The problem is, we believe what we have to contribute is insignificant in comparison to all these people on Instagram, giving you the impression that they are living their best lives. Personally, I’m just not impressed with the cars, the holidays, the fit bodies, and the mansions. They’re great things to have, but I’m moved more so by the Instagram posts showing your creativity, your impact, talents, and the difference you’re making in the
world.
Now that is someone living in purpose, on purpose.
A few emails back, I talked about the importance of money and that it wasn’t the entire equation but a part of what I called the pentagram of power. Looking back on it in my formative days, I was too focused on money above all else. I set financial goals first and didn’t know the simple rule that money is a result of the impact we make. Well, I’ve discovered to my detriment that money isn’t the main focus of the pentagram. If there were an
equation for happiness, it wouldn’t be the first variable in the formula either.
So many of us get this wrong.
Money is essential, period. But to be truly rich, focus, understand what you’re about, and find ways to impact the people in front of you positively.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it for emphasis.
To make a contribution that will impact the world does not require you to be a Mohammad Yunus of Grameen Bank fame, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai or the visionary founders of Space Hero Thomas Reemer and Debra Sass who are giving ordinary people the opportunity to visit the International Space station. Your impact could be in your community affecting a small
group or a world-spanning business that’s making a difference to millions of people. Whatever or wherever it is, add something that will make people’s lives better in a big or small way.
I’m a storyteller, and the impact I want to have is through my stories. I want to see black and brown faces populating the fantastic worlds myself and others have created, something I never had when I was growing up. In my small way and through my writing and other creative pursuits, I’m doing things that will leave this world just a little better off than how I found it. I don’t want to be an observer and consumer but an action taker and a
creator. Imagine if we all decided to have an impact, what a difference we would make in the world.
What will your impact be?
