(my interpretation of thenewgreen)

Be proactive, not reactive.

Become a positive role model, not just in veganism, but in life, so that others respect the way you conduct oneself and are drawn to follow your way and voice because they look up to you, and not because you have browbeaten them.

I mean, sorry eightbitsamurai, but if we're going to bring up the metaphor that came up earlier:

Be fuckin' MLK, don't be Malcolm X.

(It's pretty extreme, I know. But MLK inspired people who had never experienced racism to join his cause because they respected and admired him; Malcolm X intimidated people who could have been his allies and drove them away.)

Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking (from Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People) The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.

  Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say "You're Wrong."
  If you're wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
  Begin in a friendly way.
  Start with questions to which the other person will answer yes.
  Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
  Let the other person feel the idea is his or hers.
  Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
  Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires.
  Appeal to the nobler motives.
  Dramatize your ideas.
  Throw down a challenge. 

Buddy, seriously, you're doing 2-3 of these, they're the last 2-3, and you need everything else that comes first.