“No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” ~ Edmund Burke
I saw my friend, Derek, on Sunday. I hadn’t seen him in many years and we got to talking about his work and the goals he’s been able to accomplish, much to his surprise but not to mine. He’s found a way to meld personal interests with his career in a way that has been good for him and for his community. He’s an example of someone doing well by doing good and staying true to who he is.
He told me about an interview he saw with Don Cheadle. Mr. Cheadle talked about how much the world needs whatever gifts we have to give. Someone, somewhere needs what we do. We don’t need more training or experience or money to improve the community. We don’t need to have more influence or power or exposure to get something done. Start small, dream big, and just keep going. Here are 5 ideas to get you started:
1.) Teach a free class in your field of expertise at a community center or public library. In New York City, try the New York Public Library.
2.) Give time to a cause that matters to you – and any amount of time helps. Most nonprofits have a “volunteer” link on their homepages that provide details about how to give your time.
3.) Offer to do some pro-bono work by using the same skills you utilize in your everyday life. In New York City, there is a great program to help you use your “blank”, whatever that is, to help others.
4.) Mentoring is a great way to pass along knowledge. Programs like iMentor and Big Brothers Big Sisters are always in need of more mentors.
5.) Person-to-person microlending and giving aggregators in the U.S. are giving a much-needed boost to small businesses, artists, and innovators. Kickstarter and LendingClub are two great places to learn about this growing trend and play a part, either as a lender or a borrower.
I’d love to hear stories about how you used the gifts you have to create a better world!
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
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“No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” ~ Edmund Burke
Christa Avampato 