Be A Difference Maker

Having A Purpose Bigger Than One's Self 

In the Project You concept, there is a great responsibility placed on people and organizations that are successful financially or socially to pay back to society for the fruits they enjoy. 

Basically this means a requirement to contribute to something larger than one's self. This can be done by contributing to their communities, a global cause such as the environment or starvation, or to any charity or cause of their choosing.

Achieving this means entering a world of collaboration, in which you work together with people and organizations with which you have a shared view and shared values. 

Giving back and contributing to something larger than one's self are the hallmarks of a difference maker. There are several alternatives available:

Individual Difference Makers ── those making individual and personal contributions across a number of spectrums or categories.

Community Difference Makers ── anyone making contributions mainly within a social, business or workplace environment of which they are a member.

Society Difference Makers ── individuals making contributions to environments of which they are not members.

National or Citizen Difference Makers ── individuals making contributions to issues mainly within their own country, or in a specific country (i.e. schools for Kenya) in which they do not reside.

Global Difference Makers ── those making contributions toward issue-based concerns (peace, hunger, World Wildlife Fund, etc.) that are non-geographic specific. These individuals are less concerned about where advancements are achieved and more about the specific kinds of  improvements created.

The difference between Community Difference Makers and Society Difference Makers is membership of the community being impacted. 

For instance, someone involved in voluntary tree planting within their local community would be an example of a Community Difference Maker. But someone involved in creating a reading program for indigenous children represents a Society Difference Makers activity if that person is not a member of that indigenous community. 

However you decide to make a difference in this world, having a purpose bigger than one's self is a hallmark of Living A Determined Life and a core component in creating a foundation for an authentic life. 

If you would like to publicize how you are making a difference, please share details in the comments box below. Who knows, you might connect with more supporters for your purpose! 

This article is partially excerpted from the top-selling personal development book Project You: Living A Determined Life, available at Amazon in paperback ($7.90) and Kindle ($6.88) formats. 

Giving Back The Enlightened Self Interest Way

Enlightened Self Interest 

We live in a world ruled by self interests, with leaders (elected or otherwise) who have forgotten that their duty is to serve others and create a greater good for the greater many, rather than feathering their own pockets and those with whom they are in cahoots.

7 Aspects of a Project You Life 

Australian Ian Berry, founder of the Differencemakers Community, is a major proponent of enlightened self interest, which he describes in his book Changing What's Normal as:

Enlightened self interest is a philosophy in ethics which states that persons who act to further the interests of others (or the interests of the group or groups to which they belong), ultimately serve their own self interest.

It has often been simply expressed by the belief that an individual, group or even a commercial entity will "do well by doing good."

In contrast to enlightened self interest is simple greed or the concept of "unenlightened self interest," in which it is argued that when most or all persons act according to their own myopic selfishness that the group suffers loss as a result of conflict, decreased efficiency because of lack of cooperation, and the increased expense each individual pays for the protection of their own interests.

Or, as Zig Ziglar put it, "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want." 

How can you apply Enlightened Self Interest into all aspects of your life? How can you give back to others and ultimately serve your own self interest? Please share your ideas in the comments box below. 

This article is excerpted from the top-selling personal development book Project You: Living A Determined Life, available at Amazon in paperback ($7.90) and Kindle ($6.88) formats.