Can You Make a Difference at Your Job Today?

I want to encourage you today.

Encourage you to reach out to others, to think about others besides yourself.  I don't find it easy to do but Jeffrey Gitomer , in his book The Little Black Book of Connections,  (www.gitomer.com) inspires me to do so.  He writes that the law of give and take is that you have to give before you can take.  Are you giving to others as you work at your job?  Are you able to serve a non-profit organization in your town?  Can you give without expecting something back?

Serving others is so fulfilling and memorable.  If I am working only to make money I will

be empty man.  Gitomer writes, "If you have a job because you believe in yourself and you believe you can help others, then the money will follow.  Your passion and belief will become transferable and the money come."

Don Luscher, Director of Stewarts Caring Place (www.stewartscaringplace.org) in Akron, Ohio, believes one person can make a difference. SCP gives support to any touched by cancer and offers all their services free.  They provide wigs, counseling, children's programs, support groups, healing arts like massage, a resource library-all at no cost. Don tells of seeing a woman with no hair due to chemotherapy walk in to the center hunched over and sullen and go to the wig room to pick out her wig.  Later she walked up to him with her wig in hand with a smile on her face and exclaims, "I always wanted to be a red head and now I can!" 

One person can make a difference.  Don sees hundreds of cancer survivors get 'born again' through the work of the center.  They are listened to and treated just like members of a family, not just put in some program.  And, often the volunteers who serve get more reward than those they serve.

I was working out at the gym last Fall and struck up a conversation about the football Buckeyes with a total stranger who had an OSU t shirt on.  I told him how much I wanted to see one of their games in person.  He said , What are you doing this Saturday?"  He proceeded to offer me his two tickets to the game. After I woke up from my shock, he said he would drive home to get them for me!  His parting words were, "Just pay it forward."  I have never seen the man again but I will never forget his shocking kindness.

Last summer I was ordering my favorite treat at the ice cream shop  and in walked a family with 4 children.  They were so cute as I watched them just drool over seeing the treats in the freezer.  My heart just went out to them and I was moved to go to the cashier and tell him that whatever they chose was on me.  The father was surprised and told each of the children to come and say thank you to me.  I hope I made a difference that day.

As you seek 'The American Dream' and your own brass ring, wear it with pride and don't forget to serve a little along the way.  You will feel better and those you help will too.