When trying to persuade a school board to endorse the…
![“When trying to persuade a school board to endorse the program, three is the critical number, said Irvine. “If you get one person going in to the board, he is the one crazy person. He’s easy to ignore. If you get two people going in, well, the crazy guy’s got a buddy, so we can still ignore [them]…” quote by Chris Bird](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/909/chris-bird-28658_crazy-person_when-trying-to-persuade-a-school-board-t_1622191.jpg)
““When trying to persuade a school board to endorse the program, three is the critical number, said Irvine. “If you get one person going in to the board, he is the one crazy person. He’s easy to ignore. If you get two people going in, well, the crazy guy’s got a buddy, so we can still ignore [them]. But if you get three, that’s a committee. It’s hard to ignore a committee. A committee makes recommendations; you’ve at least got to consider it.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Persuasion gains power when a group of three or more presents a unified stance, making it harder to dismiss.
In simple terms: Three people together are harder to ignore than one or two.
Key Takeaway
Build a small coalition before pitching ideas.
Themes
influence
strategy
group dynamics
Mood
determined
strategic
Type
advisory
motivational
When to use this quote
- school board meetings
- community advocacy
- policy proposals
- grant applications
Key Concepts
social proof
collective authority
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you identify the right allies for a cause?
- What risks arise when a small group becomes a de facto authority?
A Different Perspective
A single dissenting voice can still dominate if the group lacks credibility.