Results over Ideals

Earlier today, I read a thought-provoking piece by Rutger titled “To All the World-Changers of Today: Ideals Are Beautiful, But Results Matter More.” It struck a chord. Not because I hadn’t heard some of these ideas before, but because Rutger managed to package them with both warmth and urgency.

The central question: How do you really change the world? Spoiler alert—it’s not just about having good intentions.

Realism Is Underrated

One quote that jumped out at me was this:

100 percent pure, 0 percent effective._

That line made me wince a little. It captures something we don’t talk about enough: purity of vision can actually get in the way of progress. We idolize the uncompromising visionary, the lone voice in the wilderness. But Rutger reminds us that real change comes from coalition-building, compromise, and relentless focus on what works—not just what’s perfect.

Martin Luther King’s Genius? His Strategy

Another standout moment: the reminder that when Dr. King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, the real fear among opponents wasn’t just the 250,000 people in attendance. It was the organizational force behind that moment. The strategy. The logistics.

Too often we romanticize resistance as a spontaneous act of courage. And yes, courage matters. But as Rutger puts it, too much modern protest is intuition without strategy. Inspiration without infrastructure.

Realistic Idealism

What we need, Rutger argues, is realistic idealism—that beautiful, gritty middle ground between heart and head. A soft heart with a sharp mind. The kind of thinking that can dream big while grinding out small wins. That recognizes idealism alone isn’t an excuse for inaction, and that conformity isn’t always cowardice.

That hit home for me. I’ve spent plenty of time dreaming, theorizing, even preaching what should be. But maybe it’s time I invest more in doing. In building systems that work. In showing up even when it’s hard or boring or not perfectly aligned with my ideals.

Because if the goal is change, then results matter.

If you’re curious, you can read the full article here. It’s worth every minute.