Where Do You Have An Impact?

Where do you have an impact? By design in your life, in your choices, your actions, your behavior – do you ever consider “where do I have an impact?”

Take a moment and list these – yes right now – write them down either print this out and write them here or take out a notebook or open a new place on your device and take notes.

“Where Do I Have An Impact?” What if we now switch this around and ask instead, “Where Do I Intentionally Want To Have An Impact?”

John C. Maxwell and Mitch Tublin in ParaguayThis last week myself and 250 other John Maxwell Team Certified Trainers, Coaches and Speakers returned from spending a week in Paraguay. Our goal was to train 10,000 people to become facilitators and in the classic train the trainer format continue on with at least four other people. Then have them continue on with four people. Four people as a minimum number.

Paraguay has a similar issue to other Nations in South America and Latin America with deep roots in corruption and the aspects which go along with these lines. Paraguay has it’s own unique issues from a devastating war which wiped generations of men off the map plus land and control in the region loss as well. With this being said there is a generation of young people who are striving for and hunger for a new start. A new way of life – without corruption. Where values based leadership is the driving force throughout all of society within Paraguay.

Each of us knew the following each and every day once we arrived in our staging/breakfast room at 5 AM: You are going some where, with some one, at some time, to do some thing with people. With people who want to make a difference at a time – at a time to make a difference.

That is all we knew! It did not take me long to realize the impact on the people. A session might begin with some disbelief or someone wondering how such a huge undertaking is even possible? By the end of the session upon realizing that if each person did one small thing, did their part, added all up, a huge movement would be taking place. With tears in their eyes as the session closed, with selfies being taken, hugs and kisses being given freely it was clear the seeds of transformation were planted.

La Transformacion esta en mi!

This is the line used and it appeared on materials, jerseys, handouts, gear and in the Presentation itself as a team building and bonding shout out together.

The Transformation Starts With Me!

Even writing this out now chills run through my body with such joy for the people of Paraguay as they begin this journey. There is no way we met by accident. This Movement and each one of us who volunteered to Intentionally Impact People in Paraguay to bring values based leadership and Transformation to their culture and society this did not happen by accident.

Is it time for you to act intentionally in your life? Are you ready to break the daily ritual and instead make an impact with meaning?

CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE READY!

Mitch Tublin is based in Stamford, CT. He is an advanced certified executive and personal coach, trainer and speaker on topics such as leadership, effective communication and emotional intelligence. Contact Mitch here.

How to Attract Others to Your Purpose with a Significance Story

John C. Maxwell and Mitch TublinBy John C. Maxwell
Most people want to live a success story, and that’s a good thing. Success can bring you money, accomplishment, power and invaluable experiences. But success still falls short. Success alone cannot bring lasting happiness or deep fulfillment. Success, by itself, does not inspire others to remember and share your story long after you are gone.

If you want success, and you want happiness, a legacy, and the certainty that you have made the world better for having lived, then what you want is more than a successful life; it is a life of significance.

What’s the secret to living a story of significance?

Living each day with intentionality.

When you live each day with intentionality, there’s almost no limit to what you can do. You can transform yourself, your family, your community, and your nation. When enough people do that, they can change the world.

When you intentionally use your everyday life to bring about positive change in the lives of others, you begin to live a life that matters.

Intentional living is about living your best story.

Your story still has many blank pages. Write them in with a life well lived.

Would You Like To Hear More From John C. Maxwell? Be intentional and click HERE

How to Make a Colossal Difference with a Small First Step

Guest Blog Post: John C. Maxwell

John Maxwell and Mitch TublinMany people look at all that’s wrong in the world and mistakenly believe that they cannot make a difference. The challenges loom large, and they feel small. They believe they must do big things to have a life that matters. Or they think they have to reach a certain place in life from which to do something significant.

Does that seed of doubt exist in you? Have you ever found yourself thinking or saying, “I will only be able to make a difference . . .

“When I come up with a really big idea,
“When I get to a certain age,
“When I make enough money,
“When I reach a specific milestone in my career,
“When I’m famous,” or
“When I retire?”

None of these things is necessary before you can start to achieve significance. You may not realize it, but those hesitations are really nothing more than excuses. The only thing you need to achieve significance is to be intentional about starting—no matter where you are, who you are, or what you have. Do you believe that? You can’t make an impact sitting still. Former NFL coach Tony Dungy once told me, “Do the ordinary things better than anyone else and you will achieve excellence.” The same is true for significance. Begin by doing ordinary things.

Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” That’s true. In fact, so does every human being’s first journey. As children, we had to learn how to take that first step in order to walk. We don’t think anything of it now, but it was a big deal then.

Every big thing that’s ever been done started with a first step.

When Neil Armstrong took his first walk on the moon, he stated, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” But the first steps of that achievement occurred decades before. We can’t get anywhere in life without taking that first small step. Sometimes the step is hard; other times it’s easy. But no matter what, you have to do it if you want to get anywhere in life.

You never know when something small that you do for others is going to expand into something big. That was true for Chris Kennedy, a golfer from Florida. In 2014, a friend nominated him to do the Ice Bucket Challenge for the charity of his choice. Kennedy passed along the challenge to his wife’s cousin Jeanette Senercia because the two liked to tease and challenge one another. Kennedy chose ALS as his charity because Jeanette’s husband suffered from the disease. Jeanette accepted the challenge, posted the video on her Facebook page, and nominated others.[i]

That was a small start of something big. In today’s digital world we talk about things going viral. The term viral was coined because ideas and initiatives can spread quickly the way germs do. Almost anything that starts out as a single idea, a bold statement, a YouTube video, or a creative or memorable photo can gain vast popularity and quickly spread through word of mouth via the Internet.

The Ice Bucket Challenge soon went viral. If you somehow missed out on it, the idea was to either donate to the ALS Association or record a video of yourself being doused with ice water, and then challenge three other people to donate or get doused.

This turned out to be a brilliant idea to raise money for an important cause—to help fight a disease that many people otherwise might not have known about and would not have donated to see cured. I participated in the challenge. Sure, I was aware of the disease, but it wasn’t a charity I normally gave to. I was nominated by colleagues to take the challenge, and I was happy to participate.

Most people chose to give and get doused. When I accepted the challenge, I made a donation and asked three of my grandchildren to do the honors of soaking me. They used not one, but three, freezing cold buckets of water on me. Though I pleaded for compassion and warm water, the grandkids showed no mercy!

The best part is that over $113.3 million was donated between July and September of 2014 as a result of the ice bucket challenge, compared to $2.7 million dollars donated during the same period of time the previous year. On Facebook alone, over 28 million people uploaded, commented, or liked ice bucket related posts the last time I checked. The purpose of the campaign wasn’t just to raise money. It was about raising awareness. But they accomplished both with great intentionality.

What can you do now? As you think about making a difference, be willing to start small. You never know whether your passion-fueled idea will have an outcome similar to that of ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

~ Adapted from John C. Maxwell’s new book Intentional Living

Would You Like To Hear More From John C. Maxwell? Be intentional and click HERE

 

[1] Alexandra Sifferlin, “Here’s How the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Actually Started,” Time, August 18, 2014, http://time.com/3136507/als-ice-bucket-challenge-started/, accessed January 29, 15.