How time flies!
March 2015 I published an article about meeting the chairman of B1G1 – Business for Good and how it changed my life. Paul Dunn’s outstanding presentation introduced me to the concept of “The Power of Small” and how small but regular contributions by normal individuals and everyday businesses eventually add up to something significant to make big impacts in the lives of others.
Here is that article, please do read it now. This post will have a lot more impact if you do
The concept was simple; imagine for every cup of coffee you enjoy, someone who needs fresh water gets it. Or for every book you sell, someone is gifted with sight. Or for each new client you sign, a child in a third-world country receives life-saving immunisation.
At that time I committed to become involved and just one year later, my own small but regular contributions to others had impacted 100,001 people in a positive and potentially life-changing way. That’s 100,001 smiles – including my own.
I set myself the goal that by March 31, 2016, my small efforts would have created 300,000 smiles. So did we make it?
Creating smiles one year on
Setting clear goals and focusing on your “Why” are the first steps towards achieving them and I am delighted and proud to say that having achieved the goal I set a year ago (to hit 300,000 positive impacts) is immensely satisfying. Particularly for the nature of my business, it is a reflection and demonstration of the importance of goal-setting and having a clear and committed focus on achieving those goals. We did it!
Photo courtesy of www.b1g1.com (Buy One Give One)
300,000 smiles: How did we make it happen?
As a participating member of B1G1, it was all about creating small impacts on a weekly basis, and relating these impacts I created to my own business objectives. For example:
- When someone buys my book we give people the gift of sight.
- When people connect with me on LinkedIn we provide people in need the ability to feed themselves and families.
- When people sign up to one of our courses we provide clean drinking water.
- When people become clients we give the gift of education.
These are but a small example of many impacts we have created over the past 12 months.
I am so grateful and humbled to be able to give back and also to be a small part of such an affirmative and supportive organisation like B1G1. B1G1 is facilitating so much good around the world and it feels fantastic to be a part of that.
Why should everyone do it?
B1G1 is on track to create 100 million impacts (smiles) in 2016. Why should you and your business participate?
Being a part of B1G1 creates closer relationships with your customers, in-house teams and, of course, the recipients of the impacts your business creates benefit the most from your involvement and efforts.
I believe real and meaningful change comes via the efforts of the world’s entrepreneurs. Joining B1G1 allows you to effortlessly participate in any of over 700 worthy projects. You not only have the personal and corporate satisfaction of creating change that is bigger than you are and for the benefit of others; you also elevate your business and your brand image with respect to credibility, corporate responsibility and your customers and clients. It’s a win for all.
I recall very clearly that day one year now past, reflecting on how incredible it would be to sit here today and reflect on this achievement. How would it feel, where would I be, what would the month leading up to this day be like in terms of my normal daily activities. How has my life been impacted by a simple determination to set goals, focus on “Why” we do what we do and create 200,000 smiles around the world along the way.
Life has certainly changed, my “Why” has profoundly impacted my “What” and “How”. Looking back on just the last 30 days, I spent time in the Middle East, Dubai is certainly one of my favourite parts of the world. Kuala Lumpur as a guest of the Malaysian government to present Key note presentations during Malaysia Social Media Week My second book The LinkedIn Playbook has me up at 4am every morning writing, and fittingly I presented on my favourite topic LinkedIn, during Dr David Dugan’s Elite 500 event. Very fitting given this is where this life changing meeting first occurred exactly two years ago.
So yes we did it, and yes that extra smile today is again mine for many reasons. Most importantly though for the 300,000 positive impacts we created around the world.
To help start spreading smiles around the globe today, simply get in touch with B1G1 – Business for Good over at www.b1g1.com