Introduction

In the end, we can only control what we do as individuals. We underestimate the power of our actions and we anesthetize ourselves to our responsibilities to ourselves, each other, and the world.

I am not perfect...not even close. What are my qualifications to tell you these things? None, other than being a person who tries to live my life in the best way that I know how. And I hope that in doing so, I can help others.

Do I always follow my own advice? No. Do I do all the things I talk about, consistently and well? No. But I try.

And that is what this book is about…trying. Thinking, deciding and trying to be a better person and make the world a better place.

The world is not made better by governments, by businesses, or by organizations. It is made better by people deciding one day at a time, one action at a time, that they can make a difference. And many people making small differences ends up making a huge difference.

So take this in the spirit in which it is given…as some thoughts, some ideas to possibly incorporate into your daily life.

You CAN make a difference to yourself, to others, to the world.

Everything that happens, for good or for bad, is a result of individual actions.

If you work for a company, you may feel like you have no impact, particularly if it’s a large company. But companies are made up of individuals – without people to come up with actions and implement them, a company can’t do anything. The way you act each day, the way you interact with others, and what you do when problems arise can make a difference for the company, your co-workers, and customers or clients.

It’s the same with governments, non-profits, or any organization. Any organization relies on people to make policy and to carry it out.

Even dictatorships are made up of individuals, each choosing how to act and what to do. To say “they don’t have a choice” is untrue – there is always a choice. We may not like the price we pay for it or the resultant outcome, but there is always, always a choice. Even choosing to do nothing is a choice in itself.

So it is time for us to realize that in ways big or small, at home or at work, alone or together, each of us CAN make a difference. Get started!