world’s leading expert on chimpanzees. Because she lacked the collegiate training that would have engrained certain scientific doctrines in her, she was able to observe things that other scientists may have overlooked.
Goodall pioneered her chimpanzee research by thinking and acting outside the box. She was able to look past established rules and doctrines to come up with her own groundbreaking conclusions, which challenged notions established by experts. Remember to look at a problem from an angle different than the norm when preparing a presentation. Think outside the box to come up with ideas and solutions that no one, even experts, have thought of. Don’t be hemmed in by expert opinions and preconceived ideas.
Who You Are and What You Do is Important
Goodall is an advocate for chimpanzees, conservation and animal rights. She travels nearly 300 days a year promoting her various causes. She once said, “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” Take these words to heart. What you do matters, what you believe matters, who you are matters. Your small actions make a difference. And the same goes for the presentations you give. That moment in time when you are addressing an audience ultimately makes a difference in your life, and in the lives of others. Use that time wisely.
Photo Credit: Reuters, The Telegraph
