They should work smarter. Individual ability to effect change is negligible in the global scheme. Aggregate ability is what matters. People who seem able to effect global (or large-scale) change are better (or more successful) at combining the abilities of others. Any individual doctor in Doctors without Borders is ineffectual. The combined actions of their organization have real, positive, impact.

So instead of wasting their time on individual efforts that go nowhere or have no lasting effect, smart people should contribute their resources to a collective organization. Either by assembling such an organization and managing it, or by being a part of such an organization and providing skills/competency to it.