The Intersection between the World's Greatest Need and Your Greatest Passion

It is not often that we post two blog articles in one day. But I came across a quote that got my attention and I wanted to memorialize it in our blog:

"Your life should be about finding the intersection of the world's greatest need and your greatest passion."

Wow! How many  of us are searching for meaning and purpose in life? This quote gives us a little direction.

It came from an article I am reading as background for an MBA class I will likely be teaching in the fall on Corporate Social Responsibility. Water is a hot sustainability topic. Fast Company just this month published an article that talks about a new organization, water.org, which was co-founded by Matt Damon, who has found his passion in addressing the water crisis.  

In an era when so many celebrities are making the news by breaking laws and misbehaving, it is encouraging to read about Matt, who is using his celebrity to lead others to do something about a very important issue that affects 3 billion people around the globe. What an inspiration he is!

Questions to ponder: What is my greatest passion? How can I use it to server the world's great needs? Or even the world's little needs right here in my own neighborhood?

It's Just an Inconvenience

It is only 6:30AM on the west coast and already I have been inspired! A friend sent me a link to Diane Rose's story and I was so uplifted I had to write and share her story with you!

You see, Diane Rose is a master quilt maker. Her gorgeous quilts are displayed all around her home, which you can see in the news report. What makes Diane's story remarkable is that she has been blind since childhood.

Her interviewer asks Diane how she deals with her handicap. She says she doesn't see her blindness as a handicap -- it is only an "inconvenience"! Her blindness can get in her way when she wants to do something, she says; but, she can always find a way to get around it!

She goes on to encourage others to just get out and do! No matter how much you hurt, physically or emotionally, no matter how down you may be, she says just get up off the couch and go do something for someone else and you will be on your way to feeling better!

Diane is a wonderful leader. She is leading from right where she is, in her small home making quilt after quilt. Her attitude and accomplishments are inspirational for all of us.

Questions to ponder: What "inconveniences" am I allowing to slow me down? How would perceiving them as inconveniences, instead of as problems or something worse, enable me to better master them?

Creating Positive Change

Appreciative Inquiry. Ever heard of it?

Appreciative Inquiry is a ground breaking approach that Janet and I have translated into a suite of tools that we call Appreciative Business Practices. We recently presented some of these tools to groups of Job Seekers at Job Connections and Experience Unlimited. Materials from our talk, Creating Positive Change for Job Seekers, is available to anyone who is interested here.

In a nutshell, Appreciative Inquiry is simply focusing on what is working in a situation -- the strengths and positive attributes of a situation, the individuals involved, and the environment.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? Not so easy in practice! Think about it ... we humans are oriented to look for what is wrong -- we conduct "root cause analyses" and "gap analyses". Performance reviews focus on "areas needing improvement". We are applauded for solving problems.

It is a sea change to begin by focusing on what is right and good. If we can make this change, we can create an atmosphere of energy and enthusiasm. Creativity and innovation flourish. Happiness and fulfillment surface.

We love to spread the positive, uplifting message of Appreciative Inquiry and to introduce our Appreciative Business Practices. Let us know if you would like to have us speak to your group.

Questions to ponder:  How much time do I spend thinking about what is good and right about a situation or person? How much time do I spend thinking about what I don't like or what is wrong with a person or situation? How would things be different if I spent more time on the positive aspects?