We all want to believe that who we are matters. We desperately want to know that what we do makes a difference.
That’s not odd. It’s the way that we are made. Our brains are made to search for meaning — to find self-worth.
Like footprints through the timeline of destiny, we like to look back and feel assured that us being there made the world a better place.
“What did we do? How much money did we amass? How many awards did we win? What lasting value did we contribute to history?”
It’s actually a lot easier than that. Changing the future for those around you isn’t about mind-blowing invention, legendary awards, or vested stock options.
It’s the small things that make a different. It’s a lifetime of details expertly managed.
Here are a few (small) ways to make a (huge) difference:
- Open the door for a stranger
- Smile at those around you
- Be a mentor
- Say, “Thank You”
- Assume the best in others
- Fail gracefully
- Learn from your mistakes
- Try something new
- Practice being vulnerable
- Stop whining
- Listen to your critics
- Decide to be optimistic
- Fear less
- Get into financial shape
- Ask more questions
- Be kind
- Donate time to charity
- Read a new biography
- Let yourself be inspired
- Teach what you’ve learned
- Do something outrageous
- Lead someone
- Give an opinion when it’s hard
- Think for yourself
- Pay off debt
- Care about others
- Put in more effort
- Chose a side
- Pay attention to the details
- Ask for help
- Pay more for quality
- Be a friend
- Tell the truth
- Lend a hand
- Do physical labor
- Put in some exercise
- Let past mistakes go
- Brag on someone else
- Decide not to get angry
- Be invincible
- Share more
- Explore new ideas
- Be more efficient with your time
- Love someone
- Be more effective with your talents
- Stop playing politics
- Have a dream
- Meditate on your goals
- Plan to be successful
- Get up an hour earlier
- Pursue your goals each day
- Be an expert
- Write down your thoughts
- Make a list of tasks to get done
- Stop explaining “why”
- Apologize more
- Live with honor
- Decide to take action today
- Stay mentally strong
- Feed your inspiration
- Practice getting back up
- Put yourself in tough places
- Avoid the crowd
- Fight mediocrity
- Cry when you hurt
- Stop being passive aggressive
- Laugh at life
- Have a purpose to each day
- Find answers to your questions
- Go to bed tired
- Don’t stop until you finish
- Be accountable
- Ask “what you can do better”
- Be passionate about others
- Work on your biggest weakness
- Give a stranger flowers
- Pay attention to the conversation
- Replace “No” with “No Thanks”
- Hold the elevator door
- Appreciate differences
- Let someone else get the attention
- Compliment a great idea
- Be less selfish
- Listen with your eyes
- Work on being p-a-t-i-e-n-t
- Ease someone else’s pain
- Say what’s on your mind
- Slow down (for a minute)
- Demand brutal analysis of your actions
- Have a big vision for those around you
- Create what’s missing
- Imagine the possibilities
- Defend your friends
- Stay in mental shape
- Care enough to cry
- Remember the good times
- Write a kind note
- Over look immaturity
- Give away your best idea
- Offer to help for free
- Care less about “being right”
- Stop being offended so easily
- Have a plan
- Schedule time to invest in others
- Value your own time
- Offer encouragement
- Share a good example
- Inspire others quietly
- Shake hands while looking that guy in the eye
- Offer to buy dinner or dessert
- Make a call because “you’re thinking about them”
- Don’t do anything halfway
- Decide to learn from everyone
- Welcome diverse perspectives
- Do good things for the right reason
- Shake off the straws (before they break your back)
- Don’t go to bed angry
- Get help for your head
- Let life happen around you
- Deliberately invest in healing
- Enjoy others’ success
- Make a big deal of small wins
- Decide if caring is more important that winning
- Share your failures unblemished
- Put in the effort you expect of others
- Anticipate the success of others
- Ask others to “pay it forward”
Bonus 128. – Be a better “you”…
It’s not all you doing something.
“It’s you being.”
You can only “do” so much. But you can “be” a difference 1,000 times today. And just imagine if you did that every day for the next year? You might effect a million different outcomes for the better.
Now think about that 30 years from now.
“What would happen if we didn’t waste the next 30 million small opportunities to make a difference?”
How much could we do? How many lives could we change?
Are you ready to get started?
