Seth Godin says we are all artists. If you want to make a difference in this world and build a kick-ass career, don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for someone to pick you. If you have an idea, run with it.

I think Godin is right on the mark. The era of following the rules and doing what you’re told in exchange for a safe job and a pension is over. If you want safety today, you have to be creative, passionate and proactive. You have to become indispensable (or a linchpin, as Godin calls it.)

One of the keys to being successful in this brave new world is being able to communicate your ideas and hypothesis in a way that is compelling to your audience – be it your boss, a co-worker, the market, or whoever. You have to make your audience feel as passionate about your new idea as you feel. This is where data visualization can potentially play a powerful role.

Tableau Public visualization illustrating the growth trajectory of the 100 fastest growing software companies (Source: WSJ)

When you have a new idea, test it. Refine it. Convey it. Data visualization tools, many of them free online, are a a great way to do this. Think you’re VP of sales is overlooking a critical market opportunity? Prove it with data. Bring together market data, sales data, demographic data – whatever it takes – in a data visualization tool such as Tableau Public,  Data Wrangler or even Excel(!) and manipulate the data. Play with it. Test your hypothesis. Build compelling visuals. Create.

And this doesn’t just got for those in the cut-throat business world. Data visualization plays an important role in shaping public policy and tackling issues like social justice, the environment, and gun policy. I had the privilege of hosting a roundtable discussion with three data visualization practitioners that specialize in just that last week. Take a listen. There’s some great advice for using data visualization effectively to further your cause, whatever it may be.

Now is not the time to sit back. Find an issue. Make it your own. Visualize it. Communicate it. And make it happen.