speech on making a difference

41 Inspirational Quotes On Making A Difference

Helping others and making a difference in the world is what will help to make the world a better place by improving people’s lives. One person at a time, one day at a time, and one project at a time, you can make a difference that will leave a lasting impact on the world. May these Quotes On Making A Difference inspire you to strive to help others and make a positive effect on everyone.

1.  “We can choose to be affected by the world or we can choose to affect the world.” Heidi Wills

2.  “We rise by lifting others.” Robert Ingersoll

3.  “No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted.” Aesop

4.  “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jake Goodall

5. “I believe that I can make a difference.” ATGW

6.  “If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world.” Elaine S. Dalton

7.  “I believe that one individual who is determined to make a difference in the world, can, with desire, drive, dedication, discipline, passion, and persistence . The world can be altered and billions of people’s lives can be impacted positively in an unimaginable way.” ATGW

8.  “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” John F. Kennedy

9.  “Never doubt that one person can make a difference.” Ingrid Newkirk

10. “To make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care enough and be there.” Anonymous

11.  “Help others to see themselves better than they are until they believe.” ATGW

12.  “Act as if what you do makes a difference, it does.” William James

13.  “In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love .” Mother Teresa

14.  “You can make a difference.” Anonymous

15. “If you cannot feed a hundred people, feed one.” Mother Teresa

16.  “Little things make a big difference.” Yogi Berra

17.  “If we want to change things, we must first change ourselves. If we want to play – if we want to change the world – we must first show up on the field to score.” Paul Rusesabagina

18.  “We can talk about making a difference or we can make a difference.” Anonymous

19.  “The mind has exactly the same power as the hands: not merely to grasp the world, but to change it.” Colin Wilson

20. “The difference we make in other people’s lives is eternal.” ATGW

21.  “Make a difference, not just a living.” Anonymous

22.  “There is no greater joy , nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life.” Mary Rose McGeady

23.  “Aim to make a difference in someone’s life every single day, including your own.” Dow Zantamata

24.  “Each of us can make a positive difference if we commit ourselves to do so.” Dr. Cornel West

25. “There is no greater reward than working from your heart, and making a difference in the world.” Carlos Santana

26.  “We must be free inside to make a difference outside.” Vishal Mangalwadi

27.  “Believe with all your heart that how you live your life makes a difference.” Colin Brown

28.  “You don’t need to come from wealth or privilege to make a difference.” Joni Ernst

29.  “I’m going to make a difference.” ATGW

30. “Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader, they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role, always about the goal.” Jeremy Bravo

31.  “You may find that making a difference for others makes the biggest difference in you.” Brian Williams

32.  “ Vision comes alive when everyone sees where his or her contribution makes a difference.” Ken Blanchard

33.  “Anybody can make a difference and be voice for the voiceless.” Zach Hunter

34.  “I came to make a difference.” Lawton Chiles

35. “Never underestimate the valuable and important difference you make in every life you touch for the impact you make today has a powerful rippling effect on every tomorrow.” Leon Brown

36. “Heart is what makes a difference.” Jerry Sloan

37. “Believe that what you do matters and will make a difference in people’s lives. You don’t have to save the world in one stroke but you can make a difference one person at a time.” Anonymous

38. “Make a difference. Live a life that matters.” Frank McKinney

39. “Don’t chase success. Decide to make a difference and success will find you.” Jon Gordon

40. “Your life is your message to the world. Make sure it’s inspiring.” Anonymous

41. “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a difference.” Nelson Mandela

I hope you enjoyed these Quotes On Making A Difference. Do let us know which one was your favorite in the comments section below.

Check Out This Video On Making A Difference:

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My name is Asad Meah, I am the CEO & Founder of AwakenTheGreatnessWithin. I am a dreamchaser who has gained a wealth of knowledge in entrepreneurship and personal development over the past five years through self-education. My mission is to inspire millions of people to become entrepreneurs by awakening their minds to their greatness that resides within them.

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21 comments.

August 26, 2020 at 11:55 am

thesse isss soooo amazing we need people like this

Hasan Al-Jarrah

January 24, 2021 at 11:12 pm

Definitely!

December 28, 2019 at 11:46 am

The quotes are rally good.love to read this.

January 19, 2020 at 12:30 pm

Olivia Willis

August 13, 2019 at 8:09 am

I am going to use 2 of these awesome quotes in a speech competition that I got chosen for and I am sure people will love these quotes like I do!

August 26, 2019 at 12:31 pm

Glad you enjoyed the article Olivia Amazing stuff! You will definitely win

March 25, 2019 at 2:34 pm

all quotes are really amazing

March 28, 2019 at 5:57 pm

Glad you enjoyed the quotes Sabreena

Shaka Abraham

March 24, 2019 at 2:19 am

God bless you.

I am Shaka from Uganda. I have Used some of your quotes they’re awesome. I am on the same pursuit for my country. I have this believe I can help change the mind of many Ugandans eradicate poverty in their lives and in our country. I am trying to my potential. I know I must learn a lot.

I am a pastor a very young church in Uganda and believe much can change. I have a already seen much changes since I began this journey and taking care of so many vulnerable people and showing them to way to success through my God given wisdom and education, gifts. and potential.

March 28, 2019 at 6:03 pm

Glad to have made a positive difference in your life and to others Shaka Your story is very inspirational Yes – we must empower people, that is the key And show them that they can achieve anything that they set their mind to with hard work and dedication May God bless you

Johnmary Kavuma

March 6, 2019 at 5:06 pm

The quotes are just amazing

March 7, 2019 at 7:19 pm

Glad you enjoyed the quotes Johnmary

mahima gupta

February 21, 2019 at 5:38 pm

all quotes were really amazing and These are the best motivating Quote I’ve found.

February 22, 2019 at 11:34 am

Glad you enjoyed the quotes Mahima

Garry Pahwa

February 3, 2019 at 7:38 pm

All of the quotes were so awesome and amazingly motivating.

January 24, 2019 at 6:55 pm

Great quotes please post more quotes like these.

January 29, 2019 at 10:27 pm

Glad you enjoyed the quotes Garry Will do!

Anthony Emmanuel

December 28, 2018 at 9:01 am

I enjoy your quotes. More power to your elbow. God bless you.

December 30, 2018 at 6:35 pm

Thanks Anthony, lol God bless you too

October 9, 2018 at 2:39 am

he is success, who can make a difference. thanks for you awesome quotes, these will inspire people a lot.

October 17, 2018 at 7:27 pm

We all can make a positive difference Glad you enjoyed the quotes Risha

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61 Best Quotes About Making a Difference in the World

The truth is: There are a lot of problems in the world.

Climate change, poverty, divisive politics, racism, consumerism, mental health struggles, access to health care, natural disasters, malnutrition, gun violence, and more...

These problems can sometimes feel insurmountable.

But you know what other problems also felt insurmountable? Chattel slavery, the depleting ozone layer, women's suffrage, polio, civil rights for Black Americans, and so much more...

But for each of these injustices, ordinary people stepped up to something, to create change, to make a difference.

These problems weren't solved overnight , and there's still more work to be done, but it's clear that the collective work of countless individuals had led to significant progress — saving and improving lives around the world.

And today, each of us can do the same for the injustices we see all around us. Each of us have the power to make a difference — in big and small ways.

May we learn from difference makers from the past and present about how to make a difference in the world, in our countries, in our communities, and for the individual people we encounter every day.

Dive into these beautiful, inspirational quotes about doing good in the world — and then go out and make a difference yourself.

You might also like: 35+ ideas on ways to make a difference around the world and in your community

You might also like: The best quotes about change

Quotes About Helping Others and Making a Difference

Famous inspirational quotes.

“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” — John F. Kennedy

“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” — Nelson Mandela

“If you cannot feed a hundred people, feed one.” — Mother Teresa

“Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room.” — The Dalai Lama

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” ― Edward Everett Hale

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” ― Muhammad Ali

“There is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it.” — Amanda Gorman

You might also like: Quotes about doing good | Quotes about activism | Quotes about kindness | Quotes about giving back | Quotes about caring

In the World

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say it’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem, then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” — Fred Rogers

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” — Martin Luther King, Jr ., American civil rights leader

“Peace is the opposite of dreaming. It’s built slowly and surely through brutal compromises and tiny victories that you don’t even see. It’s a messy business, bringing peace into the world.” — Bono , musician & co-founder of Product (RED) and ONE

“No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do.” — Dorothy Day, Catholic social activist & journalist

“Activism is my rent for living on the planet.” — Alice Walker, American writer & social activist

In the Lives of Others

“What you do for yourself dies with you when you leave this world, what you do for others lives on forever.” — Ken Robinson

“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” — Mother Teresa

“When you see something that is not just, not fair, or not right, you have to do something. You have to say something. Make a little noise. It's time for us to get into good trouble, necessary trouble.” — John Lewis

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit” — Nelson Henderson

“You may find that making a difference for others makes the biggest difference in you.” — Brian Williams

“Regardless of whatever I do, I know what my purpose is: to make a difference in people’s lives.” — Tim Tebow

“We can't just hope for a brighter day, we have to work for a brighter day. Love too often gets buried in a world of hurt and fear. And we have to work to dig it out so we can share it with our family, our friends, and our neighbors.” — Dolly Parton

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States & co-founder of the Women's Rights Project at the ACLU

In the Life of a Child

“Don’t expect change to happen overnight, even if it’s not always visible it’s making more impact than you think.” — Emma Watson

“When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you're making a commitment and difference in that person's life. Encouragement really does make a difference.” — Zig Ziglar

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall

“If your presence doesn’t make an impact, your absence won’t make a difference.” — Trey Smith

On How One Person Can Make a Difference

“I alone can’t change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa

“Joy can be real only if people look upon their lives as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.” — Leo Tolstoy

“Each of us can make a difference. It doesn’t have to be anything spectacular. Keep the neighbor’s kid while she goes to the store or to the doctor, or befriend somebody in need. I don’t mean you have to take them into your home, but you can find a place for them to stay or see that they get food. You can do an act of kindness every single solitary day, because it’s needed.” — Opal Lee

“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something... My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference. ” — Jimmy Carter

“Do it! What are you waiting on? Do it! Stand up for what you believe in. The world needs your voice. Whoever you are, you have something to say. Say it.” — Kerry Washington, American actress, director, and activist

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” ― Anne Frank

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.” — Maya Angelou

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” — Robert F. Kennedy

“One person can make a difference. You don't have to be a big shot. You don't have to have a lot of influence. You just have to have faith in your power to change things.” — Norman Vincent Peale

“You do only live once, and I feel like if I’m able to make a difference on this planet and make it just a little better than I found it, then I’ve done my job.” — Bindi Irwin 

On Making a Difference Together

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu , South African Anglican bishop & human rights and anti-apartheid activist

“Each of us can make a positive difference if we commit ourselves to do so.” — Dr. Cornel West

“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a difference.” — Nelson Mandela

“No one changes the world alone and no one doesn’t change it at all.” — Hank Green

“The world would be a paradise of peace and justice if global citizens shared a common definition of love which would guide our thoughts and action.” — bell hooks

“In a society that functions optimally, those who can should naturally want to provide for those who can't. That's how it's designed to work. I truly believe we're here to take care of one another.” — LeVar Burton

Short Motivational Quotes

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“The need is great and so are the opportunities to make a difference.” — Paul Newman

“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something…” — Jimmy Carter

“When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

“Make a difference about something other than yourselves.” — Toni Morrison

“It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference.” — Tom Brokaw

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” — St. Catherine of Siena

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” — Angela Davis , American political activist & academic

“I've found the cure for depression is action” — Yvon Chouinard , founder of Patagonia & climate activist

For Teachers

“There is no greater reward than working from your heart, and making a difference in the world.” — Carlos Santana

“In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa

“If you believe you can make a difference, not just in politics, in public service, in advocacy around all these important issues, then you have to be prepared to accept that you are not going to get 100 percent approval.” — Hillary Clinton

More Make a Difference Quotes

“A joyful rebellion is you living differently not because you’re mad at how things are but because you are swelling with joy at the thought of how things could be.” — Kid President

“We have the potential to help people out of poverty, out of disease, out of slavery, and out of conflict. Too often, we turn the other way because we think there's nothing we can do.” — Alicia Keys

“I cannot prevent anyone from getting angry, or mad, or frustrated. I can only hope that they’ll turn that anger and frustration and madness into something positive” — Harvey Milk , first openly gay elected official in California

“What is Apple, after all? Apple is about people who think 'outside the box,' people who want to use computers to help them change the world, to help them create things that make a difference, and not just to get a job done.” — Steve Jobs

“I have a little different definition of evil than most people. When you have the opportunity and the ability to do good and you do nothing, that's evil. Evil doesn't always have to be an overt act, it can be merely the absence of good.” — Yvon Chouinard , founder of Patagonia & climate activist

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

You might also like: 20+ ways to give back to your community

Curated quotes from the world's leading difference makers

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What does it mean to make a difference (a definition).

• Volunteering time at the local library
• Cleaning up trash in your community
• Being kind to other people
• Donating blood
• Adopting a child
• Community leadership
• Donating large sums of money
• Careers devoted to the health and safety of others, such as first responders and soldiers

Why Is Making a Difference Important?

Making a difference in people's lives, making a difference in your community, video: make a difference in your community.

• Picking up trash
• Shoveling snow on sidewalks
• Respecting other’s space and property
• Volunteering for other local organizations such as animal shelters or libraries

Making a Difference in the World

Make a Difference by Volunteering

• Animal Rescue
• Veterans Center
• Outdoor spaces

Jobs That Make a Difference

• Firefighter
• Social Worker
• Local service personnel (plumbers, electricians, etc.)

Making a Difference as a Leader

Video: what it means to make a difference.

Are You Making a Difference?

• Are you kind to other people on a daily basis?
• Do you try to be helpful in an effort to make others’ lives and jobs easier?
• Are you raising your child to be the type of person you want to see in the world?
• Does your job involve directly, or indirectly, providing care or service to others?
• Do you spend time volunteering for causes that are important to you?

How to Make a Difference

• Spend some time thinking about the things you care about the most. Are you raising children? Does a family member have a disability or disease you can advocate for? Are you passionate about rescuing animals or cleaning up forests? It’s much easier to put effort towards things that you care about. 
• Evaluate the places in your life where you are already making a difference. Even if you don’t realize it, there are likely many areas of your life where you are already making a difference. Maybe you set a good example of regulating your emotions for your child. Maybe you have a co-worker who strives to follow in your footsteps. Perhaps you rescued an animal from being run over on a busy street. All of these small actions can have a positive outward ripple effect.
• Decide where—and if—you could devote more time and energy . Sometimes our plates are full and there simply isn’t any extra time or energy to take on extra responsibilities. Even if you don’t have the time to commit to volunteering, putting more kindness into everyday interactions or learning to be more selfless is a small gesture that makes a big difference.
• Take action . The only way to actually make a difference is to take action . This action does not have to be huge, like changing career paths (though some people do make that decision). The action can be signing up to volunteer once a month, learning and implementing strategies to be a better leader or parent, or even just being deliberately kind to other people.

Quotes on Making a Difference

• “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ― Jane Goodall
• “There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.” ― Mandy Hale
• “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
• “We can talk about making a difference or we can make a difference.” ― Anonymous
• “I think there’s no higher calling in terms of a career than public service, which is a chance to make a difference in people’s lives and improve the world.” ― Jack Lew
• “I choose bold. I choose action. I choose what’s right for the people. I choose to make a difference.” ― Bill Richardson
• “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” ― Barbara De Angelis

Articles Related to  Making a Difference​

• ​ How to Be a More Generous Person
• Words of Kindness: Definition, Examples & List
• ​ Random Acts of Kindness: List of 99+ Ideas & Examples ​​​​

Books Related to Making a Difference​

• ​ Make A Difference: In the lives of those you love, live with, and lead
• Make a Difference: Following Your Passion and Finding Your Place to Serve
• Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence That Caring Makes a Difference

Final Thoughts on Making a Difference

Don't forget to grab our free ebook to learn how to grow your wellness business exponentially.

• Headey, B. (2007). Life goals matter to happiness: A revision of set-point theory . Social Indicators Research, 86(2), 213–231.
• Hui, B. P., Ng, J. C., Berzaghi, E., Cunningham-Amos, L. A., & Kogan, A. (2020). Rewards of kindness? A meta-analysis of the link between prosociality and well-being . Psychological Bulletin, 146(12), 1084–1116. 
• Kelloway, E. K., Weigand, H., McKee, M. C., & Das, H. (2012). Positive leadership and employee well-being . Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 20(1), 107–117. 
• Piliavin, J. A., & Siegl, E. (2007). Health benefits of volunteering in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study . Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 48(4), 450–464. 
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Speeches > F. Melvin Hammond > One Man Can Make a Difference

One Man Can Make a Difference

F. melvin hammond.

Professor of Political Science and Religion at Ricks College

June 21, 1988

My dear brothers and sisters, I am happy to be with you today, especially as you are beginning a new summer session of study at Brigham Young University. It is pleasing to me to see so many of my dear friends—President Holland, my family, and my mission family, who have come to lend their love and spiritual strength to me on this occasion.

This is a devotional assembly. It is a moment for each of us to think of heavenly things, of things that will build our spiritual strength and draw us closer to our Heavenly Father. I realize, in part, the responsibility that has been placed upon me. Therefore, I seek for the spirit of the Holy Ghost to be with me. And I pray that you, too, will sense my desire and let your faith and prayers be exercised in my behalf.

The famous Christian reformer, Billy Sunday, is quoted as having said that the secret to his success was that “He started a fire in himself and the people came to watch him burn.” I feel that I have come with a fire in my heart, kindled by the love that I have for the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that as the Spirit burns in me, this same Spirit will ignite a fire in you. “Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together” (D&C 50:22).

Because of One Man

Some time ago, while laboring in the Lord’s missionary service, a wonderful missionary came to see me. It was near the end of his mission. He was very depressed. Saddened by his own perception of personal success, he had imposed upon himself a standard from which he had fallen far short. As he spoke, he recounted for me the difficult time he had experienced in the MTC. While he was there, his father had died unexpectedly, and for a brief period of time the elder had considered leaving the mission and returning home. But, encouraged by a loving mother and spurred on by an individual commitment, he continued his training and finally found himself in the beautiful country of Bolivia.

I listened to him as he told me of the initial efforts he had made in his mission to work hard, pray often, follow all the rules, and be a model missionary—expecting, of course, to be rewarded with hundreds of baptisms. But, unfortunately, the baptisms had not come. Gradually he began to slacken his pace. He felt that his prayers were not being heard, so why pray? The mission rules seemed somehow to be burdensome. They were restrictive, silly things, written by the mission president only to goad and irritate him and the other missionaries.

In despair, he said, “And now I’m nobody! What I do won’t make any difference!” Then searchingly, he quickly added, “Will it, President Hammond?”

For an instant the same questions passed through my own mind. “Can he make a difference? Can I? Can anyone? Does it matter what one man does?” Then, in my mind’s eye I saw a myriad of people and events. I found myself talking eagerly and enthusiastically.

“Elder, do you remember a man named Copernicus?”

For more than a millennium men’s ideas about the universe had been cemented in the theories of the Greeks, of Ptolemy and Aristotle. That is to say, the earth was the center of the universe. Even the Catholic church in the thirteenth century, influenced by St. Thomas Aquinas, had adopted the Aristotelian view that the earth lies right in the middle of the heavens. The dreaded Inquisition managed to silence any radical views that might have been expressed. Then, in A.D. 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus published a new truth: that the earth rotates daily on its axis and the planets revolve in orbits around the sun. Of this, Martin Luther is reputed to have said, “The fool wants to turn the whole science of astronomy upside down” (“Pioneers in Man’s Search for the Universe,”  National Geographic  145, no. 5 [May 1974]:627). Copernicus did just that, and in so doing set astronomy free.

One man! And today we are awed into humility by the tremendous scope of the universe. Yes, we measure space by light-years, the distance light travels in one year at the rate of 186,282 miles a second. We know that galaxies are as common as blades of grass in a meadow—perhaps over a hundred billion of them. There are distant objects known as quasars, placed at ten billion light years away from the earth, that in one second throw out enough energy to supply all the earth’s electrical needs for billions of years. And we know of neutron stars whose matter, if contained in a teaspoon, would weigh over a billion tons. The learning goes on and on because of “one man.”

Thousands Followed

The elder seemed interested. For a moment he had forgotten himself and was listening intently. Therefore, I continued. I know of a man raised in India and educated in England as an attorney. He loved his native land and longed for the time that she would be free from the domination of Great Britain. Most of his life he lived in a mud hut that had no electric lights, no running water, no telephone. He didn’t own an automobile, and he never sought or held a public office. By some he was thought to be the most Christ-like person who had ever lived, and yet he was not even a Christian. To India he was the “Mahatma” or “The Great Soul.” He described himself as a “self-remade man.”

When Britain was struggling for survival against the Axis powers during World War II, and some prominent Indian leaders wanted to revolt and throw off her authority, he said, “We will not steal even our independence.” In his efforts to stop the continual fighting between India and Pakistan he often subjected himself to prolonged fasts. During one of those lengthy ordeals a medical doctor tried to get him to take a small portion of beef broth, to which he commented, “Even for life itself we may not do certain things. There is only one course open to me—to die, but never to break my pledge.” And as they begged him to eat or drink, fearing for his life, for his kidneys had begun to fail, he simply said, “Life is more than science and God more than chemistry” (see Sterling W. Sill,  The Glory of the Sun  [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1961], pp. 309–10).

Someone has said, “When Cicero speaks, the people say, ‘How eloquent!’ When Demosthenes speaks, the people say, ‘Come, let us march!’” When this humble Indian went out from his house to walk, multitudes followed him. Thousands were willing to submit to death rather than take up arms against their enemies because he did not believe in violence, but rather in the principles of peace and love.

On 30 July 1948, as he hurried to the village prayer ground, blessing the people as he went, a religious fanatic shot and killed him. The Mahatma was gone. His name was Mohandas K. Gandhi. Only one man! Yet through his efforts, India was granted her freedom. The name  Gandhi  will live on forever—in the annals of time.

“In the Hands of Man”

“You see, Elder, there are men who have truly made a difference.”

Yet we must use prudence in our study, for it is possible that evil men can also have a lasting effect upon their fellow beings. A demented Austrian with a view of total world control used his evil genius to disrupt the whole earth. Plunging the civilized world into war, his powerful armies created havoc throughout all of Europe. His regime left behind a path of death and destruction that had few equals in the history of the world. His racial myth of Aryan supremacy was responsible for the mass murder of over six million Jews and many more millions of members of other races, supposedly “inferior” to the Germans. The names of the death camps of Dachau, Buchenwald, and others will long be remembered as horrible proof of the depth of depravity to which supposedly civilized countries may descend. Such atrocities were instigated by one man, Adolf Hitler, who caused himself to be called simply “Der Führer.” In a pamphlet written of the tragedy of Dachau, the author said, “Man cannot trust himself in the hands of man” (pamphlet distributed at Dachau).

Truly a man may make a difference, but if he is not guided by the Holy Spirit, but rather by the evil one, he may jeopardize all that is sacred in this life and in the life to come.

More Than Any Other Man

The elder sat quietly. Hardly moving. Not speaking. “Are you beginning to understand?” I asked him pointedly.

“I believe I am,” he responded. “But, please, don’t stop now, President. Go on!” I thought for a moment and then continued.

“Very well. There are two others I would like to tell you about.”

On 23 December 1805, a baby boy was born to Joseph and Lucy Smith. They named him after his father. As he grew and developed in mind and in body, schooled in godly principles by his devoted parents, his inquisitive mind sought for religious truth. In response to his humble pleading, the most glorious manifestation ever given to man appeared before him. He saw the living God and Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son. Acting upon their admonitions, one boy (one man) began the incredible task of preparing a way to preach the restored gospel of salvation to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (D&C 133:37).

Progress was slow. The translation of sacred records into the Book of Mormon required considerable time and great effort. There were persecutions, killings—every possible delaying tactic conceivable was employed by Satan to stop the work. Still, “having put his hand to the plough” (Luke 9:62), he did not look back. Many followed him. They were driven from place to place. Finding no rest from their tribulations, they relied only on his leadership and their implicit faith in the Savior of Men.

When he was only thirty-nine years old, a bloodthirsty mob stormed a jail in Carthage, Illinois, where he had been imprisoned unjustly, shooting and killing him and his brother Hyrum. His murderers believed that in this way they would stop the work Joseph had begun. But the work did not stop, for it is the work of God. Today, because of one man and his indomitable character for good, the truth is being proclaimed in much of the known world. Of him, Elder John Taylor has said,

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.  [D&C 135:3]

Because He First Loved Us

“And now I come to the last, yet by far the most significant of all,” I said to the young elder.

He was born a babe in Bethlehem of old and placed in a manger by his beautiful virgin mother, Mary. He was the firstborn son in the spirit world and the only begotten son of Eloheim in the flesh. As he grew, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). At the age of thirty he began his public ministry. To the ancient prophet Nephi, an angel said,

Look and behold the condescension of God!

And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken. . . .

And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them. . . .

. . . And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits. . . . And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.

. . . And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.

And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.  [1 Nephi 11:26–33]

As a resurrected being he proclaimed to the Nephites, on this continent:

And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even  so  should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

And for this cause have I been lifted up.  [3 Nephi 27:14–15]

All this was precipitated by one thing: his infinite love for all of God’s children. The Apostle John said, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). One man!—the Son of the Eternal God, who submitted himself to all of these things in order that we, you and I, might live again with the hope of eternal life.

One Faithful Elder

Now I spoke softly to the young missionary with all the fervor of my soul. I placed my hand on his and said, “Are you ready to go back out into the field of labor? Can you make a difference in the lives of these special Bolivian children of our Heavenly Father? Are you ready to once again ‘take up your cross, follow [him], and feed [his] sheep?’ (D&C 112:14).

It was apparent that his attitude had changed. With a renewed spirit of dedication, tears slipping down his face, he committed himself once again to the work of the Lord. We knelt in prayer together. I blessed him that he would be able to find the way.

Although he had been weak, I felt an inner confidence in him. As I sought to find direction from the Spirit for a new assignment for the elder, I surprised even myself by sending him to one of the most difficult and remote areas of Bolivia—a small community near the Argentine border named Bermejo. The work had gone badly there for some time, with only a few baptisms to reinforce the little handful of Saints who were discouraged and finding it hard to keep the faith.

But the Lord and his ways are wonderful to behold. In his weekly reports to me the missionary told of his diligent efforts to contact the people and preach the gospel to them. He indicated that they were slow to listen, but that he was continuing his faithful stewardship in that part of the Lord’s vineyard. And then it happened!

Overnight a small river running near the village of Bermejo, fed by heavy rains in the mountains, rose to a height never before known in the history of the land. Homes were swept away; and people were drowned. The only bridge connecting the city to the main road was torn from its footings and washed downstream. Communications were destroyed. There was chaos everywhere. Two young missionaries were caught in the turmoil of death and destruction caused by the flooding waters. And one remembered that “a man can make a difference.” He threw himself into the turbulent waters to rescue many who were drowning; he sought for those buried beneath fallen buildings; he gave relief to the injured and succor to the hungry.

And a miracle occurred! He became a hero. He was lauded by the newspapers. His name was spoken over the airwaves. The people mentioned his name with reverence. Those who had previously rejected him and the message he carried now searched him out. Their doors were opened to receive him. They loved him! They accepted his burning testimony of Jesus Christ and the gospel restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. In the few months that remained of his mission he brought scores of wonderful people into the Church. He saw the men receive the holy priesthood and their wives become more lovely in Relief Society activity. Today a beautiful chapel stands in Bermejo. On the Sabbath day it is full of people who still remember one faithful elder who made a difference.

What Difference Will You Make

And now, just for a moment: What can  you  do to make a difference? Each one of those about whom I have spoken paid a price for his remarkable achievements. It seems there is always a price! May I suggest a few methods that will start you on the road to making a difference.

First, attend all three of your Sabbath-day meetings—without fail! Then you will be instructed in principle and truth. You will be reminded of sacred baptismal covenants as you take the Lord’s sacrament.

Second, pay your tithing and your offerings faithfully. Then you will begin to understand the purpose for the law of sacrifice and the law of consecration.

Third, maintain a resolute firmness in keeping the law of chastity. Then you will be a pure vessel where darkness is removed and where light remains.

Fourth, when you are prepared, go to the Lord’s house. There you will be taught in the ways of godliness and be prepared to receive a fullness of the priesthood.

Fifth, preach the everlasting gospel in word and deed. Then you will share in the joy of a converted soul—you will understand true joy. And you will win the crown of eternal life.

And what difference will you make? The kingdom of God will be strengthened by your membership. Your character will become as strong as steel. You will be a source of spiritual wisdom and strength to many. And God will love you!

As I look at you, children of Israel, I see the light of truth glowing in your eyes. I know that your desires are good. I pray that you will remember the lives of such great men as Copernicus and Gandhi, that you will not forget what evils can be wrought by men such as Adolph Hitler. I beseech you to think often of Joseph Smith and how his life has affected your own. I humbly remind you of the only pure, sinless life ever lived on this earth, that of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I sincerely confess to you my love for him. I witness that he lives and that he loves us. Seek for him! Be like him! He is the Way, the Light, and the Life. And when you find him, you, too, will make a difference. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

F. Melvin Hammond was a professor of political science and religion at Ricks College when this devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 21 June 1988.

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Not Too Young to Make a Difference: Young Leaders are Leading on the Global Goals

By Genelle Quarles Adrien on August 10, 2018

Today’s youth generation is the largest the world has ever seen. There are 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24. And, they will soon be responsible for a world with rising global challenges like hunger, climate change, and conflict.

It’s challenges like these that are motivating young people around the world to take action. Not only are they raising their voices, they are also stepping up in their communities and showing that with optimism and determination, global change is possible.

One of these young people is Askadeline Malines. Askadeline is 13, plays the guitar, and loves to visit her family in the Dominican Republic . She is also passionate about fighting for gender equality, standing up for immigrants’ rights, and working to tackle climate change and poverty in her Bronx community. Askedeline is an alumnus of the NYC Junior Ambassadors Program .

An initiative of the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, the Junior Ambassadors Program connects seventh grade classrooms across New York City to the United Nations and empowers students to see themselves as global citizens. Students learn about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and lead projects in their communities to help achieve them.

As a Junior Ambassador, Askadeline has given speeches at the UN, organized a carnival to promote gender equality in her neighborhood, and encouraged her fellow classmates to strive for change through the SDGs.

In Askedeline’s words, “the SDGs help us feel empowered.”

I had a chance to chat with Askadeline about her time as a Junior Ambassador, what it’s like to visit the UN, and why she’s motivated to build a better future for her community now and for generations to come. Here’s what she had to say.

Genelle Adrien: As a young person, why do you care about the Global Goals? What sparked your interest in global issues?

Askadeline Malines: I care about these global goals because they are the key to helping the world we have right now. I need to focus on these global goals and help inspire other kids to take action.

What sparked my interest was the NYC Junior Ambassador Program and the problems people all over the world were facing. I wanted to help instead of staying home and doing absolutely nothing. I don’t like seeing others in trouble and waiting for someone else to answer the call.

GA: We know you organized a gender equality event in your community. Can you talk about why SDG 5 is important to you? How can other young people help their communities strive for gender equality?

AM: Gender equality is important because it addresses most of our global goals, specifically towards human rights. We should all start with the rights of the people because when people have what they need, they are then more able to help others and the environment.

It’s a matter of using the cards you’ve been dealt. Now as a young person I have to speak out to other young people—the way for youth to strive for gender equality is to spread the word. This can be done on social media, used by billions of people, or creating a club at school to inform the broader community.

GA: How did you feel when you visited the United Nations? What does the UN mean to you?

AM: The United Nations is a place where I can be myself and fight for what I believe in. It’s a place where those who have power can listen to what I have to say and do something about it. It’s a second home to me.

The UN means so much to me because there are so many important people I can look up to, who do so much to help the world around them. It’s full of people who actually care about changing the world. The world isn’t too small for them or too large for me to make a difference.

GA: What has been your favorite part of the NYC Junior Ambassadors Program?

AM: I liked many things about the NYC Junior Ambassadors program, including simulations of UN conferences, writing letters to the mayor, hosting the gender equality carnival, and creating an event to support those we have lost in school shootings.

The program was a lot of fun and my teachers did so much to make learning fun and inspiring. Every day was another life lesson. Each day was spent together planning for the future. It was an amazing experience and it got me to the UN, so I’m very grateful for it.

GA: We know sometimes the Global Goals can feel too big for any one person to achieve. What are some small actions everyone can take to achieve them? What advice do you have for young people?

AM: A few small things we can all do as individuals would be to research the UN and the Global Goals to learn more about them. To take action is something we can’t all do alone—having an adult around or just one more person to help you can do so much. You can figure out ways to accomplish the triple “Rs” – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, more efficiently.  

Or, even more easily, just making compost for the plants in your neighborhood and teaching others about it can make a difference. My advice would be to pick one or two global goals to research, find an adult if you’re a young person like I am, or a friend to help you discuss what you want to do. We can all do something to help. You are never too small or too young to find what inspires you. Use that to move forward.

The NYC Junior Ambassadors program is an initiative of the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs focused on empowering 7th graders across all five boroughs to become actively engaged with the United Nations by leveraging New York City’s unique position as host city to the UN headquarters. NYC Junior Ambassadors learn to see themselves as global citizens by using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the primary lens for understanding the work of the UN and related global issues, so that they can begin to take action locally starting in their own neighborhoods. Learn more about the program here: https://on.nyc.gov/2KGwXN9

Shawna Coronado

A TEDx Speech – How One Person Can Make A Difference

Speaking at TEDx was an amazing experience. You see, after I had countless health problems, took dozens of prescriptions a day, and felt terribly unfulfilled. After I left a high pressure sales job downtown Chicago that I hated. After living for 15 years without getting outside in nature. After building side-yard gardens , back yard gardens , front lawn gardens , and helping my friends build out their gardens. After all that I built a drought tolerant/native plant garden behind my fence on an area of property which I did not know at the time was city property and had to fight for it to stay.

That garden changed my life.

It all started with the impossible thought that I could beautify my community via this garden space. At first it was small; just around my back gate. Then it expanded the length of my property. Soon I asked my neighbors if I could garden on the space behind their homes as well. I could never guess that the story about this garden would have a global impact.

I began gardening out behind the fence at the same time I started writing books which is based on the  transformation for the good people can make if they get out in nature and live a greener more sustainable life. At the end of that time in 2008 I was down to only two prescriptions per day, had left the job I hated, and was well on my way to an adventure I never could have dreamed would happen. Since then I have spent a lot of time sharing and speaking, I have worked hard to inspire sustainable social action, and I see the world a whole lot differently than when I started this journey.

When Dafna Jenet , an organizer at TEDx, invited me to speak at TEDxCrestmoorParkWomen in Denver, Colorado, I was incredibly honored. She asked me to share my story and passionate belief  that one person CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE for positive social good and environmental awareness. Speaking at TEDx was SO COOL – I met many inspirational people and learned so much. You have been along for this crazy journey with me, so I wanted to share the video of the speech with you – many of you have inspired new thinking in my soul and made me a better person so this little blog has been really special for me. (If you received this post via email and cannot see the video, please click through to the website and you will see it there.) Some of you may not agree with the speech and some of you may. Either way, it is from my heart and I hope that means something. Thank you for sharing and for being there with me both in good times and in bad. Thank you. Thank you. I love you.

Please share my video if you like it and definitely leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts on how we all might make a difference in our communities.

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I can’t believe I watched a whole 5 minute video. Entranced. Inspired. Amazing.

Thank you very much for your love and support. 🙂

Shawna I loved the video! That is exactly what we need to be doing everywhere! I need to get that type of motivation as I am trying to start an indoor and outdoor garden learning center for kids and adults with special needs.

Thanks Jim! Best of luck to you with the special needs peeps. I know you can do it.

You have a great message, a really sensible one. And you deliver it in a great way. Do you know the ”Incredible Edible” movement from U.K. ? There seems to be a worldwide social and gardening revolution. I am from Montreal, Canada. I will keep on coming and check on you from time to time. 🙂

http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/home

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It’s time to disrupt the status quo for how we speak in public.

We are living through a period of great change and our existing model of speaking in front of audiences is outdated. It represents a standard of speaking that deactivates, instead of activates; that is a monologue, instead of a dialogue; and that is zipped-up and tense, instead of relaxed and at ease. Our present reality calls for a different model of speaking, one which connects us to our shared humanity.

As a community of leaders and changemakers at the United Nations, you are in the driver’s seat. What you say and how you say it, matters. Let’s explore three practical ways to meaningfully connect with your audiences.

Activate your voice

We’ve all been there, drowning in the dreary dullness of a monotonous speaker. The air is heavy with the weight of their words and the message has leaked out of the room. We long for movement, laughter, and human connection, but nothing happens.

A secret to defeating vocal monotony is to “play” with your voice. One way to do this is to engage your face when you speak. As you say words, lift your eyebrows and over-enunciate what you say with your mouth. To get a sense of what this feels like, try saying the following quote by Benjamin Franklin three ways:

“If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail”

1.) Say it with very limited lip movement and no other facial gestures. This is how monotone people speak, can you feel how constraining this is?

2.) Say it and lift your eyebrows up and down at the same time. Do you hear a change?

3.) Say it and over-enunciate the words with your mouth. Notice a difference? Another way to play with your voice is to use vocal accents. These include varying the volume and the speed of your voice and “popping” your words. Try saying the following sentence while emphasizing (popping) each word separately:

“Why do you love?”

“WHY do you love”; “Why DO you love”; “Why do YOU love”; “Why do you LOVE.” Do you see how the skill of popping makes such a big difference? It transforms the meaning of the sentence. Speakers who know how to use vocal accents effectively, can bring their words to life and connect to the hearts and minds of their audiences.

Make your speech a dialogue, not a monologue

Too many speeches these days are a one-way street. A unidirectional transfer of information from one brain to many. This model is flawed because people don’t remember what you tell them, they remember how you make them feel.

An effective way to activate your audience into feeling something is to make every speech you give a conversation. From the point of view of creating your content, simulate a dialogue. Imagine yourself as the audience asking “who”, “what”, “where”, “why”, and “how” questions. In your speaking, you can actually say: “You might be asking yourself, WHY is this important”; or “Raise your hand if you are curious about HOW this works”. Your aim is to engage your audience in a two-way exchange so that they feel involved. Audience participation is an excellent conduit for this.

Tension is the enemy of connection

Beyond the suggestions shared so far, the very best one is to release tension whenever it surfaces. If you don’t it will tighten the muscles of your face, neck, chest, and lower body, shrinking your presence, limiting the sound of your voice, and making your body rigid. This will chip away your credibility, undermine your message, and make it much harder to connect with your audiences. To reduce tension, get into the habit of warming up your whole body before you speak and aim to keep it tension-free.

No free lunch

The practical suggestions highlighted here are an excellent starting point for those of you who feel called to make more meaningful connections with your audiences. The key to success with this timely and noble goal is to understand that learning the art of effective leadership speaking takes effort and dedication. There is no free lunch. It involves you doing the work of activating the meaning of your words, creating dialogues instead of monologues, and vanquishing tension. When you’ve mastered these elements, there is a lot more to discover about this remarkable art form, especially as it pertains to speaking online, which is how most of us speak in front of audiences these days. Get curious, never stop learning, and stay committed to improving yourself so that you and a growing number of other leaders and changemakers can help make the world a better place, one speech at a time.

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Taylor Mali's speeches focus on the nobility of the teaching profession. Having taught for nine...

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Taylor Mali's Making a Difference Speech Delves Into the Teaching World

How to Make a Difference in the World

Many people believe that they don’t have what it takes to make a difference in the world. They believe only people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and the like, are capable of making a positive impact.

The truth is, every one of us can contribute and make a difference in our own unique way. It need not be anything out of the world. It just needs to be something you do with the intention of ‘doing good’.

The following are eight ideas for how anyone can make a difference in the world:

1. It Need Not Be an Enormous Task

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one. – Mother Teresa

You already have what it takes to make the world a better place. Making a difference to the world may seem like an enormous task, but it is in fact the collective effort of everyone to make small contributions with a lot of heart.

The size of the contribution is not what matters most . The key here is to have the heart to do it.

2. Start Now

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. – Anne Frank

There is no one best time to start to make a difference in the world. You don’t need to wait until you have the time to share some love; you don’t have to wait till you make more money to share a slice of bread. Little efforts count, and you can start making small contributions today.

3. Your Contribution is Never Too Small

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. – Author Unknown

If you think that everything has been taken care of by somebody and your contribution is not going to make much of a difference, then you’re wrong. Can you imagine if everyone else starts to think the same way?

In fact, it is our responsibility to seek ways to contribute, large and small. You don’t have to be concerned you’re only capable of making small contributions. What counts is the effort.

4. The Greatest Gifts of All

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. – Buddha

Happiness and love are the two greatest gifts you can give to the world. Too often, we’re so indulged in our own gratifications that we forget there are people in this world whom we can make a little happier and feel more loved.

As the saying goes, “To receive, you must first give”. The more you give, the more you’ll receive. Let us remind ourselves that in order to receive more happiness and love, let’s spread more of them first.

5. Empower Other People

Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement. – Dale Carnegie

You can change the world by helping one person at a time. One of the ways to help someone is to empower the person. But how do you empower a person? Well, one of the ways is to be generous in giving praise and encouragement instead of criticism.

By praising and encouraging the person, you’d have helped him/her to accomplish what he/she is meant to be, and that would lead to more value being added to the world.

6. Seek to Make a Long-Lasting Effect

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. – Benjamin Disraeli

This is Mr. Disraeli’s version of “Give a man a fish; you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime .”

The good that we seek to do will make more of a difference when there’s a long-lasting effect rather than a temporary effect. For example, if we make contributions to build a school, it will benefit many people for years to come.

And when more people receive education, they will in turn provide more value to the world.

7. Stop Whining and Do Something

If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it. – Anthony J. D’Angelo

All the whining and complaining in the world is not going to make a difference to the world. It will only drain you of your precious energy from doing things that do make a difference.

Instead of whining and complaining, seek to use the time more productively by engaging in activities that matter. When it comes to making a difference, nothing matters more than taking action.

8. Lead the Way

A good example has twice the value of good advice. – Albert Schweitzer

Other than doing things to make a difference, we should also seek to influence others to start doing things that make a difference. And the best way to convince other people is to lead by example.

Start doing whatever is within your ability today. Start showing more concern and love to the people around you. Start to make monthly donations to your favorite charity. Start putting more effort into your work to increase the value output.

Every effort counts, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. Just do something, and do something good.

Do you have other suggestions on how we can make a difference in the world? Please share them in the comment section below.

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63 thoughts on “How to Make a Difference in the World”

Thanks for this post. I’ve become more convinced recently that one of the biggest contributions I can make to the world is just giving someone my full attention when I’m talking to them, and letting them know that way that they’re valued and appreciated. It may seem minor at first glance, but several people have told me it’s a great gift.

Really listening to someone can change thier entire perspective of the world, and to me that changes the whole world. Im sure those people that you listen to and pay attention to will in turn do the same for others.

This is so very true. :)

very true,,this small lil things can bring big changes in one’s life..:) :)

Ok I absolutely love this post. I’m only 16 but I want to make a difference in the world. I need help with people noticing me while I talk about but I do. But thanks for this post.

Hello! My name is John and I’m attempting to help people change their lives so that they feel better about themselves and about adding value to the lives of others. Hopefully, one person at a time, we can all help make the world a better place to live. I believe this is better than Hope. It’s a unique opportunity ready to make a huge impact.

I love reading this stuff just before heading to work! It really gives me reason and will to live my day to the fullest and try to make a difference to other people’s lives. Mindfulness and compassion is something I try to practice daily when speaking to others, it’s a win win situation to get yourself into!

This is a really awesome post, one thing I am reminded of, since you mentioned Mahatma Gandhi, was his quote: “prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement, properly understood and applied it is the most potent instrument of action.” I think he was speaking literally, so for me this is a great way to make a difference in the world.

I love the phrase .. happiness and love are the two greatest gifts we can give the world .. whether that world is just around us, or if we’re lucky to a wider world ..

We have the heart and we just need to start .. and we need to acknowledge everyone and say thank you for the things we receive, or are done for our loved ones …

Many thanks – Hilary: Be Positive Be Happy

Sometimes we think that our effort are too small to be recognize but if everyone is thinking like this, then there will be no one making the effort to make the world a better place. So the thing to do is to just do something, a small effort is better than no effort.

Cheers Vincent Personal Development Blogger

Thank you for this guest post; it is very inspiring!

I like the way you focus on helping people develop the right attitude. That is, we can each make a positive difference to the world if we are willing to accept this fact, stop making excuses and just get on with it (no matter how small it is!).

Peter Clemens

Absolutely great post!

It’s good to help people, I personally don’t have the resources to do large things for people, so I always try to help with small things. You don’t have to be rich to help other people!

@Chris Edgar: You’re spot on! Giving someone your full attention will indeed make him/her feel much valued and appreciated. And it is definitely a great gift, both to you and people you pay attention to.

@Chris: I’m glad this article has inspired you to make a difference to the world in your own unique way. Now I know this article has achieved its objective of making a difference to the world for it has inspired you.

@Julian: I’m glad you like the post. And thank you for sharing another of Mahatma Ghandi’s quote. He was indeed a very wise man.

@Hillary: I agree with you. We need to say ‘Thank You’ for everything we receive and appreciate our own good fortune.

@Vincent: Yes, a small effort is better than no effort. We don’t have to be concerned about the size of the effort as long as it comes from the bottom of your heart. Nothing beats something that comes from the heart.

@Peter: Thank you for accepting this guest post! It’s been my honour and pleasure. And I like your attitude of stop making excuses and just get on with it. Awesome!

@Arjen: Thank you for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed this article. And you’re right. You don’t have to be rich to help other people. I hope more people will think the same way.

Thank you guys for sharing your thoughts. It’s been a great pleasure to hear from you. :)

I agree with your first point. It’s a bit of a snow ball effect. Much like creating a habit, it is probably best that the task is not enourmous.

I would also add to your list that a lot of people would make a difference in the world if more people would take responsibility for their actions. This coincides with a previous article on this blog, 5 Fundamentals for Success in Life.

Very nice post!

I like this saying:

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha

Once I talked tomy friend and ask him if he like what he was doing for a living. He said not really. I ask why? He said that his current job is not making a big difference for people. I ask what didn”t he find different job and make a difference. He said that “I want to make a big difference but it is only me and there is nothing I can do, so I would rather stay where I am”

Most people just don’t believe they can make a difference so they don’t even try

Excellent post Mark, I love points 2 and 3. So simple yet so true!

Great guest post.

Cheers, Glen

Beautiful post. Thank you.

@Happiness is Better: I agree with you about the snow ball effect. A huge amount of small contributions make up to a large amount of differences.

@Peter Levin: It’s sad that people don’t see the value in small contributions. Even small value is better than no value.

@Glen: I’m glad you like the post. There are a lot of things in life that are simple yet powerful. More often than not, human beings like to turn simple things into something complicated just so to prove their ‘sophistication’.

Just wanted to say that this is a really great read! #5 stands out to me a lot. It is also my life goal. I love encouraging people, especially teenagers, to be all they can be.

Cheers, Jeremy

@Jeremy: Glad that you enjoyed it! I, too, do my best to encourage people whenever I can. This will not only empower them, but will also empower myself. It’s a great feeling. :)

Hi Mark I could not agree more witht he statment “All the whining and complaining in the world is not going to make a difference to the world. It will only drain you of your precious energy from doing things that do make a difference.” I myself feel SO much better when I don”t focus on “What is” but simply on how I would like things to be! That is a so much better feeling isn’t! thanks for your post

Hey don’t we all have a little megalomania in us? After all, our thoughts are the only ones running through our head, and what we do throughout the day is the only thing we see. So, when we think of changing the world, we tend to look at it from perceptive of a megalomaniac. Hoards of people whispering to one another, pointing in our direction, ‘is that him?’, ‘there he is…that is him!!!!!’

Then we walk into the room like Bono, Tony Robbins, or the Dalai Llama, a rockstar in our own right. We own the crowd and their adoration. We are a demigod.

Ok, so maybe you have no idea what I’m talking about, but that is what my personal view of “changing the world” first emerged as.

Over time I’ve realized that concept was based in immaturity, ego, and too much TV. ;-)

I like the pond & ripples analogy. Everything I do when coming in contact with another person has the ability to ripple through the lives of millions of people through the vessel of emotional contagion that can end up manifesting as a tidal wave – of love, jealousy, introspection, sarcasm, empathy, or courage – crashing on the shore of some tropical island half way around the world.

But there will be no whispering crowds, and even if there were, in reality, it would probably just make me uncomfortable.

Derek @ NüHabits

Every life matters. Everyone has value. Little things mean a lot.

This is a wonderful post!

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” — Dr. Leonardo Buscaglia

“For it is in giving that we receive.” — St. Francis of Assisi

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” — Mother Teresa

This site was very helpful. I was researching info for my next blog post and came across this, some really great tips. I especially like #7! I linked this post to my blog which will come up later this week, check it out…www.veeda.tumblr.com

Great Work .. Magnificent!

i really enjoyed all of it but what really struck me the most was the fact that it is written that the size of the contribution is not what that matters but the heart you take to do it.i hope new ideas keep flushing in day-to-day.This statement has and will keep helping me a lot. Thanks.

If my life could be viewed as a round of golf -then I’m on th back nine and hoping to post a better score than the front nine! I also have the benefit of knowing what worked and what didn’t. Your post is a perfect example of ‘what’s really important’. The only real influence we have is upon those around us and we have a duty to be ‘generous in our approbation and lavish with our praise’. We are each of us better people for the better people we have met. Keep up the good work inspiring, enthusing and motivating – there’s not enough of it about.

It’s really great post Mark!!! It looks like the thinking of most of the common people, who want to do something but because of their this thinking never use to get courage to start.

Thanks again!!!

Really good stuff! I enjoy making people smile. Just a simple smile and hello. I have recently stopped watching daily news because of all of the negative feelings it can sometimes give me about what the world is. I try to read blogs like these, and smile and be friendly to people. It can seem so overwhelming to think of how to ‘save the world’. One step at a time, and sometimes baby steps are all it takes to make a difference in someones day, or life. Reading this blog, and the comments from everyone makes me want to give even more. Thanks again Dave..

Thanks, Mark. This is exactly what I needed right now.

This is what I’ve been dreaming. As Mahatma Gandhi said, ” you must be the change you wish to see in the world” Yeah, you’ve to be a really change you wish to see if you feel you’ve to. As others fellow said above, just nowing the little contribution is better than nothing. So, please let as small contributor in our life in different way. Thanks.

Hmmm. A moment of great clarity for me. I quietly prayed right before I googled “how can I make an impact in this world?” And I found this blog about three searches down. Funny how my concept of contribution .. Sounded more like personal success. Sure I can sing but if my reason for singing is to gratify my need for glory then what was the point?

I can sing a song to a child and soothe their fears and provide comfort, and that grows up to be a teacher or doctor because that moment of love forever changed their life. Small just might be better. In a world where we are bombarded with “super-size” and “high roller” life styles…where for a moment may seem appealing, we were not all made to stand in the spotlight. But for that one person we touch…we are definitely their star!

hey mark i am thiteen and i want to help with famin relief in africa but its a whole continent away i am only a skater with some friends please help me because i dont just want to donate money i want to spend time with the people meet them learn there culture. please help.

thanks blair

If you are truly set on helping these people, the easiest most affordable way would be to reduce the amount of animal products you eat. I don’t want to get into the details of it but to make a long story short it takes more food to feed an animal that feeds you rather than just feeding yourself without the need of the animal.

Thank you Mark, you have just reminded me why I teach yoga in the first place. Thank you again! Emmanuelle

Wonderful blog on how to change the world. And really nice to see people have stopped by and commented. I believe in no pain no gain. When life is tough and difficult life is taking you on a journey and teaching you to be a better person. Without pain and financial struggles you will never know another persons sorrow. You have to keep fighting and when you win you must remember how bad you felt and how you never want another person to feel the same way. The problem with educated people in Government they have never felt financial pain so have no idea what it is like for the little people in this world. Remember the tax payer pays the Government’s wages so who is in control really?

Sadly not many people believe they can change things, because they have not even tried. It is always worth trying and it is better to say “at least I gave it my best shot.” Instead of looking back with regrets. Sadly people can bully others to put up and shut up when they stand up and shout things need to change and I am going to do something about it. You are treated like an alien, instead of commended for fighting verbally for a better world for all our children.

Ignore the bullies and keep smiling and fighting verbally as we do not need to hurt people and cause them pain. Team up with others that dream the same dream and together we can move mountains.

My name is Sharon J. Bainbridge and I hope to one day make sure struggling Mothers get the support they need to provide for their children without getting ripped off! I write for free for London Mum’s Magazine where I blog about arts and crafts for children. I believe our children deserve a better world and believe me their are plenty of rich and powerful people that could make this happen. If only they stopped thinking about themselves!

Amazing comment only one question, how do we team up to fight the “bullies”?

Wow I really loved this post! It’s so encouraging! I’m glad there are people like you in this world Mark. I really feel that if every tried to make a difference in this world there wouldn’t be so much crime,crisis,even natural damages are cause by us humans. Such as Global Warming and pollution,all these things can be stopped. Famine,Animal Cruelty,Poverty. If all of these things really concerned everyone,they’d help out to stop this suffering once and for all! I will continue to try to help out and ask me mom to take me to shelters and difference cleaning sites where I can help the world be a better place. I want to set an example for the world and my little sister! You have shown me that just because I’m only twelve or just because I’m not the richest kid,that I can make a huge difference in this world! Thank You!

I enjoy helping people, I enjoy giving when I can, I enjoy helping other’s, I giving my time to people when they need just someone to be there for them. I love life, but sometimes bad people bring me down and then people see one side which is the upset side of me. I know I ca nmake a differance in the world just by either speaking, helping, giving and listening.

I know it is my fault that I let mean people bring me down because I have a soft heart and for some reason people seen to find my soft spot in my heart and poke at it to bring me down. I just have to become stronger when it comes to dealing with difficult people like that.

never let anybody make you feel bad for wanting to help others. the world could use more selfless people like you.

Just think that no one was born mean, they endured an experience that resulted in them being mean. Someone such as yourself who is kind and soft may actually be stronger than those mean people because you have the courage to show your true heart and stand up for what you believe is right. Never give in.

Hello my name is morgan i am 13,I want to help people in africa because they need food more than i need toys and other…..i need addresses to places in africa so i can send stuff there please help!!!- I have a box of mixed things i want to send there but i have not found an address i need some help please

also make sure you go to youtube and look up kony 2012 watch the whole thing you will want to make a change to!!!!!

I always wanted to make a difference but i always thought that a 14 year old isn`t capable of making a difference but your article help make realize that anybody is capable of making a difference.

Don’t argue with the people that should be working with you, because if they don’t want to fight for something, then you need to move on and think about the bigger picture.

I think that we can help the world by working together. First think we need to do is plant more trees plant gardens. Plant plant plant! Then we all need to recycle more, reuse bottles. We need to step up and realize that we are hurting the world it’s not healthy for us. We also need to stop littering big problem in the world. LETS ALL WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A CHANGE!!!!!!

Hey Mark I just wanted to reply to your article because this has truly inspired me and helped my intentions to be sharper and better. I am almost 18 and I am grateful that I get to take part on this movement and mentality. I can be a butt at times but i wish i found out about this earlier because i would of been nicer. Doing something good feels awesome and i hope people will notice my optimistic energy towards being kind and helpful. Life wasnt going so well the past year but it dosent mean i cant make peoples lives better so i always had the mantality to make peoples day

-Myke Kadava

Awesome.its great to see so much good people in one sitting :) inspiring

I completely agree. I truly want to do something meaningful with my life, I want to make a difference for someone else. Can someone tell me where to go to get started? I’m not interested in the military, I’d just really like to hear some sort of suggestion.

Read books. Books have vast amounts of knowledge and wisdom. From books you will find what truly speaks to you. Don’t stop looking until you find what you are looking for.

A very informative post indeed. These are all valuable lessons to carry in life, it’s amazing how far we can get by spreading positive energy. Not only does it make our own life easier and more enjoyable, but you become a character whom people enjoy being around. You might even plant a seed in their head and inspire them to follow your example. Peace!

What a fantastic article Mark – I am sharing it

Very inspiring article! It has lead me in a search of many more inspirational blogs and websites that contribute to making the world a better place.

Thank you mark for starting such a positive change in people’s lives. We need more inspirational people.

Great thoughts Mark! Number 5 was especially inspiring. Each of us are impacted each day by ordinary heroes who make a difference in our lives. Celebrating their service is important to them…and changes us! Thanks for the inspiration!

This article is so amazing. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Thank you for such a beautiful article.

what an inspiring post. I also belive that we all can do a difference in another persons life. Even the smallest deed can have a great impact on individuals, the community, or the world at large, yet so many of these good deeds remain in the shadows. I have started a blog where I want to bring out their stories, the ones that tend to get buried in negative media news buzz.

This is a great and encouraging post. We all can make a difference. Financial challenges couldn’t me achieve my major academic goals. Yet, I teach a handful of kids for free in my neighbourhood. The joy of watching their intellect expand like the petals of young flowers gives me so much fulfilment. A life well lived for humanity. Our world needs a lot of healing.

Wow .. I totally LOVE this post !

Especially this part …

“You can change the world by helping one person at a time. One of the ways to help someone is to empower the person. But how do you empower a person? Well, one of the ways is to be generous in giving praise and encouragement instead of criticism.”

It Starts a ripple effect … you never know what kind of impact you make even by just empowering 1 person … they could go out and inspire and empower millions..

Thank you for sharing this post ! : )))

You know when you have it in your heart that you want to help. In any small or profound way. But you lack the getting over the fear to make that first step. And when you do, your contributions and voice are not only heard and seen. But they are followed by others that feel the same. And before you know it. You may have impacted more than you expected! We have to always overcome the fear to first ignite the spark to fuel the flame.

Thank you for sharing. These are all so inspirational!

Fantastic Post Mark! I felt sad for a long long time. I thought I couldn’t make anything to change the world. I had the sensation that I was very weak and small to do something about it. My choice, was suffering !! I suffered for the endangered animals, for the Amazon forrest that is disappearing, for the ice that is melting, for the plastic pollution that is killing us….I felt overwhelmed! People around me said that I was an idealist a dreamer!! One day I met a very special person, she was a coworker, a wonderful teacher of primary school. She heard me and very gently said… That change begins with little things like a thought or a feeling. It starts with changing yourself, being compassionate with yourself. Then I realized that I could meet people who new more about how to take action and make a difference in the world. I didn’t feel alone anymore!! After 7 year of learning and reading posts and watching ted talks, I now know, that I am a change-maker! I do little/big things that help the world a better place, beginning with me and my family. I quit my job to do home-schooling and to start a permaculture garden. I feel happy! Thanks to you all beautiful community of supporters and change-makers!

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Have Compassion, Making a Difference

There is an overpowering spirit that I feel being in this room with those who follow the Savior’s admonition to share. In this take-and-get world, you share and give. I realize that ofttimes this is a result of your desire to give back—an acknowledgment of gifts and talents given you by the Lord. I thought today I’d share a scripture or two that I believe set the stage relative to who you are and what you provide. The first scripture I want to give is from Jude. It reads, “And of some have compassion, making a difference” (Jude 1:22). This verse was important to me as a bishop, and this is what I’d like to address today. In Jacob, a book in scripture that I love, it reads: Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted. [Jacob 2:17–19] When you give to Brigham Young University Hawaii, you’ve done all of that and more. I thought about this just now as I had the opportunity to be with these student performers and talk to them a little bit about their backgrounds. We heard the young man from New Zealand give his testimony—his is just one of the stories—of what a difference you made for him and his family. He is the first to go to college in his family. He has broken the cycle. And he wants to give back in future years for all that has been given to him. Let me read another scripture—this one from Mosiah: And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abun-dantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given. And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul. And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants. [Mosiah 18:27–29] Isn’t it interesting that Alma spoke of a naked soul and not of a naked body? The soul has to be clothed first with goodness, with love, and with caring. That is how a soul is clothed, and then the body can be taken care of. Years ago I had the opportunity of taking a dear friend—a Jewish businessman who donates a lot of money to the universities in California—to the BYU campus in Provo. We walked for a bit and then visited a classroom and met some of the students. He observed their countenance and looked into their eyes and felt their spirit. He wanted to help them and asked what they needed. Shortly after, he wrote a letter to the president and enclosed a generous, heartfelt donation. That is the spirit of giving that is in this room. I’ve watched a number of you—many of you— do the same thing when it was dearly needed at BYU–Hawaii. I went back and was able to get some BYU– Hawaii donation information: Donor generosity for 2004 and 2005 combined to exceed $20 million. For the years before this leadership council was founded, $1 or $2 million was raised; after the leadership council was founded, that number went to $4 and $5 million dollars per year; and in these last two years, $9 and $10 million was raised. To me this level of generosity says a great deal about who you are and that you have incredible compassion and make a remarkable difference. When I am with you, I am reminded that it isn’t just the men and the women who are giving; you have taught your families to give, to share, to lift, and to strengthen others. The children who are here should know that it is more than enough to be born in the covenant; but to be born in the covenant, to be given much, and then to be taught to share—it doesn’t get any better than that. President Eric Shumway has told me that most of the donors to BYU–Hawaii and PCC were unconnected with BYU–Hawaii until the spirit touched you to become part of the leadership council or to visit the campus and see for yourself. Thank you for your goodness. I refer you to page 1 of the handout prepared for this meeting. It begins, “Three years ago the Brigham Young University Hawaii Board of Trustees approved a $47.5 million fund-raising initiative to benefit students at BYU–Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center” (see figure 1 on page 5). It lists the fund-raising priorities and the programs that have been fully funded through the generosity of donors in the recent past, including: The Mark and Laura Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship: With all of the Willes’s anonymous giving, when we first discussed naming the center for them, they were a little embarrassed, and it took a nudge or two. But we now have on campus a well-named center that teaches students how to be entrepreneurs—and for many who will return home to developing countries, this is the only type of employment available. The center provides classes and a lecture series; it works closely with the university’s internship and placement offices to provide in-country experiences and networking. It is a marvel. Construction costs for the Iosepa canoe’s boathouse at the Polynesian Cultural Center: While the boathouse has not yet been built and an endowment must be raised to maintain the structure, thanks to a generous donor the money for construction is in the bank. Iosepa will be a wonderful addition to the PCC. I used to worry that the PCC tail would wag the university dog, but it doesn’t because of those like President Von Orgill and his predecessors who acknowledged the center’s educational purpose to, in essence, provide scholarships for 600 or more deserving students each year. The multigenerational effect of this experience on students is staggering when viewed over years. We just watched a sweet sister—who must have been very young when she began to work at the Polynesian Cultural Center—come up and dance with one of today’s students. Here we can begin to realize the heritage that exists. Return-ability internships for international students in their home area: This unique initiative provides airfare, living expenses, and supervision for students to fulfill an internship in their home region. It is all done through the goodness of those who are here in this room. In-country internships enable students to reconnect in their home area, create networks with alumni and others, and scout full-time employment opportunities. Indications are that 70 percent of the students who experience such internships return home after graduation.In addition to these, a distance-learning feasibility study has been completed; curriculum in many disciplines has been enhanced; a mentored-student learning initiative is in place; and the campus entrance has been beautified. The David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding and the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian Language and Cultural Studies have been completely endowed by donors. These successes would not have happened without you. Of that I want you to know. Donor gifts in 2005 exceeded $10 million. The BYU–Hawaii Board of Trustees is acutely aware and greatly appreciative of you. When President Gordon B. Hinckley speaks of you, he cannot at times find the words to express his gratitude for your generosity. It is beyond words for me. I am overcome with appreciation for the powerful impact for good you are on the students, the university, the center, the community, the Church, and the nations that are blessed by these students. One of the core competencies of BYU–Hawaii is its international nature. We now have 50 percent of the students coming from the islands of the sea (including Hawaii), from Asia, and from countries other than the United States. This is a remarkable achievement of a goal that was set a number of years ago. In fact, BYU–Hawaii students come from some 76 countries, making it the most ethnically diverse campus, per capita, in the United States. It was President Marion G. Romney who coined the phrase “living laboratory” in reference to this campus. He said: This college is a living laboratory in which individuals who share the teachings of the Master Teacher have an opportunity to develop appreciation, tolerance, and esteem for one another. For what can be done here interculturally in a small way is what mankind must do on a large scale if we are ever to have real brotherhood on this earth. [Aloha Center dedication, 26 January 1973] President David O. McKay’s prophetic statement that the campus would produce the leaders that all the world is hungering for is being realized. As I have met with the leaders of some of our students’ nations, the leaders say: “Where can we get more? Will you provide us with more?” And I assure them that we will. BYU–Hawaii is a mission-driven institution. There is clear buy-in from the board, from the administration, and from you that we will specialize in teaching entrepreneurial business and English to speakers of other languages; that we will be a positive example of intercultural harmony; and that we will demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ in action. Recently an accreditation team was at BYU– Hawaii. We met with them as the board prior to their visit, and they wanted to know what our goals were. We told them our goals and showed them the list of funded priorities. We said, “This is what has been provided by those who give to the university.” Let me just finish with some of their responses so that you will see the impact on those who came and you will see what your generosity has done. One of the visitors wrote: “What you do with such diversity of students and culture is amazing. . . . I am not sure there is any other institution like it. You are to be complimented.” Another wrote: “Your trustees are very supportive and generous. You are handling fiscal matters very well and with integrity.” I think this speaks of you and your donations. Another wrote: “I reviewed over 30 different syllabi—both lower and upper divisions—and I am profoundly impressed by the intellectual breadth and depth of these documents. Perhaps I was expecting something less from a faith-based institution, but these demonstrate high academic standards.” And: “We applaud your return-ability goals. We know of no other institution that is working so energetically to help the students return to strengthen their home areas.” The one that touches me the most comes from Richard Winn, one of the associate directors of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. He wrote, “I came to your campus with this accreditation team expecting to be impressed. I am going away inspired.” I think that says it all. In conclusion let me read this: “We have found brightness and enthusiasm across campus in every department. Everyone we have talked with seems excited to tell us what they are doing and how they fit into the mission of this university.” That to me is the key to everything we have spoken of. There is not a student, there is not a professor, there is not a member of the board nor a donor who does not know the mission and believe that what is happening at BYU–Hawaii is in fulfillment of the words of prophets. I want to give you my testimony of your goodness and the potential we are just beginning to realize. And as we go forward, I ask the Lord’s blessing to be with each of you—individually and with your families. I am so happy to see the children here. We hope that they might understand the goodness of their parents and their parents’ friends. May the Lord’s choicest blessings be with you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Presidents’ Leadership Council Hawaii members: The BYU–Hawaii Board of Trustees is acutely aware and greatly appreciative of you. When President Gordon B. Hinckley speaks of you, he cannot at times find the words to express his gratitude for your generosity. It is beyond words for me. I am overcome with appreciation for the powerful impact for good you are on the students, the university, the center, the community, the Church, and the nations that are blessed by these students. —Robert D. Hales

The JFK Library Archives: An Inside Look

Did jfk say it: “one person can make a difference and everyone should try”.

By Stacey Flores Chandler, Reference Archivist

Archivists at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library have seen a lot of JFK quote memes, usually sent from people who saw them online and wanted to check out their authenticity. We love a good puzzle, and verifying viral quotes can be especially tricky: an unsourced quote next to a JFK photo can make for a meme that reaches thousands on social media before anyone has a chance to correct or contextualize it.

Not sure if the JFK meme you saw online is accurate? Reference archivists can help with that! Here are a few we've been asked about #CiteAllTheThings #AskAnArchivist pic.twitter.com/eY97rFiOBp — JFK Library (@JFKLibrary) October 3, 2018

Though the internet has sped the process along, this isn’t really a new phenomenon. Here at the Library, our favorite example of a viral quote with a complicated history is one that regularly turns up in memes, blogs, and Twitter and Facebook posts. But even before the days of digital publication, it made appearances in magazines, newspapers, and books, and has been printed on tote bags, t-shirts, and coffee mugs – always attributed to John F. Kennedy. It’s so recognizable that politicians still occasionally quote it in their speeches and writings:

  “One person can make a difference and everyone should try.”

There’s just one problem: we’ve never found concrete evidence that John F. Kennedy actually said this.

We receive more requests to verify this quote than any other, and for good reason; while it seems to be everywhere, it’s always missing some key information. It’s almost never linked to a particular speech or document and usually appears undated or introduced simply with “JFK once said” (a phrase archivists tend to greet with a strong dose of skepticism). And the final clue that something is amiss: it doesn’t seem to appear in newspapers or magazines until after the President’s death. Without even basic proof that JFK said it, how did it become so widespread?

The backstory is complicated. It starts in 1964, when the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library was just getting started and the staff was busy designing a traveling exhibit to showcase the future Library’s artifacts and documents. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy helped out by providing a statement for the exhibit brochure that was picked up by reporters across the country as they covered the tour. She wrote:

“John Kennedy believed so strongly that one’s aim should not just be the most comfortable life possible, but that we should all do something to right the wrongs we see, and not just complain about them. We owe that to our country, and our country will suffer if we don’t serve her. He believed that one man can make a difference – and that every man should try. “

When Look  magazine printed the quote in 1966, it was still rightly attributed to the former First Lady. But in researching the quote’s history, we’ve found that by the early 1980s, newspapers had started to shift their language about it. Where writers or their interviewees had once introduced the quote by noting “John F. Kennedy believed” in the idea, some began to state that “John F. Kennedy said” the line himself – cutting Jacqueline Kennedy out of the story completely.

Further complicating matters, Robert F. Kennedy also used the phrase during his 1968 Presidential campaign, telling students at Idaho State University that “the spirit of youth” included the belief “that one man can make a difference and that every man should try.” Robert Kennedy repeated the idea regularly, sometimes dropping the gendered language to say “one person can make a difference and each of us must try.” He incorporated the line into so many of his speeches that it became closely associated with him, too; in fact, President Bill Clinton included it in his 1993 speech at a memorial Mass in Robert Kennedy’s honor.

The fact that we haven’t uncovered an exact match for this phrase in John F. Kennedy’s speeches or writings doesn’t mean that he never expressed the idea in his lifetime. After all, the spirit of the quote fits with many of his statements about the value of public service, including one of his most famous addresses on the subject at Vanderbilt University . It’s also possible that, like so many of JFK’s quotable phrases, it exists only in a letter that’s now part of a large (fully digitized!) collection of outgoing Presidential correspondence . But without archival evidence that directly links the President to these words, we’ve had to put this quote in JFK’s “unverified” column for now – and reassign the credit to Jacqueline Kennedy.

The over 50,000 results generated from an online search of this quote are a great reminder of the value of what archivists and librarians call “ information literacy ” – the ability to recognize when a claim or source needs some additional investigation. Now that people in many parts of the world enjoy unprecedented access to information, these skills are more important than ever, and archivists are always here to help. If you ever come across a JFK quote you want to know more about, send it to us (even in meme form!) at [email protected].

What a nice post author.Thank you.

Wow! I have this quote on a little tile that I purchased at The Sixth Floor Museum a few years back. I assumed I could trust them with authenticating this as one of his quotes!

[…] some context. We are always happy to try to track these down for you — we’ve even written a blog post that investigates one of the most viral quotes — but we also want to let you in on some of the […]

This man is the legend. This world has lost a legend and will be forever grieving for this loss. As always inspired by Kennedy’s words. Thank you for sharing.

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Insideout Mastery

Create a Life You Love

17 Simple Ways to Make a Difference in the World

April 19, 2022 by Mick

You can make a difference in the world, even without money. You can already impact someone’s life today.

Contributing to the world comes by sacrificing either your:

You can start making a difference in the world today by building the habit of contributing in one of these three areas.

To help you do so, I’ve listed 17 ways to make a difference, sorted by the amount of effort from small to large. 

That way, you can start where you feel comfortable.

Let’s dive in!

While a smile might not move the world, getting into the habit of smiling more often can impact someone’s life. 

And isn’t that where impact starts?

A smile is effective because people are on autopilot most of the time – worrying about the daily stresses of life. And cracking a smile is such an easy way to spread some warmth and kindness.

And it barely requires any effort at all.

So make sure you smile at your colleagues, your baker, the cashier, and the strangers on the street.

It can make a difference.

Or at least, you will feel a little happier yourself. And, it’s a good starting point for developing the habit of contribution.

Donating money is an easy way to make an impact. And you can already do so for a couple of bucks each month.

Small contributions matter.

Of course, if you’re rich, you can make a more significant impact by donating more money. But even though you might not be able to give much, it’s the intention that matters .

Plus, it gets you into the habit of donating.

And building the habit of donating is more powerful if you want to make a difference in the world than just a one-time donation. 

So why wouldn’t you donate 1% or even 0.1% of your income every month? Do that consistently, and you will make an impact.

#3: Speak through your actions

Another relatively easy way to make an impact is by following through on your promises. 

Do what you say you’re going to do.

If you promise to do something, make sure to do it. And if you make a promise to be somewhere, actually show up. 

And also, consider the promises you silently make to yourself. For example, when you sign up for a course, you silently commit to attending that course.

Stick through on all your promises.

Doing so builds trust in yourself and others. And it’s a powerful habit to build if you want to make a difference.

#4: Leave the place better than you found it

Making a difference in the world starts with the environment around you. So ask yourself: how can you leave the place better than you found it?

Here are some examples:

• Bin the rubbish you find – even if it’s not yours
• Help someone without expecting something in return
• Correct things without looking for appraise

The idea is simple: make minor improvements without the need for selfish gains , like approval and validation .

Once again, these small actions add up and make a big difference in the world. 

Or, at the very least, it strengthens your habit of making positive contributions.

#5: Random acts of kindness 

Random acts of kindness are a great way to make a difference in someone’s life. But what does it mean exactly?

A random act of kindness means making an effort beyond what is expected to leave a positive impact on someone’s life.

• Send a handwritten thank-you note to someone.
• Alternatively, write a thank you email to someone.
• Tell someone how much you appreciate them.
• Make a cup of coffee or thee for a colleague.
• Cheer someone up by making a joke.
• Give praise to the people around you.
• Smile to strangers on the street.
• Talk with someone who seems to struggle.

Making a small effort without expecting anything in return is a remarkable way to make a difference. And it certainly helps you to build the habit of making positive contributions.

#6: Let others be themselves

Everyone has an opinion about everything and everyone. So it’s not surprising that people often feel judged by others.

It also means that you can make an impact simply by letting people be who they want to be.

Stop judging others.

The obvious reasons are that you might hurt someone, and it may break trust with people. But also, judging others means you indirectly judge yourself.

Instead, appreciate people of all walks of life. Even if they dress, behave, or think differently than you do. 

What if you disagree with someone’s appearance? 

Wonder why they might appear that way. Wonder where your difference comes from. And question your own beliefs .

#7: Encourage others

If you want to make the biggest impact possible, you will need the help of other people. And the best way to get other people to make a difference is through encouragement.

Even if that’s not your goal, encouraging people allows you to make a difference in someone’s life. 

So there are only benefits to it.

Encouraging others becomes especially important when you gain positional power and are able to manage others. Think about being a parent, teacher, manager, or any other role that involves people. 

But even if you’re not in such a position, you can still encourage others to become the best version of themselves.

Here are some ways to do so:

• Praise the small things they do – and praise often.
• Involve them in the decisions you make.
• Trust them by giving them objectives without telling them exactly how you would do it.
• Inspire growth by allowing mistakes to happen.
• Give them a challenge they can rise to.

Even if not all examples apply to you right now, you can undoubtedly praise someone. So I challenge you to give praise to someone else today.

#8: Listen attentively

How often do you listen to someone without actually listening?

For example, the moments when you’re doing something else simultaneously. Or what about the times that you wait for them to finish their sentence so that you can make your point.

Listening with focused attention is hard.

But if you listen with focused attention without trying to make your points, that can make a big difference in someone’s life.

You see, often, all someone needs is a listening ear.  

So how to listen attentively?

• Stop whatever else you’re doing.
• Make eye contact.
• Let the other person finish their sentences.
• Don’t interrupt or make conclusions.
• Look for non-verbal cues.
• When you speak, summarize what they said.
• And address any underlying feelings you picked up.
• Don’t share your opinion unless they ask for it.

Though it sounds so simple, listening is a challenging skill to master. 

We all want to share our point of view because we think it will benefit others the most. But more often than not, what people need is a listening ear first, rather than straight-up advice.  

#9: Rally behind a mission

Rallying behind a purpose is a great way to make a difference in the world.

And there are many ways to do that.

Say that you dislike the deforestation that’s happening. And you make it your mission to plant more trees in the world.

Here are some ways to do that:

• Donate money regularly to a charity that plants trees. 
• Start a project to plant trees locally.
• Alternatively, you can look for someone already planting trees and join them.
• Choose to work for a company whose mission is to plant more trees. For example, a company that does so for every dollar of profit they make.

Especially the last one is an indirect way of rallying behind a mission. But you could essentially do such a thing regardless of the occupation you hold.

There are many ways to rally behind a mission.

But first, you will need to know what mission is most meaningful to you. Here you can learn how to create your mission statement.

#10: Be the change you wish to see

Mahatma Gandhi once said the wise words: “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. 

Change yourself if you want to change the world.

Self-improvement leads to higher awareness, self-confidence , and becoming a stronger person. In addition, it allows you to rise to new challenges and overcome new obstacles.

In other words, personal development increases your ability to make a difference in the world.

Sign up for the Insideout Mastery updates if you want consistent stuff to help you become the best version of yourself.

#11: Be proactive

The difference between reactive and proactive is that the latter means taking action on things without anyone telling you. The opposite is only doing what you’re expected to do. And it’s a great habit to develop if you want to make a difference.

The reason is that making a difference requires you to do things that no one tells you to do. Stuff that isn’t obvious to everyone. 

And if you develop the habit of proactivity , you will be able to see and act on the opportunities you spot to make slight differences.

Here’s a little exercise: look for something to pick up extra that you wouldn’t do otherwise. That could be a task at work, doing chores at home, or helping a friend with something.

#12: Share your struggles

Vulnerability is one of the strengths that all great leaders have in common. 

Why is it so powerful? 

Everyone is struggling in life to a degree. And vulnerability makes you relatable to others. So if you can open up and share your struggles, it can inspire others to overcome theirs.

That requires humility and confidence.

It demands that you let go of your ego and the idea that you have to be perfect all the time. 

To develop this habit, you must become comfortable with the idea that some people may laugh at you. 

But it’s worth it because vulnerability leaves a much bigger impact than being the tough guy.

#13: Volunteer

Volunteering is a clearly selfless way to make a difference. So what’s a good place to start volunteering?

That depends on what’s most meaningful to you. The best volunteering opportunities are those that bring you the most satisfaction.

Here are some ideas to help out:

• Family members who need help.
• Serving meals to the homeless.
• Work some hours at animal care facilities.
• Help out at your local school or library.
• Volunteer at any non-profit in your area.

Even contributing a couple of hours each month can make a difference in the world.

#14: Raise money

Raising money is one of the most popular ways to make an impact. After all, money is often the fastest gateway to resolving problems worldwide.

But of course, not everyone has millions of dollars to donate to charities. So why not raise money instead?

There are various ways to do so:

• Go door-to-door for a fundraising campaign.
• Host a fundraising event and donate all profits.
• Open a fundraising account and share your story online.
• Create something in which all profits go to a charity.
• Sell items you no longer need and donate the money.
• Collaborate with local charities to help them out in any fundraising activities.

Is there any other way you can think of to raise money?

Do you have any skills, knowledge, or wisdom you could share with the world? 

If the answer is yes, teaching is a great way to make a difference.

And there are many paths to choose from:

• Become a teacher at your local school.
• Teach a specific subject of expertise in a university.
• Support students with additional learning needs.
• Lead a (small) project.
• Create a course (for free) and share it with the world.
• Use social media platforms to teach about your experiences or any topic of expertise.

Whether you do it on the side, during your day job, or just teach a little through social media as your hobby, it can make a difference in someone else’s life. 

#16: Mentor

Another form of teaching is mentoring. 

The difference is that a mentorship focuses on a specific relationship – often between two people: the mentor and the mentee.

In this relationship, the mentor’s role is to guide the mentee. To challenge them to make better decisions and to inspire growth.

How can you mentor someone?

• Perhaps someone has already asked for your help.
• If you work for a big organization, you may be able to sign up for an existing mentorship program.
• Alternatively, your company (big or small) might be open for you to mentor new employees or interns.
• Students often need a mentor. So check your local school or university to see if they offer mentorship programs.

Mentoring can be satisfying for both the mentor and the mentee. And it certainly makes an impact.

#17: Start a business

We already talked about rallying behind someone’s mission. But perhaps, you would like to create a business around your mission.

There are many ways to make a difference in the world by building a company.

• Start a non-profit organization.
• Build a business around a big issue.
• Build any kind of business and implement a way to contribute to the world. For example, plant a tree for every dollar of profit you make.
• Or build a business that also engages in periodic charity events, like free local educational events.

These are just a few examples out of the infinite possibilities you have to make contributions part of your business model.

With a business, you have the flexibility to make a difference in the world in almost any shape, way, or form.

Closing thoughts

You learned that there are many ways to make a difference in the world. And regardless of your resources, you can already do so today. 

You don’t need a big audience or lots of money. 

Instead, you can already make a difference by either investing your time, effort, or money – even in small amounts.

Even if that only means smiling at strangers on the street.

And if you want to make even more positive changes in the world, these often start with yourself. One tip is to find your personal strengths and seek ways to leverage them. Here are the best free online strengths tests .

So make sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter. In it, I share tips on becoming your best version so that you can make the biggest possible impact.

Mick is a personal growth enthusiast and was able to use it to transform his life. He now helps others pursue their dreams, create positive change, and build better lives through self-improvement.

Inspiring Giving Back To The Community Speech Ideas

Aurora Simon

As human beings, we have a social responsibility to give back to our community. Whether it’s through volunteerism, community engagement, or philanthropy, every action we take can make a difference in the lives of others. In this article, we will explore the power of giving back to the community and provide inspiring speech ideas that will motivate and encourage individuals to take action towards positive change.

Table of Contents

Throughout the following sections, we will discuss the importance of giving back, effective strategies for encouraging volunteerism, practical tips for getting involved in community outreach programs, and ways to make a difference in your community. We will also share inspiring stories of successful Giving Back To The Community Speeches and provide answers to frequently asked questions on this topic. Let’s begin our journey towards creating a better world!

Examples of Giving Back To The Community Speech

Here are some resources to help you write your giving back to the community speech. As time goes on, I will update this list with new resources below.

Understanding The Importance Of Giving Back To The Community

Giving back to the community is an important aspect of social responsibility . It involves taking action to improve the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. Community outreach, volunteerism, and philanthropy are some of the ways individuals can give back to their communities.

There are numerous benefits to giving back to the community. It helps to create a sense of belonging and pride in one’s community. It also fosters a culture of kindness and generosity, which can inspire others to get involved.

Community outreach is a powerful tool for creating change. By engaging with individuals and groups within the community, it is possible to identify areas that require improvement and develop strategies for addressing them. This can include initiatives such as food drives, fundraising events, and educational programs.

Volunteerism is another key way to give back to the community. By volunteering time and skills, individuals can make a positive impact on the lives of others. This can include activities such as mentoring, tutoring, and providing support to those in need.

Philanthropy is another important aspect of giving back to the community. By donating to charitable organizations, individuals can support initiatives that are focused on improving the well-being of others. This can include initiatives such as healthcare, education, and environmental conservation.

Overall, giving back to the community is an essential part of social responsibility. It helps to create a better society, fosters a culture of kindness and generosity, and can inspire others to get involved. By engaging in community outreach, volunteerism, and philanthropy, individuals can make a positive impact on the lives of others and contribute to creating a better world.

The Power Of Community Involvement And Engagement

When it comes to giving back to the community, the power of community involvement and engagement cannot be overstated. By working together and pooling resources, individuals and organizations can achieve greater impact and bring about positive change in their communities.

Community involvement can take many forms, from volunteering time and skills to supporting local initiatives and businesses. Philanthropy also plays an important role in community engagement, as it provides resources to fund programs and projects that benefit the community.

One of the key benefits of community involvement and engagement is that it empowers individuals to take an active role in shaping their communities. By participating in local events and initiatives, individuals can build relationships, develop skills, and make a meaningful contribution to their communities.

The Importance Of Philanthropy In Supporting Community Initiatives

Philanthropy plays a critical role in supporting community initiatives, as it provides resources that enable organizations to carry out their missions and serve the needs of the community. Whether through individual donations, corporate giving, or foundation grants, philanthropy can make a significant difference in the lives of people and communities.

In addition to providing financial support, philanthropy can also help to raise awareness and mobilize support for important causes. By leveraging their networks and resources, philanthropic organizations can bring attention to issues that may otherwise be overlooked, and encourage others to get involved.

The Power Of Collaboration In Achieving Positive Change

Collaboration is essential for achieving positive change in communities. By working together, individuals and organizations can pool their knowledge, skills, and resources to address complex social issues and bring about lasting change.

Effective collaboration requires a shared vision, trust, and a willingness to work towards a common goal . It also requires open communication, active listening, and a commitment to learning from one another.

Ultimately, the power of community involvement, philanthropy, and collaboration lies in their ability to bring people together and create a shared sense of purpose. By working towards a common goal, individuals and organizations can achieve great things and create a better world for all.

Inspiring Stories Of Successful Community Service Speeches

Community service speeches have the power to inspire and motivate individuals and communities to take action towards positive change. Here are some inspiring stories of successful speeches:

“There are two kinds of people in this world: those who sit on the sidelines and watch things happen, and those who jump in and make a difference. Which one are you?” This powerful quote was part of a speech given by a local community leader at a fundraising event for a new community center. Her words inspired many in attendance to become more involved in community initiatives and volunteer work.

Another successful community service speech was given by a high school student at a school assembly. She talked about the importance of giving back to the community and shared her personal experiences volunteering at a local animal shelter. Her speech inspired many of her classmates to become more involved in volunteer work.

At a city council meeting, a concerned citizen gave a passionate speech about the need for a new community garden in a low-income neighborhood. Her speech convinced the council to allocate funds for the project, and the garden became a thriving hub for community involvement and engagement.

These inspiring stories show the power of community service speeches in bringing about positive change. By sharing personal experiences, using powerful quotes, and making a compelling case for action, individuals can motivate others to get involved in community initiatives and make a difference in the world.

Effective Strategies For Encouraging Volunteerism

Volunteerism is a vital component of social responsibility, and it can have a significant impact on the community. It’s crucial to encourage more people to volunteer and give back to society. Here are some effective strategies for promoting volunteerism:

• Engage with the community: To promote volunteerism, it’s essential to connect with the community. Reach out to local organizations, schools, and community groups to create partnerships and opportunities for volunteering.
• Highlight the benefits: Emphasize the benefits of volunteering, both for the individual and society. Some of the benefits include developing new skills, meeting new people, and making a positive impact on society.
• Provide flexible opportunities: Make volunteering accessible and flexible to accommodate various schedules and skill sets. Offer opportunities for both short-term and long-term commitments, and provide training and support for volunteers.
• Celebrate successes: Recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of volunteers and the impact they have on society. Share success stories and highlight the positive outcomes to inspire more people to get involved.
• Partner with local businesses: Partnering with local businesses can provide support for volunteer initiatives. Local businesses can offer in-kind donations, sponsor events, or provide volunteers through their employees.

Encouraging volunteerism is essential for creating a stronger and more connected community. By implementing these effective strategies, we can inspire more people to volunteer and make a positive impact on society.

Ways To Get Involved In Community Outreach Programs

Community outreach programs are a great way to give back and make a positive impact on your local community. If you’re wondering where to start or how to get involved, here are some tips and strategies:

1. Research local organizations

Start by researching local organizations that focus on community outreach programs. Look for groups that align with your values and interests. Many organizations have websites that outline their mission and volunteer opportunities.

2. Attend community events

Attending community events is a great way to learn about local organizations and connect with like-minded individuals. Look for events such as charity runs, volunteer fairs, and community festivals.

3. Volunteer with your company or organization

If you work for a company or organization, look for ways to get involved in their community outreach initiatives. Many companies have formal volunteer programs that allow employees to volunteer during work hours.

4. Start your own project

If you have a particular cause or issue that you’re passionate about, consider starting your own community outreach project. This could be as simple as organizing a community cleanup or as complex as starting a nonprofit organization.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

5. Participate in online communities

There are many online communities and social media groups that focus on community outreach and volunteering. Joining these groups can be a great way to network with other volunteers and learn about new opportunities.

6. Attend training and workshops

Many organizations offer training and workshops for volunteers. These sessions can provide valuable information on community outreach best practices, leadership skills, and other topics relevant to volunteering.

Getting involved in community outreach programs can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. By taking action and making a positive impact, you can help create a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone.

How To Make A Difference In Your Community

Communities thrive when individuals actively engage and work together towards a common goal. Making a difference in your community can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. Here are some practical steps you can take to get started:

• Identify a community need: Take some time to assess the needs of your community. This could be anything from improving education to supporting local businesses.
• Get informed: Research existing community programs and initiatives in your area. This can give you insight into what has already been done and what areas still need attention.
• Join or start a group: Look for groups or organizations that align with your interests and values. If there is no existing group, consider starting one yourself.
• Volunteer your time: Many community organizations and programs rely on volunteers to function effectively. Consider volunteering your time to help out with events, programs, or initiatives.
• Donate resources: If you are unable to volunteer your time, consider making a donation to support a cause or program that aligns with your values.
• Engage with others: Building relationships and connections within your community is key to creating meaningful and lasting change. Attend community events, volunteer opportunities, and connect with organizations and individuals working towards similar goals.

Remember that making a difference in your community is an ongoing process. It requires dedication, persistence, and collaboration. But the rewards of positively impacting the lives of those around you are priceless.

Social Responsibility and Philanthropy: Creating a Better World

Social responsibility and philanthropy are crucial pillars in creating a better world. These concepts focus on helping those in need and bringing about positive change in society. Here are some examples of successful initiatives that have made a significant impact:

Individuals can also make a difference through acts of philanthropy. Here are some ways to get involved:

• Donate to a charity or organization that aligns with your values
• Volunteer your time and skills to a cause you care about
• Support local businesses that prioritize social responsibility

Philanthropy is not just about giving money, but also about making a positive impact in the world. By choosing to support causes that align with your values, you can contribute to creating a better world for all.

If you’re looking to give a speech on giving back to the community, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your audience and their needs. Whether you’re speaking to a group of volunteers, community leaders, or a general audience, the focus of your speech should be on inspiring action towards positive change. Here are some frequently asked questions that can help you prepare for your Giving Back To The Community Speech.

What Should I Include In My Giving Back To The Community Speech?

Your Giving Back To The Community Speech should convey the importance of social responsibility, volunteerism, and community engagement. Share your own experiences of giving back to the community, and how it has impacted your life. Highlight the benefits of volunteering and community involvement, and provide examples of successful community service initiatives. Above all, encourage your audience to take action towards positive change.

How Can I Engage My Audience?

Engage your audience by sharing inspiring stories of successful community service and volunteerism initiatives. Use visuals such as images or videos to convey the impact of community involvement. Encourage participation and interaction by asking questions and providing opportunities for discussion. Finally, provide practical advice and strategies for getting involved in community outreach programs.

What Are Some Tips For Delivering An Effective Speech?

Start by preparing thoroughly and practicing your speech multiple times. Speak clearly and confidently, and use gestures and body language to convey your message. Make eye contact with your audience, and vary your tone and pace to keep them engaged. Use humor and personal anecdotes to connect with your audience, and end your speech with a clear call to action.

How Can I Measure The Impact Of My Speech?

One way to measure the impact of your speech is by soliciting feedback from your audience. Consider providing a survey or questionnaire that asks for feedback on the content, delivery, and effectiveness of your speech. Another way to measure impact is by tracking engagement in community service initiatives following your speech. If you can demonstrate that your speech inspired action towards positive change, you can be confident that it had a meaningful impact on your audience.

About the author

With an enduring passion for human potential, I have dedicated my life to learning, growing, and most importantly, empowering others to discover their own unique paths to self-improvement. As a personal development blogger, I distill the wisdom gathered from various life experiences, books, seminars, and thought leaders to provide you with actionable insights and tools for your own growth. I believe that each one of us is capable of extraordinary things, and my mission is to help you unlock that potential. Join me on this journey of self-discovery, and together let’s cultivate a life filled with purpose, fulfillment, and joy. You can contact us here.

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Making a difference

Chairman's speech.

Peter Harris gave an address to the Economic and Social Outlook Conference 2015 - Rebuilding Foundations for Reform - on 5 November 2015 in Melbourne.

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• Making a difference (PDF - 186 Kb)

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I liked the title of this session the moment the organisers proposed it.

It was the theme that we used when I was a junior member of the group putting together the reform agenda for the Structural Adjustment Committee of Cabinet back in 1986 - the original microeconomic reform group of the Hawke-Keating era.

For public servants, often viewed as at best the implementers of the ideas of others and often as reactive guardians against systemic change, it was a novel experience to be told it was our job to make a difference.

We were helped of course by the circumstances: an economy struggling with a terms of trade shift, heavily regulated industries, 'duopoly and a bit' as the most common description of Australian markets, difficult industrial relations climate, currency in substantial decline, the banana republic sentiment ringing in our ears.

It wasn't too difficult to imagine that we could make a difference.

But the distinction between imagination and permission in the public service is a very bright line.

Permission was very important; and permission will be a thread running through this address today.

It is probably better accepted today than it was in the immediate aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis that our economy was not going to grow national income in the same way as it had for more than twenty years.

It was forecast even then that a combination of factors - the upcoming decline in the terms of trade; the cessation of a key driver of our private investment from China's investment drive; the early negative demographic effects on participation; and poor domestic productivity growth - were going to see Australian income growth slow significantly this decade, absent serious remedial measures or another fortunate shift in demand.

At the time, and still today, much public focus was placed on the budget deficit.

Unfortunately, it was also quite predictable then that repair of the budget - desirable though it may have been in its own right - could not address this core problem of weak growth in income and employment, other than in the long term.

So, for the purposes of today's topic, what could make a difference in the more immediate term is structural reform.

The dirt-under-the-fingernails, messy stuff of altering incentives in favour of better productivity and higher participation, through two mechanisms:

• stronger investment, creating stronger employment
• reduced regulatory impedimenta.

Yet it is still questionable whether that simple message - focus on the micro economic stuff - has gained the wide acceptance needed to see it translate into actions.

Actions where it is important to know, but necessary still to accept, that some will win and some will lose.

And to ensure that we have a system where the social equity effects of this are sensibly addressed.

But overall to embrace it and allow productivity to lift.

Average - we celebrate now that labour productivity is back to average, over the current cycle - won't do it.

The ultimate expression of these two forces - new investment and the removal of regulatory impedimenta - for higher income growth is of course primarily in the hands of firms and their employees.

But to trigger it, government is a (perhaps the) most important enabler. Not just with rhetoric, but with actions.

What actions can make a difference?

Tax reform has already been mooted.

If well-designed, it certainly has the scope to alter incentives.

But there are many other targets today being cited for tax reform than incentive to invest.

If incentives shift were to be made the pre-eminent objective, two things should naturally follow.

First, actual analysis. And we should ask to see it. This is not a throw-away line.

We really should ask.

It should no more be good enough simply to attach the label 'investment enhancement' or 'productivity growth' to a reform, and expect to see it celebrated.

Second, we would change attitudes to tax reform. People would see us being more hard-headed and less wishful in assessing which incentives are most likely to motivate investment and so translate into genuine improvement in their national income.

To avoid being mistaken, I am not arguing here for the usual suspects of selected investment allowances or R&D tax incentives. These have not shifted the productivity or investment dial in the past.

Why would we revert to them, time and again, even though we can see so little effect?

Will it really make a difference this time?

Even with the purported riches of GST change spread out before us, we will always have limited scope, in time and money.

We are unlikely to hit multiple targets, effectively. So we should apply the objective of incentives shift and use what we may have wisely.

Staying with incentives established by government, it is not always the Commonwealth that should come under the microscope.

It seems reasonable to ask, if tax reform in the form of the GST is going to extend once-in-a-generation benefits to the States, as some have suggested, whether State-based policy and regulatory restrictions should not once again be on the table.

The States are the core owners of regulatory impedimenta that limits investment.

They can be incentivised again to become reformers, as they were back when national competition policy wrought a transformation of State regulation, by linking tax reform to regulation reform.

The Harper Review of national competition policy indicated:

'The top five issues raised most often in submissions to our Draft Report [were] misuse of market power, retail trading hours, road transport, planning and zoning, and supermarkets'.

And as a consequence, Harper recommended:

'The Panel recommends that other regulations restricting competition be reviewed by each jurisdiction, with particular priority given to regulations covering planning and zoning.'

Linkages like this are essential if we are to get decent bang for our buck out of tax reform. If you're going to do the dirt-under-the-fingernails stuff, and cop the criticism that goes with it, do it thoroughly.

Make it clear that this is not simply a fiscal balance exercise but about again - by embracing regulation reform - changing the incentives for investment, new opportunities and employment.

Emphasise those gains, back them with analysis (ask to see it).

And attitudes may well shift.

The Productivity Commission has published numerous reports that refer to the impact on investment of location-based or time-of-day-based planning restrictions, that impede business innovation and the prospect of additional employment.

In 2011, 2012, 2013, twice in 2014 and again (in Business Set-Up; the draft is public, although the report was recently completed) in 2015, we called for State based regulation reform.

The total response has been the sound of one hand clapping.

Probably, that's because it is so hard. And so messy. And so apparently remote from what really matters.

Except it is what really matters to small and medium sized enterprises (and tiny start-ups too) who can't afford to hire a lawyer or a retired town planner to navigate the maze and gain permission to invest.

Just permission.

And consequent on that, permission to employ more.

Surely if we are to offer once-in-a-generation tax reform, we should try to get once-in-a-generation regulation reform along with it?

Particularly when we know, five Productivity Commission reports in four years got next to no result and now the Harper Report is hanging in the balance, facing the same fate if you follow the odds.

We could make this a key selling point.

I won't run through all the examples in all the reports, many have become legend:

• restrictions on the location of aged care premises even though ageing in place (i.e. staying in your community) is accepted as essential to policy effectiveness
• restrictions on the location of big box warehouses, making for distribution issues and congestion in urban areas
• liquor licencing restrictions more about competitors than public safety
• continuing hilarious restrictions on selling wood heaters but not gas heaters, or outdoor lighting but not indoor lighting on Sundays.

Reform should be about opportunity for investment, employment, innovation. It is a signal that risk-taking is welcome.

So States should welcome it.

And be asked to implement planning reform as part of these changes.

One of the key beneficiaries of planning reform will be innovators.

We are hearing a lot about upcoming innovation policy. It would be deeply desirable to see this extend to regulatory reform.

After all, innovation is not always the action of a research incubator on a university campus. Or a digital disruptor.

If you consider innovators as just as likely to be starting out in someone's garage, as certain celebrated Silicon Valley entities did, you'll see the link to local planning and zoning.

Adding to it, let's make another observation.

When innovation is being discussed, it's often referred to as occurring hot spots.

This observation arises often in the rhetoric but appears rarely in final policy design.

Innovation hot-spots are just that - spots. So there is something inherently local about them. So again local regulation will be relevant.

At the Productivity Commission, we accept that a focus on innovation is a relevant consideration when a nation is thinking of how to lift its capability to generate higher levels of national income.

As Australia should be, given the slow income growth outlook.

But we have some reservations about how this is done.

In some of the public debate, policy is proposed in the expectation that breakthroughs or highly creative thinking must be commercialised locally.

Clearly, it would be nice to be a market with sufficient scale and agglomeration of interacting entities - researcher, entrepreneur, investor, marketer, consumer - that all ideas can be commercialised here.

But this would be unrealistic.

Another observation illustrates this: we can all see that the world today is made up of increasingly interconnected markets and investors.

Digital disruption facilitated by the Internet exemplifies this; but so do intra-industry international trade flows, cross-border finance markets and global value chains.

And so we should accept that it is self-defeating for idea-generators not to take advantage of the benefits of that interconnectedness.

Seeing some ideas go offshore is thus not inherently undesirable.

If our markets and population structure suit the innovation, then perhaps it is desirable that opportunity exists at home.

But we cannot and should not expect a benign hand of public policy to support all the ideas which continue to spin off our institutions and innovators.

The preceding remarks were to set a context, not to damn innovation policy.

So to take the thinking further, what is essential if we are to allow innovation to flourish and make a difference?

I could describe here quite a lot to do with effective market-oriented policy structures. I'm going instead to take that as understood.

We cannot expect flourishing entrepreneurial researchers, or effective adaptors amongst small businesses, if we have poor fiscal and monetary policies.

But at the local level, where innovators live and we want them to flourish, the restrictive nature of regulation - not just planning and zoning, but all regulators facing off against all innovators - is a potential impediment.

To consider this, let's ask could we ever have expected Uber to have developed here first?

Facing differentiated taxi regulation between the States, over-investment in chronically regulated taxi plates, the potential interaction with the payments system, queries over application of employment laws and the question of GST, it is a daunting list.

What might off-set it is a culture of permission to have a go. You'll see I'm back to this permission thing, again.

These might not all be issues in reality. But who would know? How could you test it, as a nascent innovator?

Unless and until you can expect - without thinking about it much at all - to be permitted to try to make the idea work, the incentive structure is actually set against innovation.

This alone - the uncertainty of the regulator's response - must slow innovation.

Now it may that the field you are working in, as an innovator, is unregulated. Some still are.

But if it involves consumers, payments, investors, safety, environment, buildings, sounds, smells or day of operation, it's safer to assume it is regulated.

And if it is purchased by government or competes with it, it may be restricted as well as regulated.

So the culture of the regulator (and purchaser, in the case of government) is crucial to the innovator.

In informal exchanges with the Harper Inquiry last year, the Commission hypothesised about a new model, to provide all Australian regulators the right to make temporary exemptions from regulation for innovative business models.

This was not a right for every innovator to an exemption, but an opportunity to consider such.

But it would offer a significant culture shift across regulators, at no budgetary cost.

There's a first.

It would amount to permission from Ministers to regulators, to allow pioneer models to be trialled.

A generic change to all regulator models, Commonwealth and State.

Pretty much as we have done, generically, to require all regulators not to discriminate; or all regulators to support privacy.

But in this case, it would be all regulators to consider new delivery models, not immediately reject them if the laws are not designed with this breakthrough in mind.

And so an Uber-style innovation in the Australian environment might not fall at the first regulatory hurdle.

Today's black letter laws in most cases could not really have comprehended the kind of advances that big data analytics can create for service provision.

Uber, Airbnb, Gumtree, Airtasker and their ever-increasing equivalents are all mechanisms for allowing the aggregation and reuse of information on consumer needs and demands, to make a new market. One that disrupts old markets, for sure. But is in fact its own marketplace, based on data flows that did not exist or existed only in rudimentary form before being enabled by smart phones and data management.

And they are all, in the classic sense of the term, more efficient allocations of resources. Resources otherwise unused but invested in are now at work.

It seems likely that this type of innovation will continue for some time. The creation and deep analytics of big data is the principal characteristic of the digital age.

But only rarely in the historical record are the gains of innovation translated to productivity immediately or even self-evidently.

The advent of the electrical engine in the late 1800s was innovative, but simply adding it to a factory floor designed for steam didn't lift productivity. It took a generation - thirty years - before revised factory lay-outs with the use of lots of small electric motors resulted in the startling productivity gains of the second industrial revolution.

Likewise, the gains from aggregating information, analysing it and offering it to consumers as new services will take time to learn.

But it is only limited by the absence of data itself, not by technology.

Stretching the analogy, we now have the data motor but where do we put it to maximise the gain?

We should prepare our regulators with the discretionary ability to allow new models to develop.

Otherwise, there will be at least two adverse consequences:

• First - we will surely send more ideas offshore.
• Second - we will be late to the party in adopting the innovations of others.

This second point is arguably more important than the first.

Very few businesses, here or overseas, are genuine innovators.

Maybe 1 or 2 per cent in this country, and higher in the US but still small. Again, we have the data to show this.

We want more, for sure, but even at 5% (a huge leap) that leaves 95% to take up the role of adaptors, and preferably rapid ones at that.

The gains to rapid adaptation across the economy are likely to exceed the gains of extra innovators.

Or more worryingly, the impediments to it are going to cost us much more.

That's again not to damn innovators, but simply to recognise reality.

This adaptation may be defensive or offensive but it generally involves efforts to act more efficiently, which means better resource allocation, higher productivity, improved income and a stronger economy.

This was Australia's experience in the 1990s as the introduction of much higher levels of international exposure and domestic competition policy pressed businesses to grow, adapt, or get out.

The net benefits of this are established to most people's satisfaction these days - although they were once highly disputed - and are still with us.

So action to ensure the bulk of businesses are exposed to innovation and do adapt - whether it is domestically-generated innovation or foreign - is a tool for better resource allocation in the same way as trade and competition policy were in the 80s and 90s.

My point in differentiating the two groups is to allow some recognition, seemingly missing in the innovation policy debate, that the rapidity of adaptation is what will affect the bulk of the economy and so it is there that much of the policy effort should lie.

This is where it will help greatly if regulators are given permission to expose industries to adaptation.

This will again require joint comprehension and action by State and Commonwealth acting together.

Finally, some governments against which we might benchmark ourselves - New Zealand and Singapore, for example - are utilising entrepreneurialism as a closer policy proxy for innovation than traditional measures.

The desire to see commercial take-up of ideas appears to be at the centre of this thinking.

This move to consider culture and conditions that might foster investment in breakthroughs may be a positive sign.

It is certainly avoiding Einstein's definition of insanity: repeating the same tax policy shifts time and again, while expecting a different result.

If a culture of entrepreneurial activity is the target, how might policy discern effective actions?

Entrepreneurs are likely to benefit from lifting planning restrictions on investment; and also should gain from a positive operating environment if regulators are given permission to act with judgment towards new business models.

And, although I have made a number of references to digital disruptors, both these changes have the added advantage that they are generic.

That is, analogue disruptors are also welcome to try.

And thus these changes will be of benefit to the 95%, as well.

Beyond that, one factor stands out in relation to innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. I mentioned it earlier.

These hot spots are just that - spots. They are local in nature.

In turn, this suggests more attention should be given to local factors rather than centrally-driven policies approaches.

Some of the favoured examples of entrepreneurial engagement with government (noting there are many successful examples that do not exhibit signs of any engagement with government, other than indirectly) appear to be vested with local characteristics and strong location-based networks: Silicon Valley, Cambridge, Singapore, Tel Aviv, etc.

Consistent with this, the OECD in its work on innovation leadership has noted:

'Local governments... are often best-placed to identify the specific needs of potential entrepreneurs.'

This does not readily translate to the model of local government in Australia. Take it instead to mean local institutions.

Selected local institutions might thus be useful as preferred observers or advisers on the rise of networks or ecosystems, and act as the natural first place of contact.

The public policy needs of such networks, if any, may not involve money. I've already noted at length regulators and planning laws.

A highly centralised model is going to have difficulty identifying specific local needs and linking them to some form of public interest outcome.

And central models may also suffer the burden of the longstanding disposition in Australia to judge policy as serious only if it involves large amounts of funding.

A final contribution that could be made by government to support innovators and innovation is release of data.

Governments in Australia are not naturally inclined to curate and release data on a basis that allows commercial reuse.

Once upon a time that might have been as safe, and costless. Today, it's not.

Analysis of data is not only the core force behind so much of digital disruption, but also the accepted method of developing a sound basis for public policy.

There are clear opportunities for big improvements in data curation, access protocols and wider release.

From recent Productivity Commission reports, known areas of high prospectivity include property sale and land tenure; health outcomes; infrastructure costing; and natural disaster risks.

Australia is not a leader in this effort, although it has aspirations and a few agencies are outstanding.

But it still seems as if the role of State governments is not being addressed. States are often active in releasing data where big development opportunities are obvious and capital is highly mobile. Resources and mining is a good example.

But in social policy areas, where the forces for reform are yet to be given the full reign - see the Harper Report, for example - the active release of big data would enable disruptors to play a role that governments are often loathe to play.

It is not without risk for agencies to do this. They need permission to be proactive.

But we can see if governments are ready to be innovators too.

Models to do this exist offshore and some are surely translatable to Australia.

Once again, what is needed most of all is permission to make a difference.

15 Incredible Examples of One Person Making a Difference

Perhaps, the most classic question in civic engagement is – can one person really make a difference?

History clearly shows that one person can make a difference in the world. It’s not rare for a single individual to have a significant impact through extraordinary opportunities, actions, and/or situations.

While the question is on the right track, there shouldn’t really be any doubt as to whether or not a person can make a difference in the world. The basic principle of cause and effect would suggest that simply existing alters the shape of your environment. 

Even by reading this article, for example, you’ve taken a bit of action (a cause) that could help shape your environment (effect). Whether it’s for a class essay or simply for inspiration (causes), reading an article online changes information flows in both online and offline communities (effects). 

If you then further share something from the article or alter your behavior based on what you read (more causes), someone else in your environment may also alter their behavior and so on (more effects). 

While this might sound philosophical, countless studies have shown that our behavior is impacted by those around us – even when we’re unaware of it. Family, friends, and associates have been shown to impact an individual’s decisions on everything from travel destinations to tattoos .

So, there is no doubt that an individual can make a difference. The question really becomes – how can individuals have a larger-than-average impact on the world? 

Below this article looks at examples of individuals “making a difference” in the world – many of them lesser-known in history. However, I leave the term “making a difference” undefined so that we can examine the spectrum of cause and effect. 

The examples are split into three categories with five examples each. Each category is what appears to be the dominant reason for how a person was able to have a larger-than-average impact. The categories include 1) extraordinary opportunities, 2) extraordinary actions, and 3) extraordinary situations. As Shakespeare wrote,

[S]ome are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.

Extraordinary Opportunities

‘Extraordinary opportunities’ is a loose category meant to cover those who did not necessarily set out to change the world, but were able to make a difference through sustained contributions to their field. These individuals are those who saw professional challenges as opportunities and dedicated their efforts to help solve those challenges. Ultimately, their efforts paid off and they were able to have an immense impact on the world.

This category could roughly be equated to Shakespear’s “born great” category as these are the individuals who used their (natural or learned) talents so well they couldn’t help but make a difference in the world.

Martha Gellhorn

Martha Gellhorn was an author and journalist who is considered one of the greatest war correspondents of all time. She covered virtually every major conflict over the span of a 60-year career. She was relentless in her reporting and managed to find creative ways of uncovering harsh truths about world conflicts.

Gellhorn’s career was groundbreaking in a number of respects including breaking down barriers for women reporters as well as completely changing how war reporting was done. One of her first breakthroughs came when she reported on the Spanish Civil War. 

Without a formal assignment from a newspaper, she forged documents to get into the war zone. From there she began focusing her stories on the impacts of the conflict on human lives. Her attention to the human cost was a departure from the usual reporting which focused on battlefield strategies, assessments from generals, the heroics of soldiers, and generalized conditions for civilians.

Some lament today that war reporting has not been the same without her and that the field has backslid into nationalistic whitewashing of conflicts. While it’s difficult to measure Gellhorn’s impact, her reporting helped expose some of the worst of human suffering and allowed many to witness the horrors of war that had not been as clearly conveyed to the public before her.

Maurice Hilleman

Maurice Hilleman is the greatest microbiologist ever to walk the earth. While you may not know his name, your life has likely been impacted by his work as he responsible for developing over 40 vaccines – a truly herculean contribution to his field. He is thought to have saved more lives than any other medical scientist of the 20th century.

Hilleman came from humble beginnings. He was raised on his uncle’s farm in Montana after his twin sister and mother both died due to complications at childbirth. He later credited much of his success with the fact that he spent so much time raising chickens on this uncle’s farm – chicken eggs were used to grow viruses for vaccines at the time.

He had such a knack for developing vaccines that when his daughter fell ill in 1963 he swabbed the back of her throat, took the sample back to his lab, and by 1967 he had developed a vaccine for the disease. While his methods would no longer work in today’s regulatory environment, his work and dedication have undoubtedly saved millions of lives. Hilleman truly saw every disease as an opportunity to help people and, by the end of his career, he had permanently altered the medical landscape for the better.

Gabriela Mistral (Lucila Godoy Alcayaga)

Gabriela Mistral (who’s given name was Lucila Godoy Alcayaga) was born in late 19th century Chile. As a young adult, she was an educator and poet. Her poetry gained her international recognition at the age of 25. Mistral was able to leverage her fame to advance the right to education for all Chilean social classes.

Growing up in poverty and in a single-parent family, she had a rough early life. Things became worse when her first love committed suicide in 1909 and shortly afterward her second love married another woman. Mistral turned her pain and sorrow into poetry. Her words struck a chord with the public and she became highly recognized in 1914 for her collection Sonnets on Death (Sonnets de la Muerte).

Her fame allowed her to move into different positions of influence and eventually, she would become a diplomat for her country. Using her international recognition, Mistral spread a humanitarian message and championed the right to education. In 1945, she was the first Latin American author to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. 

Mistral’s story shows how the arts can have drastic impacts on our communities. Her courage to tell her story not only brought her fame, but it also brought an opportunity for Mistral to advance a cause near to her heart – education. Her efforts were truly global and she is ingrained in Chilean history today. She even appears on the 5,000 Chilean peso banknote. 

Nils Bohlin 

Nils Bohlin was a Swedish mechanical engineer who invented the three-point seat belt. His invention has saved hundreds of thousands (probably millions though no worldwide data is available) of lives since he first unveiled it in 1959 to colleagues working at Volvo.

Prior to his work at Volvo, Bohlin helped to design the ejection seat for pilots while working at Saab. He would later use many of the things he learned on his assignment at Saab to develop the three-point seat belt at Volvo. He even helped scientifically demonstrate the seat belt’s effectiveness in a study of 28,000 car crashes in Sweden (a task not usually required of an engineer).

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that in 2016 the seat belt saved about 15,000 lives in the U.S. alone. According to the CDC, the seat belt saved over 255,000 lives in the U.S between 1975 and 2008. Of course, the impact worldwide is much greater, but no official data is available.

Bohlin’s invention has had an invaluable impact on the world. His commitment to mechanical engineering and his ability to see the challenges in his field as opportunities helped prevent countless deaths and will continue to do so for decades to come.

Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochran Seaman)

Elizabeth Cochran Seaman is better known by her pen name – Nellie Bly. She was a jack of many trades including journalism, industrialism, and philanthropy. Bly was known for a few things in her career including traveling around the world in 72 days. The main reason she’s on this list, though, is because of her work in journalism which helped expose the dire conditions of mental health facilities in the late 19th century U.S. 

Bly had been a journalist early in life and began at the Pittsburgh Dispatch were she wrote investigative pieces on the conditions for women factory workers. After the paper received complaints, however, she was reassigned to gardening and arts reporting. Unsatisfied, Bly left the newspaper and traveled to New York City in search of a better job.

She was able to talk herself into a position with the New York World where she accepted an undercover assignment to investigate mental health facilities. Bly faked being insane in order to get admitted to the now infamous Blackwell’s Island Asylum. She spent ten days in the institution and experienced abhorrent conditions. She was then released at the request of her boss at the New York World and published her exposé Ten Days in a Mad-House .

Bly’s bravery and commitment to her profession allowed her to make a big difference as mental health institutions began to reform many practices and improve conditions after her publication. (Though it would take many decades before conditions at mental health facilities improved to today’s standards.) Not only did she help the situation of so many in the mental health care system but she is also credited with helping to establish investigative journalism.

Extraordinary Actions

“Extraordinary actions” is a rough category meant to encompass those who purposefully set out to make a change in their communities or societies. Whether their action was starting a movement or just donating blood, their willingness to act had major impacts. 

This category can be equated with Shakespeare’s comment that “some achieve greatness” in that they deliberately worked or took action to make an impact (big or small). These are the individuals who acted with intention and got results.

Sir Nicholas Winton

Sir Nicholas Winton was named by CBS News as “proof that one person can make a difference.” Winton’s remarkable actions saved 669 children from the horrors of the Holocaust. He never sought recognition for his efforts and it wasn’t until 50 years later that his heroism was uncovered by the BBC. 

Winton was a London stockbroker before the outbreak of the Second World War, but nothing about his personal finances or career made him any more suited for saving children from Nazi Germany than anyone else at the time. 

His efforts began after he planned to take a ski trip to Switzerland. As fate had it, he altered his plans to visit a friend in Prague who was working with the British Committee for Refugees. His friend showed him the conditions of the refugees. He was so struck by what he saw that he set up an organization to find families and housing for the children fleeing Germany. 

From a humble office situated at a dining room table in a hotel, Winton was able to successfully coordinate the rescue of 669 children. Among the children, many would grow up to become notable mathematicians, politicians, filmmakers, authors and more. His willingness to take action had profound effects on the lives of these children as well as society as a whole. His contributions will be felt for generations to come.

Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin is one of many unsung heroes of the civil rights movement. She made an undeniable (but often unrecognized) impact on history at the age of 15 when she refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white woman during segregation. Colvin’s act of nonviolent resistance provided the inspiration for the more famous incident involving Rosa Parks, which occurred nine months later.

Colvin grew up in Montgomery, Alabama during the height of segregation. She was an avid student of black history and bravely took a chance to build on the legacy of her heroes. One day in March of 1955, she was on a public bus returning from school when the driver demanded that Colvin and her friends move to the back of the bus to make room for a white woman.

Colvin’s friends reluctantly moved, but she stayed put. Colvin took bold action and was publicly breaking the law. She later remarked to the BBC, 

Whenever people ask me: ‘Why didn’t you get up when the bus driver asked you?’ I say it felt as though Harriet Tubman’s hands were pushing me down on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth’s hands were pushing me down on the other shoulder. I felt inspired by these women because my teacher taught us about them in so much detail.

Colvin actually knew Rosa Parks well and Colvin’s arrest brought the two closer together. Later when the local chapter of the NAACP considered using Colvin’s arrest as a catalyst for the Montgomery bus boycott, the chapter leaders determined that Colvin was too young to be the face of the movement. Instead, they nominated Parks to play out a similar situation that would provide the impetus for the boycott. 

Colvin was later a plaintiff in the federal court cases, however, which helped end bus segregation (Browder v. Gayle). Recently, historians have begun to resurrect Colvin’s story to help correct the historical record. While Colvin has still not received the recognition she truly deserves, her actions directly led to the end of segregation.

Walter Reuther 

Walter Reuther was an organizer for the labor rights and civil rights movements. He helped build the United Automobiles Workers (UAW) into an intersectional force that went far beyond labor rights. He was instrumental in harnessing the power of the UAW to help advance civil rights, women’s rights, public education, environmental protection, health care, and nuclear nonproliferation. 

Reuther was educated about labor rights activism from an early age. As a young boy in West Virginia, he learned a great deal from his father who was a beer wagon driver and union activist. His father even organized debates for his children to help them think critically about the pressing social issues of the day. Reuther later recalled , 

At my father’s knee we learned the philosophy of trade unionism. We got the struggles, the hopes and the aspirations of working people every day.

Reuther was a strong ally of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and he played an instrumental role in organizing the March on Washington in 1963. He even delivered remarks shortly before King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. 

Reuther’s accomplishments are quite staggering when listed in full. In fact, it would take an entire post to do justice to his life’s work. His impact ranged from bringing automobile workers into the middle class to helping start the Peace Corps to negotiating a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Cuba, and much, much more. 

His legacy is deeply ingrained in the U.S. and global society, yet his name is not as well known as some of his contemporaries. Nonetheless, Reuther’s story reveals the extent of an individual’s power to make a difference in the world.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is, perhaps, the most well-known individual on this list. However, her current fame should not distract readers from the fact that she made a dramatic impact on the world at a remarkably young age and with virtually no resources. 

Malala (as she has become known) was born and raised in the Swat Valley. She attended school as a young girl but, when the Taliban took over her village, girls were barred from going to school. Her love of school compelled her to speak out against the injustice. Her advocacy, though, made her a target and, in October 2012, Malala was shot in the face by a member of the Taliban while riding a bus.

Remarkably, she recovered in a hospital in England and instantly became a symbol of the repressive conditions the Taliban was imposing on local populations – especially women. Malala made the deliberate choice that she would continue to speak out despite the risks. With the help of her father, she set up the Malala Fund which seeks to improve access to education for women everywhere.

Malala became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She has continued to serve as a leader and spokesperson for women’s access to education.

James Harrison 

James Harrison is proof that small actions can have huge impacts. Harrison is sometimes referred to as the “Man with Golden Arms” because his blood donations have helped save the lives of over 2.4 million infants including his own daughter.

When Harrison was 14 he underwent surgery to remove one of his lungs. As he recovered, the doctors explained that he was able to survive the surgery with high volumes of blood donations. Thankful for the contribution of random strangers to saving his life, Harrison vowed to donate blood every chance he could.

He made good on his promise and began donating blood four years later when he was legally eligible at the age of 18. Doctors quickly recognized that Harrison’s blood carried unusual antibodies that helped in the treatment of a blood disorder called Rhesus (or Rh) disease. The disease can be fatal for infants and treatment had eluded medical scientists before Harrison’s blood.

Harrison’s small act of donating blood ended up having a profound impact on the lives of millions. His story is a testament to the fact that small actions can truly change the world.

Extraordinary Situations 

“Extraordinary situations” are likely what Shakespear meant by “some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.” These are people who found themselves in critical moments and how they responded had major consequences.

Keshia Thomas  

In the summer of 1996, a branch of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) planned to hold a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Once the word got out that the KKK was planning a rally, activists quickly organized a counter-demonstration for the same day. 

During the protests, a white-supremacist snuck into the ranks of the counter-protesters. He was quickly spotted. The KKK member (or “Klansman”) began running and the counter-protestors pursued him aggressively. 

The counter-protestors quickly caught up and physical altercations ensued. They began to beat the Klansman and calls were heard to “Kill the Nazi.” Heroically, Keshia Thomas, an African-American counter-protester, jumped in front of the Klansman to shield him from the coming onslaught. She successfully saved a man who was supposed to be her “enemy” from serious physical harm and possibly even death. 

Thomas demonstrated a rare sort of courage and love when she risked her own safety to save someone whose identity was defined by hating African-Americans. Despite the emotionally charged moment, Thomas kept her integrity and later remarked,

 Nobody deserves to be hurt, especially not for an idea.

Her act of courage saved a life and stopped a cycle of violence. The incident was famously captured by Mark Brunner (see above) and the photos are now widely considered iconic. 

You may have heard urban legends about people becoming so adrenaline-infused during moments of emergencies that they were able to lift cars to save someone underneath. Well, some of those stories are real and Zac Clarke is one such amazing person who actually lifted a car off of someone pinned underneath.

In the fall of 2019, Zac (a 16-year-old) and his mother Lora Clarke heard cries for help next door. Both rushed to the aid of their neighbor and found that her husband was trapped under a Volkswagen Passat. Apparently, the jack had slipped as the man was working on the car and it fell on him, trapping him from the waist up.

Zac quickly ran to the front of the car and lifted it up just enough to allow Lora and the man’s wife to pull him out. Micracoursly, the man survived. Zac’s heroism is the stuff of urban legends and it shows the literal power that comes from helping others.

Welles Crowther “The Man in the Red Bandana”

Welles Crowther was one hero (among many) in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Crowther was an equities trader who worked on the 104th story of the World Trade Center’s South Tower. After the plane struck, Crowther helped dozens of people escape the wreckage and get out of the building before it collapsed. 

He had been identified by many people as simply “the man in the red bandana” (which he wore to protect from the smoke and debris). Many reported that Crowther gave firm directions to those who were still stunned from the impact and assisted the injured. He ushered several floors of office workers to safe exists, even carrying one woman on his back at one point.

After clearing those who could move, Crowther went back into to search the more floors. Ultimately, he gave his life to help others until the very last seconds before the building fell. 

His impact was so great that many of those he saved remain connected – bonded by being saved by the same person. Crowther had been a volunteer firefighter in his teens and had reportedly told his dad he wanted to quit his job as an equities trader to join the FDNY. While he may have had a particular disposition to emergency response, Crowthers story shows what ordinary citizens are capable of in extraordinary situations.

Holly McNally

Holly McNally demonstrated a tremendous amount of bravery to help save a truck driver who had crashed while carrying jet fuel. McNally, who had given birth just ten days before the incident, reported that she felt compelled to do all she could to save life having just given life herself.

While driving home with her mother in February 2020, McNally spotted a truck overturned near the highway. Many spectators were filming the smoke and fire-engulfed scene. McNally, however, acted when others refused and against her mother’s wishes. She ran toward the smoke and flames to help the driver who was trying to extinguish the fire on his clothes and body. 

Along with another good samaritan, McNally and the driver escaped before the massive explosion that followed the initial crash. She is an inspiring example of how appreciation for life can compel us to superhuman action. 

Stanislav Petrov 

Stanislav Petrov was an elite officer in the Soviet army who may have singlehandedly prevented a nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the U.S. His story shows the power of critical thinking skills and the necessity to deliberately disobey orders if necessary.

Petrov was assigned to monitor Soviet missile warning systems at the height of the Cold War. In September 1983, those early warning systems reported a missile launch from the U.S. with the “highest” confidence levels. Petrov was on duty at the time and had orders to alert his superiors about such a warning. 

Despite these orders, Petrov took no action. He sat watching the screen which changed from “LAUNCH” to “MISSILE STRIKE” as sirens blared. Petrov had the instinct that something was wrong. He checked with support systems which reported no activity. He also thought it was strange how quickly the computer system raised its confidence metric to the highest levels.

Petrov sat for twenty-three minutes before he realized that had the warning been accurate, the missiles would’ve struck by then. It turned out that the incident was due to a malfunction of the alert system. 

Had Petrov took action, most agree that Soviet leadership would’ve likely authorized (what they would have believed to have been) a retaliatory nuclear strike against the U.S. 

30 years later, Petrov reported to the BBC,

I had all the data [to suggest there was an ongoing missile attack]. If I had sent my report up the chain of command, nobody would have said a word against it.

Petrov’s ability to stay calm and asses the situation carefully allowed him to make a critical choice that likely saved the world from a disaster beyond imagination. 

Looking to make a difference? Check out our post on community involvement to get started.

Dan Jasper is the founder and primary author of Street Civics. He specializes in advocacy and international affairs.

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Campus unrest: Will protests make a difference?

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What to Know About the Turmoil at Colleges Over the Israel-Hamas War

On campus, the debate over free speech and antisemitism has only become more charged.

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By Anemona Hartocollis ,  Colbi Edmonds and Anna Betts

As the Israel-Hamas war has escalated, many universities have been caught in an often vitriolic debate over how to handle pro-Palestinian student protests.

Many Jewish students and alumni have been alarmed, saying that the demonstrations can veer into antisemitism. Supporters of academic freedom and students and faculty critical of Israel’s policy toward Palestinians have responded that the real goal is to suppress their political views.

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened dozens of investigations into allegations of antisemitism at colleges and K-12 schools, a dramatic increase from previous years.

The Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce has also started investigations into a half-dozen schools and has held hearings. One in December helped lead to the resignations of the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.

Another, in April, featured Columbia’s officials, and the testimony from the university president caused uproar after she vowed to crack down on unauthorized protests and disclosed the disciplinary details of some faculty members.

Here’s what to know about how these issues are playing out on campuses.

How the conflict began.

On the weekend of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, a student coalition at Harvard, calling itself the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups, issued a public letter holding “the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all the unfolding violence.”

Despite an outcry over the letter from alumni and donors, Harvard’s new president, Claudine Gay, did not initially forcefully condemn the Hamas attack, leading to complaints that the university was letting the students’ letter fill the vacuum and appear to represent the university’s view.

At Penn, the debate over campus antisemitism started before the Hamas attacks, as some high-profile donors and alumni asked the administration to cancel or strongly condemn a Palestinian writers conference, which was being held on campus.

Penn’s president at the time, M. Elizabeth Magill, refused, citing free speech, while acknowledging that some of the speakers had a history of making remarks viewed as antisemitic.

After the Hamas attack, the anger from some Penn alumni grew. Critics faulted the university for not reaching out early to its Jewish students or alumni with an official statement condemning the attack. And the institutional responses fortified the sense of some alumni that the university was not sensitive to what they saw as a rising tide of antisemitism. Many declared they would withhold their donations. Some called for new leadership.

But for others watching the conflict, the campaign was unsettling. Critics, especially among the faculty, accused the alumni of censoring views and inappropriately intervening in academic affairs, where, they said, they had no business.

The war in Gaza divides campuses.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated, so did the campus conflicts.

A t Columbia University , hundreds participated in competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in October that led school administrators to close the campus to the public. Its faculty traded open letters, which were often barbed.

At Harvard, students associated with the anti-Israel letter following the Hamas attack were doxxed .

At Northwestern University, students at a rally accused the university president, Michael H. Schill, of being complicit in the killing of Palestinians in Gaza. At George Washington University , students projected slogans like “Glory to our martyrs” on a building wall.

And at Brown University, 20 students were arrested in November after holding a sit-in where they pushed for a cease-fire and a divestment from weapons manufacturers. Students were also arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Michigan.

Hillel, a Jewish campus group, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Arab and Muslim civil rights group, both recorded a rising number of bias incidents on campus.

Congressional hearings lead to outrage.

Nothing heightened the debate more than the congressional hearings on Dec. 5 with the presidents of Harvard, M.I.T. and Penn, and on April 17 with leaders of Columbia, including its president, Nemat Shafik.

In December, the presidents were asked whether students would be punished if they called for genocide against Jews; they said it would depend on the context. Their legalistic and dispassionate responses led to an uproar and widespread condemnation, and Dr. Gay and Ms. Magill resigned under pressure.

When Dr. Shafik and other Columbia leaders testified in front of the same committee this month, they answered more affirmatively that a call for genocide would violate Columbia’s code of conduct.

Dr. Shafik said that the university was taking serious action to combat antisemitism, telling lawmakers that she agreed that some protests had used antisemitic language, and that certain contested phrases — like “from the river to the sea” — might warrant discipline.

Dr. Shafik also vowed that there would be “consequences” for employees who “make remarks that cross the line in terms of antisemitism.” She went into surprising detail about disciplinary procedures against some university professors, noting at one point that one visiting professor would “never work at Columbia again.”

This deeply worried and drew a sharp rebuke from some supporters of academic freedom.

How are schools addressing the protests?

Some colleges have started cracking down on pro-Palestinian protests and events despite possible free-speech concerns.

At Columbia, Dr. Shafik appeared to fulfill her vow to Congress that she was prepared to punish students who held unauthorized protests. A day after her testimony, pro-Palestinian demonstrators set up a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” and Dr. Shafik called on the police to clear the tents out, a decision that swiftly escalated tensions on campus. The police arrested more than 100 students, and the university said that it would suspend all of them .

But the students appeared undeterred , and they set up new tents the next day. The clash prompted students from other universities, including Yale, Boston University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to hold rallies and form their own encampments in solidarity with the Columbia students.

Students for Justice in Palestine, the most prominent pro-Palestinian campus group, has been suspended from at least four universities, including Columbia, Brandeis, George Washington and Rutgers.

Vanderbilt recently expelled three students for the takeover of an administration building.

The University of Southern California said on Monday that it had canceled plans for a graduation speech by this year’s valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, who is Muslim. The school cited security concerns, but Muslim civil rights groups have denounced the decision as censorship. Later in the week, the university announced that its main commencement program would eliminate all outside speakers and honorees, including the director of the movie “Crazy Rich Asians,” Jon M. Chu, and the tennis star Billie Jean King.

And after a student protest at the University of Michigan interrupted a school ceremony for high-achieving students, university officials put forward a proposal that would ban activities that disrupt “celebrations, activities and operations of the university.” Michigan’s president, Santa J. Ono, said the demonstration was “unacceptable.” But the Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union criticized that policy as too vague and broad.

Jeremy W. Peters contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this article misstated when the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups issued a public letter holding “the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all the unfolding violence.” The letter was issued on the weekend of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, not on the weekend after the attack.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly linked and misidentified a statement by the American Civil Liberties Union’s Michigan chapter. The statement that said the University of Michigan had taken actions that “censored, suppressed, and punished student speech and advocacy” was issued on Dec. 19; it was not in reference to a more recent proposal from the university.

How we handle corrections

Anemona Hartocollis is a national reporter for The Times, covering higher education. More about Anemona Hartocollis

Colbi Edmonds writes about the environment, education and infrastructure. More about Colbi Edmonds

Anna Betts reports on national events, including politics, education, and natural or man-made disasters, among other things. More about Anna Betts

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Sunday 28 April 2024 11:15, UK

• Sunak refuses to rule out July general election
• Watch in full: Trevor Phillips interviews the prime minister
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By Trevor Phillips, presenter

I've known Rishi Sunak slightly for almost a decade, having first met him after he penned a thoughtful, comprehensive, well-received report on Britain's minority communities, which I'd say is still the best of its kind.

Sitting down to interview him in a state-of-the-art defence facility this week, I could still see the same energetic, likeable problem solver that I met back then, even if he's now surrounded by the prime ministerial cavalcade of aides, security and media.

That Peloton and fasting regime are clearly doing their job. He's keen to show his detailed grasp of the situation, whether that's welfare reform, defence or migration. It's easy to see why he shone in Silicon Valley and thrived in the Treasury.

However, in the political world he chose, there's a downside to being highly intelligent, disciplined, and super-focused on delivery, as they might say in California.

He betrays frustration with what he - not wholly unjustifiably - sees as a media obsession with polls and presentation.

Unfortunately, as Enoch Powell once pointed out, a politician who complains about journalists is like a sailor who doesn't much fancy being at sea.

He rightly points out that it's his job to make hard choices - for example, funding the defence budget even if it's at the expense of schools and hospitals.

But a political leader should also know that what follows is an even harder job: to cajole the electorate into supporting that choice - and the voters aren't always governed by the logic of the computer.

Read on here...

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, has said her party will not be changing its mind about supporting the upcoming motion of no confidence in First Minister Humza Yousaf.

Ms Slater said they would vote in favour of the motion on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show,

"I cannot imagine anything at this point that could change that position.

"This was a spectacular breach of trust."

She was asked if policy offers from Mr Yousaf ahead of the vote could persuade them to abstain.

“[The Bute House Agreement] was based on mutual trust and respect. I do have trust and respect for many of my SNP colleagues," she said.

"But Humza Yousaf himself has broken that and he needs to face the consequences."

Policing minister Chris Philp said he was posing a "rhetorical question" after he appeared to ask whether Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were different countries.

The MP for Croydon South said he was struggling to hear when he was asked about the government's new law on deporting some asylum seekers to Rwanda by a Question Time audience member.

He told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: "I was struggling a little bit to hear the question.

"When I put that point to him I was asking that as a clearly rhetorical question rather than a substantive question, as I think any fair-minded listener would conclude."

What did he say on Question Time?

The audience member, from Congo, pointed out there has been a long history of violent conflict with neighbouring country Rwanda.

He asked Mr Philp: "Had my family members come from Goma [a city on the country's border] on a crossing right now, would they then be sent back to the country they are supposedly warring – Rwanda? Does that make any sense to you?"

Mr Philp replied: "No, I think there's an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent to Rwanda."

After the audience member objected that his parents were not from Rwanda, the Conservative MP appeared to ask: "Well, I mean, Rwanda is a different country to Congo, isn't it?

"It's a different country?" he said, followed by laughter from some audience members.

Rishi Sunak was quizzed over the local and general elections, the Rwanda Scheme and defence spending today on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.

If you missed it, here's your chance to catch up on all the key moments - or watch the interview in full.

• The prime minister tried to manage expectations for Thursday, saying: "Local elections are always difficult for incumbent parties";
• Asylum seekers travelling across the land border to Ireland was a sign the Rwanda scheme was working as a deterrent, he said;
• Despite being asked several times, Mr Sunak refused to rule out a July general election;
• He declined to comment on polling and, when asked if he would have any regrets should the Conservative Party lose, Mr Sunak said: "You're again focused on all this personality stuff."

A little earlier this morning, Rishi Sunak told Sky News that the movement of migrants from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland showed his Rwanda scheme was working as a deterrent.

But the Irish government is to consider legislative proposals next week on returning asylum seekers back to the UK who have travelled across the land border.

Justice minister Helen McEntee will also meet Home Secretary James Cleverly next week, after saying the number of migrants crossing the border was now "higher than 80%".

"I'll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK," she told RTE.

Ms McEntee added Brexit was responsible for the UK seeing an increase in people seeking asylum.

A spokesman for Irish premier Simon Harris said he is "very clear about the importance of protecting the integrity" of Ireland's migration system.

"Ireland has a rules-based system that must always be applied firmly and fairly.

"In that context, the Taoiseach has asked the minister for justice to bring proposals to Cabinet next week to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe 'third countries' and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK."

Alex Salmond asked Alastair Campbell to negotiate on behalf of Scotland with the UK government in the event it voted for independence in 2014, Mr Campbell tells Sky News.

The proposal was made when the pair were in Scotland ahead of the referendum, making tributes to Tony Benn, the former Number 10 communications director says.

"If Scotland had become independent, then that would have been a massive, massive thing for the country, so I would have been very happy to do that.

"I would want people who weren't necessarily pro-indpendence to be part of that team."

As Humza Yousaf fights to maintain leadership of Scotland, the Alba Party's Alex Salmond joins Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.

Meanwhile, Ash Regan, the Alba Party's sole MP and potentially the deciding vote in a no-confidence motion in Mr Yousaf, is expected to meet with the first minister.

Ms Regan will "make a set of reasonable proposals to help him out of a very tight corner", says Mr Salmond.

"Scotland is lucky that somebody like Ash Regan is in that position."

Independence forces should be "cooperating together to try and get independence back as a priority in Scottish society".

Asked if an agreement can be reached with the SNP, Mr Salmond says Mr Yousaf is "in a very difficult position" but he will be in a "listening mode".

"He wouldn't have sacked the Greens from his administration unless he wanted a significant change in direction," says Mr Salmond.

"One possible outcome of this political crisis is there might be a Scottish election."

Earlier this week, Labour pledged to nationalise the railway system.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting says the plan is a "reflection of the failure of privatised rail and the absence of competition".

If you bring the franchises back into public ownership as they come up, the profits can be reinvested into better services and fairs, argues Mr Streeting.

"There is already enormous public ownership of our railways, but they are owned by French, German, Dutch and Italian taxpayers, and our profits go into their countries."

"It's time that we had public ownership of our railways so we can reinvest."

Trevor Phillips continues to put questions to shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.

He is about Keir Starmer's pledge to maintain the triple lock, with Phillips raising statistics showing median wealth for those in their early 60s was nearly nine times higher than those in their early 30s.

"I don't buy into that intergenerational conflict argument. We need to give pensioners the reassurance to know that as they have planned for retirement... that Labour will protect the triple lock."

Wes Streeting is asked about the possibility of a July election, which the prime minister has refused to rule out.

The shadow health secretary says: "He should get on with it. We are not just ready, we are, as with the rest of the country, fed up of waiting."

People are "crying out for an opportunity to deliver their verdict on this government and vote for change", he says.

"That's why the prime minister bottled an election earlier this year, that's why he's bottled it now, and that's why he will have to be taken out of Downing Street by his fingernails."

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