Story Tools
The moments of appreciation, reminiscence, and forethought are the gifts we give ourselves during this season. It is the dawn of a new year, and our resolutions need not be fleeting. There’s no preaching here. Instead, let’s consider practicing some rules of thumb that can help change the world.
Often, many of us feel “stuck.” We all know the clichés and bumper stickers to change the world, but can’t seem to find the time, the money, the people, or the energy to do much about it. We want to “be the change we want to see” … but we gotta do what we gotta do to just keep up with everyday life. First off, if we’re meeting our obligations, we must be proud of that. No guilt. But oftentimes we’d like to do more good.
We can judge ourselves by how we handle our calendar and our cash flow; it shows us what’s really important to us. It may be easier said than done, but we must make the time to take the time. What are we choosing to do with our time and money? Don’t worry about what others are doing right now. Let’s become aware of what we’re choosing.
Take Time to Make a Difference
Can we commit a few minutes every day to new habit? Can we dedicate a few more to our personal wellness? Some of us wish to devote a few hours every week to a cause. Don’t we already schedule actions as appointments into our calendars? We don’t break appointments with people we care about, so we must rearrange and force-fit the important changes we want to see in ourselves in order to begin accomplishing greater good for ourselves and for the world at large. Changing the world—and achieving greater success—doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s well worth the effort.
Make a Habit of Giving Back
The same can be said about making donations to charities and causes we care about. We may be overextended or feel we have a pathetic sum to give. Someone once told me, “I’d like to think I’m taking the money and investing it in myself … so I can give more later.” It sounds like a wonderful justification, and there is much truth to those words—which is why we should be financially prudent. However, our donations to goodwill organizations purposefully invest in others, and showcase our faith. Regardless, it’s not how much we give that counts … it’s that we make it a habit to give.
Donations needn’t be random reactions to ringing bells and noisy cans. With today’s online banking, we can automatically shave off a few percentage points—a tithe is etymologically 10 percent, but even less will add up over time—and have it disappear into a different account earmarked for causes that are important to us. If it’s not there in the accounts we access for everyday expenditures, we won’t use it. We can all come up with practical and short-term reasons why we can’t give. What we need to focus on is the reasons why we should.
Find Your Calling
Most of us have to make a point of dedicating time and money to what we believe in, and many of us are fulfilled by our day-to-day life-altering, world-changing endeavors. Yet I know many people who have zealously dedicated themselves to their mission. And I’m sure you, too, can think of many wonderful friends, relatives, and colleagues who feel they are on a quest. A calling overwhelms us to make choices that most people aren’t willing to make.
Have you ever been blessed with a calling? More than an epiphany, it’s a boiling sentiment that carries you in many ways. A calling positions you beyond practical, and even financial, motives. Because I work with self-employed entrepreneurs, I am graced with their array of passion and purpose every week.
Forge a New Path
My aunt Geetha has been a physical therapist for 30 years. Based on our Indian heritage, and her profession, she has naturally dabbled in yoga for years, yet previously she’d found more satisfaction in other exercise such as swimming, tennis, and karate. Geetha admitted to me that she had always been “inconsistently consistent with yoga ... before, my mind used to wander.” But her own life path has brought her to a new place.
Geetha has had a fruitful career, raised two successful kids, and is ready for a new direction. Many family circumstances centering around health and wealth have made Geetha take a new look at her life. Like many women her age, she also yearns for more meaning than a typical 9 to 5, and she’s begun to find it through yoga.
“I feel as if I was led to this path. It’s what I’ve been looking for: a blend of my philosophy, with spirituality, with exercise. I walk into the studio and I feel I am home.” Geetha has been moved by how yoga has changed her life. So much so that she has begun a new journey to become a certified yoga instructor. “I want to share this sense of well-being that is going through me,” she says.
Change from Within
Many of us have had false starts in the past. How can we avoid diving in, only to crawl out and go to sleep in just a few weeks? We must make the real change: We must change how we see ourselves. “What you see is what you get.”
We naturally become like those around us. The greater the change we’d like to see in the world, the more important it is for us to be around great leaders. As much as we love them, sometimes our family and friends haven’t had the same “a-ha moment” as we have. They may snicker, sneer, or lovingly remind us of life’s practicalities. So we need to remind ourselves of our life’s principles, and the people who embody them, in order to instill change in ourselves.
Create a Role-Model Collage
A collage is a cut-and-paste mixture of pictures and words. We can choose to become a collage of those we admire. It can be a quick daily reminder of how we prefer our character, calendar, and cash flow to be. Every day we can affirm to be a reflection of our role model collage.
Heroes are rare, but role models are everyday. Heroes are larger than life, but role models showcase their struggles. Heroes do what we may not be ready to do. Role models enlighten a path for us to follow. Role models help us believe that we, too, can achieve. We need only do what they have done.
Let’s outline our own role model collage: It’s an inspiring exercise you can do with others. Grab a blank piece of paper and a pen. Fold the sheet in quarters, and open it up. You’re going to create a grid, so draw a full-length + along the fold to create the axes.
On the horizontal X axis, write the two types of roles we all play: Personal & Professional. For me, since my father is my business partner, the two tend to overlap and blend. Doesn’t one affect the other for you, too?
On the vertical Y axis, write the two types of achievements we all want: Qualitative & Quantitative. Qualitative achievements are more emotional; it’s the quality of life we encourage. Quantitative achievements, of course, are more measurable; it makes more dollars and sense.
Each quadrant is its respective mix. Given some thought, you will have multiple role models in each of the quadrants. Role models can be from the past, present, or even fictional; they are symbols more than advisors. For now, quickly write out some names and ethos:
- Who has achieved the Personal Qualities you will? These people enjoy the quality of life you want. They help others enjoy the quality of life you also encourage. How do they have so much fun?
- Who has achieved the Personal Quantities you will? They enjoy spending time and money the way you do. They give to the kinds of charities, causes, and communities you would. How did they develop this?
- Who has achieved the Professional Qualities you will? They exhibit the work ethic and personal brand of excellence you seek. They deal with colleagues in the way you want to. How do they keep it up?
- Who has achieved the Professional Quantities you will? They have the kind of income streams you want. They have diversified and expanded in the way you plan to. How do they sustain their legacy?
Your collage will be more invigorating with colorful pictures. Ask your kids, life partner, or friends to help you find the appropriate images. You may need to photocopy family pictures, or search through magazines or online at www.images.google.com. Create your collage of role models to follow, not just extraordinary heroes.
Every day—throughout the day—answer the question, “How am I living up to my role models?” Display your collage in public. This way, you’re more apt to remind yourself of the kind of person you are working to be. Your public display will also spark worthwhile conversations: We all enjoy hearing other people’s stories.
Your collage will also bring others onto your wavelength. Together, we can all change the world. You will inspire those around you to create their own role model collage, and inspire them to live up to it every day. The more we see the change we want to be, the greater the change will be. As we change our world, we will change the world.
Vikram Rajan is a personal branding consultant. He can be reached through his blog, www.ViksMarketingBlog.com
robert downey, Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 11:25 AMI am totally stuck in my tennis instructor career , I love the job and the kids I work with but am no where close to making the money I need to make , how do I move on or do I stay and do another job as well I can not decide and spend time spinning my wheels, I need your help Rob
mike, Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 09:44 PMI was ask in a hunderd words or less how too change things? My answer was. To stop drugs you give every one that has a problem a prescription for the drug of their chose with the clear understanding they don’t share their drugs with no one. This will stop drugs for the next generation and stop all drug crimes. In the future most all crime will be stop with cameras and that means no more dead ladies will be found in the trunks of their cars with out us knowing who put them there. Any one willing to work will be giving a brotherhood card that will pay all your bills. Im good at this. Then I was ask how that would stop people in suits with good jobs from robbing people? And my answer was. My approach to any problem is I will ask my self how I would want to be treated if I was in the position of people that needs help. This need for help is the main drive behind crime. So you will need to take away the cause of crime which in my mind is that people for the most part have no helper when they are in need. fix this and you will stop more crimes than all the cameras in the world. My true answer to crime is unity. There is three ways to do this, my way or the way it is now or if you have a better way I will support you. At no point in time think we will be perfect just know we can be much better. Many men have many talents this just happen to be mine. And that is I will give you words of power that will work even if I am dead. Time will prove me. Your question was crime? My answer is if you are willing to work you will be given a brotherhood card that has no spending limit. That is what I would have men do unto me. And then if there is people in pretty suits robbing one another it wont bother me. The problem is no one will serve these people because we will be serving one another. Because you have show interest I will send you more words and give you more power. Your brother. If I am going to dream, I am going to dream big. So I will send the words, why not?
