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Most people want to make a positive difference in the world, but many times, people don’t know where to start. If that’s you, here are the necessary five steps along the way to doing something that matters:
First, decide once and for all that you’re tired of not making a difference in the world.
SO many people live life in a monotonous routine, not paying attention to the people around them. Listen, if you’re not impacting people in some way, then you’re not making a difference. I’ve been making a difference for the last ten years by consistently producing free content so my readers can benefit and use it in their own lives. Why did I start putting my valuable time into doing that? Because I wanted to make a difference in the world, so I used my expertise and combined it with my interest in social media to find my place in the business and self-help landscape. And it worked. Whatever you do in life, shoot for making a difference in the world. People need you.
Second, find your passion and area of expertise, not someone else’s.
Knowing who YOU are, and how you’re designed, and what sparks passion inside of you, and what you’re good at, is so important. Too often people look at others to know who they should be, but that’s not creative, that’s not innovative, that’s not leaving your imprint on the world, that’s not you; that’s someone else’s job, not yours. Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing, and begin concentrating on who you were designed to be. Ask yourself the question, “Who do I want to be and where do I want to be in life?” Answer that question and plan accordingly. Life is too short to spend wishing, or not being who you were intended to be in the first place. You have purpose.
Third, stop looking for permission from other people to do what you know you are meant to do.
What I am about to say I don’t like to admit, but it’s the truth — it’s how the world works. And here it is: If you don’t chase your dreams, someone else will recruit you for theirs. Now, if you believe in someone else’s dreams enough to help them, then I am all for it — helping people is what I do. But at some point you have to wonder if there isn’t something else that you were made for. Maybe it’s time for you to lead the way. My question to you is, “Why not you?”
Fourth, find a problem that most people face and give them a solution that works.
I am constantly asking people the question, “What problem do you need solved?” I ask this question because when enough people give the same answer, it lets me know that people need an answer. And if it lies in my area of expertise, then I will research it, draw a conclusion, and then produce content on the topic. When you do something that matters, you will find a solution that works through trial and error and provide it to those who need an answer. Complaining about the way things are is one thing, but actually taking the time to find a solution is taking it to another level. You were designed to help others.
Fifth, put in the work.
Putting in the work is the most important part of the equation. When results aren’t realized early on, and people aren’t patient enough, quitting becomes a reasonable option. On the other hand, when people are determined while putting in the work, and they already know who they are and what they were created to do, putting in the work becomes a way of life. When people have this mentality, a lengthy timeline isn’t a distraction, but rather, it becomes something to work towards. Your reward is found in the work.
One of the weirdest questions that I get asked is, “Why do you work so much?” Of course, if you have read any of my work, then you know that I believe in the principle of getting back what you put into something. Big dreams require a lot of work; they just do. If you truly want to make your ideas a reality, you will put in the work.
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