When Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in microfinance, it was the climax of thirty years of developing his brilliant objective, all the while gaining enough recognition to even register on the Nobel Prize radar. Sound like a lot of work? It is. But, it’s pretty amazing to have the title Nobel Prize Laureate follow your name every time it shows up in print. Yunus was the 87th recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and one of many brilliant minds who have been recognized for their contributions to the global peace effort.
The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded eighty-nine times since 1901 by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to honor men and women for their outstanding achievements in peace. The establishment of the Prize came after the death of Alfred Nobel who left most of his wealth to the establishment of such an award. It was kind of big deal, since Nobel was also the guy who invented dynamite. Not exactly what comes to mind when you think about “peace.” But Nobel saw his development of dynamite as a means of eventually eliminating the need for war. Beyond his adventures in experimenting with nitroglycerine, Nobel was also an activist, a writer, and an entrepreneur. Kind of a Jack of all Trades.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year, minus a few years in the early part of the last century (it’s tough to give out a “Peace” prize when most of the world is at war with each other). The week-long ceremonies are held in Stockholm, Sweden where the laureate receives the Nobel Prize Medal, Nobel Prize Diploma and a handsome sum of cash. They give a nice long speech, their Nobel lecture, thanking the committee for finally recognizing their accomplishments and from that day forward, any book they write or article they publish or paper they sign is accompanied by the words “Nobel Peace Prize Winner.” Sounds like a pretty good deal—especially considering the lifetime of achievement that comes before winning such an award. Before you go out and try to win your own Nobel Peace Prize there are a few things to consider that might help your odds.
Step One: Do Something Big
The first step to winning the peace prize is to identify a particular problem, and come up with a solution. Nothing to it, right? The long list of prize winners are peace activists, former presidents, inventors, world leaders, nonprofit organizations, even spiritual leaders. All laureates have made a significant contribution to the struggle for peace around the globe. To make the list you have do something really important. Like, end the Cold War, for example. Recent wins have shown significant contribution in the form of great ideas as opposed to widespread recognition. Muhammad Yunus’s road to a Nobel nomination began with forty-two loans, sixty-two cents each, an experiment that has paved the way for millions to find a release from extreme poverty. Wangari Muta Maathai, Kenyan political activist, won the 2004 award for her efforts in saving Africa’s rainforests. What did she do? She planted trees. Lots and lots of trees.
The common thread that binds all laureates together is their ability to see a need for change and a contribution they can make to a solution. Under the scrutiny and skepticism of many, they press forward until a tipping point is reached and necessary change is made. It’s a matter of asking the right questions What if? What if we could end this war? What if we could find equality? What if we could prevent climate change? What if we could eradicate poverty? That’s big.
Step Two: Make Friends With a Qualified Nominator
The second leg of your journey towards the ultimate peace recognition is to schmooze with the top dogs. Not just anyone can make a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Compared to the general population, there is a pretty short list of people who can actually nominate an individual or an organization, Al Gore being one of them. Unfortunately, you can’t nominate yourself; if you want to be nominated, try making friends with the former vice president. That would definitely help your chances.
