Many People Talk about wanting to Create a Real Impact.
How they want to Change the World.
Improve the Future.
Help Change Lives.
It Sounds Very Inspirational.
But there is Something You Must Pay Attention To...
Are You Making A Real Impact?
Not Just In Words.
But in Reality.
What do People Say About You?
Can you "Show" that You're Having an Impact?
What Proof do you Have?
I'm planning on Launching a Newsletter within the next Few Weeks.
So, today I have been putting together the "About" Page.
These Questions were on my Mind.
Have I been having a Real Impact?
What are People Saying?
Am I Changing Lives?
Are People's Lives Improving?
Where is My Proof?
I could Point Toward the Awards and Nominations I've Received for my Work.
I Received 20 for Last Year, and 62 for This Year.
It "Sounds" Impressive.
But here's the Truth.
"Many" Companies Get Awards.
But an Award Does Not Mean Real Impact.
How do I Know?
I see some of the Most "Recognized" Organizations in the World.
The Most Recognized Brands.
The Most Recognized Leaders.
Then all I have to do is Listen to their Employees.
The Reality is that All Flourishing is Mutual.
If the Employees are Miserable and Despise their Leaders, then the Awards are False Indicators.
Most Employees Hate their Leaders and the Organizations they Work For.
It is Not Surprising.
80% of Employees are in Burnout.
Largely Impacted by their Workplaces.
These Employees are Not Flourishing.
Their Leaders' and Organizations' Awards Mean Nothing.
The "Impact" is Worthless.
So I cannot Rely on Awards for Proof of Impact.
Even if they "Sound" Impressive, they Indeed Could be Worthless.
So, How Do I Know if I'm Making a Real Impact?
Am I Worthy of the Recognition?
I Instead turned to the Comments that Readers have left me.
As I write Daily, I only went about 2 Months Back on a Few Platforms.
What did I Discover?
22 Quotes about the Impact of My Writing.
I didn't grab "Every" Quote I Could, some were Very Simple or would not work for the About Page even if they are Still Incredibly Meaningful to Me.
But there were a few that Stood Out and Honored Me Deeply.
Things Like...
"I wish 'Every' Well-Intentioned Leader in the World Read This."
"...Among One of the Best Writers..."
"...the Greatest Philosopher of Our Generation!"
Truly, such Kind Things people have said.
But these are not even the ones that hit me hardest.
Here's one that blew my mind...
"Each time I read your words, I 'Always' feel like I'm sitting in a chair with a large audience surrounding me, watching you on a stage giving an amazing seminar as we all take notes on your words."
This is an Incredibly Difficult Task to Accomplish in Writing.
To "Pull" People Off of the Page.
To "Draw" them Into the Lessons.
That someone "Said" this about me hit my Heart Deeply.
But there are Three Others that "Really" Got Me...
"I Needed this Today..."
"Gosh, it's like You Knew what I Needed."
"I Needed this Right Now."
Providing what People "Need" is an Incredibly Difficult Task.
So many people are "Not" Receiving what they Need.
The World is Overflowing with Individuals who are Struggling.
To Know that I have Provided, to Multiple People, in just the Past Few Months...
There is Nothing More I could Ask For.
I felt so much Gratitude for All of the People who have Left Me Deeply Moving Messages.
They Keep Me Going So Often.
These are Also Indicators that I Am having an Impact.
It is Really Easy for Us as Humans to Focus on "The Future".
Making a Large Impact.
Changing the World.
However, what we do in the Micro is how we will do things in the Macro.
Are you Impacting "Today"?
Is Your Impact Felt "Now"?
Are You Changing Those Around You "Here"?
If You Answer "No" or have Nothing "Tangible" to Prove It, then this will Also be True in the Macro.
You Will Only Attain a Large Impact if you Begin with a Small Impact.
You Can Only Change the Future if you Change Today.
You Must Impact Those Here Now.
Are You Making A Real Impact?
PS - To Everyone who has left me kind words, Thank You.
From the Bottom of My Heart and Soul.
I Hope My Words Continue to Provide What You Need.
You Are Worthy Of A Better Future.