Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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October 8, 2008

Kindness in Action - You have the power to change the world

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:01 am

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You have the power to change the world
by Mark Hayward

Change the World!

Do certain local or global issues affect you deeply? Would you like to take action and help?

You have the POWER to change the world! Sounds cliché, but please read those words again and think about what is important to you, to society. In this blogging and social media age you don’t have to be associated with a huge humanitarian organization or educational foundation in order to take action.

In fact, if you would like to create your own non-profit group to assist a particular cause, opportunities abound for you to make a positive and lasting change. The best part, most of the technology needed to help spread the word is available for free or at a minimal charge.

Some Background Information

The other day when I read Liz’s post, Open Up a World of Solutions with One Idea. She seemed a bit frustrated because whatever she was trying to put together was not working out that well for her. In fact, she stated:

This time it’s not joy I’m sharing. It’s a state of confusion, a search for solutions, a total frustration with my inability to make things connect in the direction that was my intention.

I am not quite sure what was troubling Liz that day, however, being the eternal optimist, she goes on to end the post by stating, “We can change the world — just like that.”

Truly, I believe that we, as individuals, and collectively as a group, can change the world. For many years I would watch stories on the evening news of horrific events that were taking place around the globe in places like Boznia and Rwanda and even in the USA (hurricane Katrina for one).

While I always had pity and empathized with those who were being affected by various events, I NEVER actually took action.

Time to Act

While serving as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Papua New Guinea I tragically witnessed many people die from various illnesses that afflict developing countries, however, it was an incident that occurred during the final night in my village, which finally spawned a call to action.

As my wife and I were packing our things and saying goodbye to friends we could hear screams coming from the little bush hut that acted as an aid station and we went to investigate further.

Upon our arrival we witnessed a young woman of about ten or eleven fighting through the final stages of cerebral malaria and there was nothing we could do to help. The incident, and the image of her struggling and fighting dementia, has been indelibly burned into my mind.

That evening after the young woman passed I made a vow to myself that if I were ever in a position where I owned my own business and could dedicate some of my time to helping assist in certain global crises then I would.

At the time I didn’t know what I would do exactly, or how I would do it, but I was determined and serious.

Train for Humanity Launches

Recently, in collaboration with some other bloggers in various corners of the world (most notably Leo Babauta of Zen Habits), I turned my pity and apathy into action and launched Train for Humanity to help raise funds and awareness for orphans and refugees who have been affected by genocide. (You can read the full story here: How Did Train for Humanity Get Its Start? )

Our mission is simple: getting fit + social media + blogging = social good

We, the founding members, have combined our collective passion for exercise and getting in shape with the power of blogging and social media in an effort to assist in a dire humanitarian crisis in Darfur. During the pilot project, three bloggers, Leo Babauta, Dan Clements, and I are training for various endurance events and trying to raise funds for Darfur Peace and Development’s Shegegkaro School, which was recently bombed and subsequently destroyed.

The Power to Change the World and You

This post isn’t really about me, on the contrary, it’s meant to be about YOU and your particular cause.

If you find yourself in a similar situation as me and if certain issues affect you (and you would like to help) I would strongly urge you to go ahead and take the next steps toward action. The tools are all there for you. You just have to be willing to use them and the rest comes down to innovation, creativity, energy, and time.

Certainly, it doesn’t even have to be a global crisis, but could just as easily be an issue closer to home. Perhaps your child’s school could use more funding, or maybe you are moved by the plight of stray animals?

To help you get started here are Six Tips to Help You Take Action:

  1. Make it REAL – let someone know about your interest to start an organization or desire to take action.

  2. Register your domain name – domains cost about $10.00 a year to register.

  3. Get web hosting – you can get reliable hosting for $4.95 a month (or less).

  4. Download and install WordPress – if you are reading Liz’s site I am sure you already know this but WordPress is a very powerful, freely available, blogging and CMS software.

  5. Google alert – setup a Google alert for your particular cause or keyword (for me it was Darfur).

  6. Begin networking – from the “listening” and information gathering that you undertake with your Google alert, begin networking via social media (Twitter, FaceBook, etc) and leaving comments on blogs of similar, like-minded individuals.

Additionally, because you are reading Liz’s blog I am going to assume that you are already familiar with blogging and social media, but if you know of others who might need some resource material to help them get started, below are five topical blog posts which should help folks take the first steps.

Liz Strauss - The Ultimate Guide 3: Every Blog Needs a Platform
Chris Brogan - 50 Ways to Take Your Blog to the Next Level
Jeff Pulver - How to Start Growing your Business Network
Beth Kanter - How Much Time Does It Take To Do Social Media?
ProBlogger - Launching Your Next Venture Using Social Media - 5 Lessons Learned

Now it’s your turn. What causes are you passionate about? What would you like to change about the world, or even your hometown, today? Do you have other tips that might help us take action and really change the world?

Mark Hayward lives in the Caribbean and he is the creator and co-founder of the recently launched humanitarian initiative Train for Humanity. He is currently training for the Miami Man triathlon to raise funds for the recently bombed the ShegegKaro School in Darfur. You can follow him on Twitter or check out his blog MyTropicalEscape.

___________

Thanks, Mark!

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!.

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.





Filed under Motivation/Inspiration, Successful Blog |




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20 Comments to “Kindness in Action - You have the power to change the world”

  1. October 8th, 2008 at 6:58 am
    Stephen Dill said

    Well done, Mark and Liz. Reminds me of Greg Mortenson’s remarkable 30-year effort with the Central Asia Institute (www.ikat.org) and the book that documented it, “Three Cups of Tea.” Fantastic proof of the impact of one man deciding to build one school in Pakistan.

    My story began recently when after four years of thinking about what was wrong with public education and coming up with an idea on how to start over, I launched the discussion on a website (on Wordpress as well) to begin to gather the attention and thoughts of others as concerned as I was that life-long education was the key to changing the world (similar to the CAI’s concept, interestingly enough). So http://www.allnewpubliceducation.com was created and exists today to start the ball rolling on a local level so that over time, most likely NOT in my lifetime, we will change the way we see and provide education and in so doing knit the world back together one family at a time.

    Love to hear how others are encouraged or inspired by Mark’s example!

  2. October 8th, 2008 at 7:10 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Mark

    Great stuff and good tips on how to get ‘moving’. Can I add something or rather change something on your list though?

    For those not familiar with hosting or CSS scripts you can set up a Typepad blog account for the same amount as your point 3. Typepad comes complete with hosting and to be honest is for most starting bloggers a better place to start, almost no coding or other web knowledge needed.
    I’ve worked both with WordPress and Typepad (for myself and trained others) and still feel the latter is easier to set up and manage for ‘new’ bloggers.

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  3. October 8th, 2008 at 7:14 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    Both platforms have their strengths.

    It comes down to goals. If it’s a short term event or a outward-facing consultancy, I think that your answers works. If someone wants to grow a fully-linked and connected blog . . . typepad has some serious issues later when the learning curve is over — issues with the proprietary nature of the software, trackbacks etc.

  4. October 8th, 2008 at 7:20 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    of course everything has pro’s and contra’s - that’s life not? I have great experiences with Typepad for various goals - even long term.

    Main point is to help out where help is needed - even on the blogging front where a blog I think works 10 times better and quicker than going the ’static’ standard website route to raise awareness for humanitarian causes.

    Karin H.

  5. October 8th, 2008 at 7:41 am
    Vicky H said

    Wow! I am speechless… What a wonderful cause, thanks so much for sharing both Mark & Liz.

    I too believe we can change the world and I love hearing these inspirational stories.

    I know that since I have been using Social Media that I have been closer to catastrophic events and other people’s pain. When you know someone who was impacted by 9/11, Katrina, or other catastrophic events, it brings the reality of such events to your own backyard so to speak.

    Oddly, I’ve noticed that I can ‘feel their pain’ in their tweets. When your used to someone’s writing and communication style, you pick up on those little things. Reading friends blogs has been a turning event in my life that leads me to take some sort of limited action, which is why I’m committed to helping @BlogActionDay on Oct 15th, see http://www.blogactionday.org because we can all do something, large or small to help.

    God Bless,
    Vicky H

  6. October 8th, 2008 at 8:14 am
    Michelle Vandepas said

    I’ve been quietly helping a few causes but I’ve never really thought of starting something this way. I laugh because I’ve owned and started many businesses - I’m a serial entrepreneur, but never thought about doing a foundation or non profit or humanitarian cause from scratch. The other day I was doing the book ‘The Passion Test’ (I teach a similar process) and leading a foundation to help children was on my list of things I was passionate about - but hadn’t done yet! Then along comes this post with a step by step guide to get it done! Nothing stopping me now! - No excuses!
    Thanks

  7. October 8th, 2008 at 10:16 am
    mark_hayward said

    Good morning everyone! And Liz, *thank you* for letting me guest post on your site. :)

    Hi Stephen - before we owned our business my wife had been an educator for almost 20 years (all around the world). Remarkable work you are doing over at All New Public Education and I wish you the best of luck!

    Hi Karin - Typepad is a wonderful suggestion. For some reason (my ignorance) I thought that you had a pay a monthy fee to use it…I also should have included Blogger, as well.

    Hi Vicky - “Wow! I am speechless…” You have just made my day with that comment. :) Really happy to see that you will be participating in Blog Action Day! I just got an email back from Collis & Cyan (BAD co-founders) and they are going to highlight Train for Humanity in all of their press because we are *actualy* bloggers taking Action.

  8. October 8th, 2008 at 10:19 am
    mark_hayward said

    Hi Michelle - if you do go ahead and start your foundation to help children, please feel free to email me anytime if I can assist or provide some input.

  9. October 8th, 2008 at 10:32 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Mark

    You are right, there is a monthly fee, but that’s almost the same amount as you would need for hosting - and that’s not needed on Typepad ;-) So it equals things out.

    Karin H.

  10. October 8th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
    Diana Scimone said

    Mark,

    This is GREAT! So inspiring and motivating. I’ve already posted a link on my blog (www.dianascimone.com).

    I’m a journalist and have seen a lot of suffering in the 40+ countries I’ve been to. In 2003 I decided to launch a non-profit organization to help some of the kids I’d met (and the millions more I hadn’t). I’d never been involved with children’s work and didn’t have a clue what I was doing–but sometimes that’s better, right?

    Five years later, our focus is to stop child trafficking. 1 million kids are trafficked every year (that’s in addition to the kids already enslaved).

    We’re about to launch a global campaign called The Born to Fly Project to educate kids, parents, and teachers about the dangers of trafficking. Whenever kids get awareness training, the rate of trafficking plummets. There’s just not enough training, nor in the languages of most at-risk kids.

    You can read more at http://www.pawpawspals.org/notforsale.

    Frankly, I still don’t have a clue what I’m doing–but if we wait til we have all the answers, then all the problems will already be solved.

    Thanks again for your post!

    Diana Scimone
    President
    PawPaw’s Pals, Inc.
    http://www.dianascimone.com
    http://www.pawpawspals.org/notforsale
    Twitter: @BornToFly

  11. October 8th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
    Terence Chang said

    Mark Hayward:

    What a small world. I happened to bump into you everywhere and now on Liz’s blog.

    I am a very quiet reader on this blog, but I actually found this one before reading your post on your blog.

    I do believe that you can change the world with small step one at a time. I am more than happy to be your sponsor again pretty soon. :-)

    Keep the good spirit flowing ..

  12. October 8th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
    mark_hayward said

    Hi Diana - what a fabulous comment. :) Are you still working as a journalist? I have been trying to get a press release into the proper hands…and it seems tricky unless you’re willing to pay for a submission service.

    Also, I laughed when I read that you do not have a clue what you are doing. I feel the same way and I realize that our site and project are far from perfect. But, it’s something! AMAZING work you are undertaking with PawPaw’s Pals.

  13. October 8th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
    Diana Scimone said

    Hi Mark,

    Yes, I’m still a journalist. Here’s are some stories I wrote on child trafficking: http://tiny.cc/qDIiC and http://tiny.cc/vY4FH

    It IS difficult to get news releases into the right hands. You can try prweb.com; they have a free service as well as for-pay. Do you subscribe to HARO (Help A Reporter Out)? 6,000 reporters are on it. 3x a day they send out requests for info for stories they’re working on. Sign up at http://www.helpareporterout.com

    Thanks for your nice comments about the work we’re doing at PawPaw’s Pals!

    Diana Scimone
    President
    PawPaw’s Pals, Inc.
    http://www.dianascimone.com
    http://www.pawpawspals.org/notforsale
    Twitter: @BornToFly

  14. October 8th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
    Michelle Vandepas said

    Diana,
    I want to help.That’s exactly my passion. I’ll contact you via twitter. Go Girl GO! All children have a right to someone who loves them.

  15. October 8th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
    Vicky H said

    @Diane and @Michelle Glad to hear the two of you are hooking up! I’ll be following Diane too now via @BornToFly let people on Twitter know if you need any help, they’re amazing.

    Well thanks everyone for making my day too! I’m @eeUS and would love to keep in touch and help if I can.

  16. October 8th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
    Lynn said

    Great to see so many with a passion for issues that are affecting children around the world! Keep up the great work. Mark, just a note, if you are a registered non-profit, dreamhost will host you for free.

  17. October 30th, 2008 at 9:30 am
    trainforhumanity.org - racing to make a difference » Blog Archive » One Month After the Launch: Ten Lessons Learned said

    [...] sites. (Note: check out some of our guest posts at - FourHourWorkWeek, ProBlogger, ChrisBrogan, SuccessfulBlog, [...]

  18. November 5th, 2008 at 9:04 am
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