Why do it?
Nike, confident humility, & the anxious generation
Nike has reinvented its legendary tagline, shifting from the imperative "Just Do It" to the provocative question "Why Do It?" aimed at resonating with today’s generation of young athletes. Rather than championing outcomes, the campaign emphasizes the courage behind the choice to begin and persist.
In many ways, this reflects the evolution we’ve made in the dialogue and deliberation space at the Interactivity Foundation. Guided by our values of curiosity, collaboration, and inclusivity, we’ve shifted from providing people with predetermined answers or structured “what to think” discussion guides. Instead, we now design facilitation plans that encourage participants to dive deeper into their own thinking, wrestle with complexity, and develop their own insights. Just as Nike reframed “Just Do It” to “Why Do It?” we emphasize exploration over prescription, empowering authentic and meaningful engagement.
Check out our IF Resource Library to access Free Facilitation Plans on just about any topic you can imagine.
This shift is also exemplified in our Collaborative Discussion Toolkit activities—a collection of lesson plans created by educators for educators, designed to teach very specific collaborative discussion skills and mindsets, such as: 1) nurturing curiosity, 2) taking risks in discussion, or 3) practicing confident humility.
Students have self-reported positive growth for these specific collaborative discussion skills and mindsets:
Our focus on asking questions and nurturing collaborative intelligence directly speaks to the realities of today’s “anxious generation.” Just as Nike reframed Just Do It into Why Do It? to acknowledge the hesitation, fear of failure, and social comparison holding young athletes back, we see those same dynamics in civic and educational spaces.
Many participants approach dialogue with anxiety about saying the wrong thing, not having the “right” answer, or exposing their uncertainty. Our shift—from discussion guides that prescribed what to think, to facilitation plans that cultivate how to think—parallels Nike’s pivot. Our curriculum in the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit emphasizes curiosity prompts, risk-taking, and confident humility—creating a supportive invitation: a chance to move forward even when you feel unsure. Like Nike’s message, our work is about empowering people to step in, trusting that the act of engagement itself is where growth and discovery begin.
You can learn more about our values and work at interactivityfoundation.org
At the Interactivity Foundation, we believe the courage to begin, to risk vulnerability, and to lean into curiosity is where true growth starts. If this resonates with you, we invite you to
Join one of our upcoming Collaborative Discussion Coach Trainings, where you can experience these practices firsthand, deepen your facilitation skills, and be part of a community committed to turning anxiety into possibility.
Use our free facilitation plans and stay tuned as we launch new facilitation and innovative discussion tools this fall! Upcoming topics include: The Future of Masculinity, Death & Beyond, Creating Inclusive K12 Education, and more!
Start a conversation with us. Ask us a question. Take a risk and start forming a relationship. Why do it? Why not? You can email me directly at esw@interactivityfoundation.org
Keep the faith,
Dr. Shannon Wheatley Hartman, President of the Interactivity Foundation