As a young 22-year old medical graduate, I played mind games - on myself! They were necessary. Some things needed to have meaning.
Like when a drug addict with sores all over his body, a glazed, lifeless look in his eyes, in extreme malnutrition, and with a non-existent will to live is dropped off in the E.R. — by a police van which picked him off the roadside.
I had to find meaning, to understand WHY I should make the effort to treat him.
And there were others - many, far worse. As a doctor, you treat patients. Not the people they really are. And that means you come across murderers and pimps, psychopaths and lunatics, thieves and other unsavory characters.
You learn to treat them all equally.
And that needs some mental gymnastics - in the beginning.
So I’d imagine a scenario where my child (I hadn’t one at the time) was walking on the sidewalk, lost her footing, and slipped onto the road - in front of a speeding automobile… when this druggie who was lying in a daze, almost in a reflex, reaches out and pulls her out of harms way.
That’s a good reason to fight to save his life!
There were many such imaginary games. And in the end, they all drew me towards what I know today is the right conclusion - EVERY human life is precious, valuable, worth saving.
Today, with the hindsight of two decades of medical practice and living life, I no longer need mind games. There’s enough proof of this fact - both in a physical and spiritual sense.
But that’s just background.
The real point I’m driving at is this.
Everyone has a role to play in the rich tapestry of life. Everyone has an impact. Just like you.
That’s kind of intuitive.
What is harder to grasp is how far and wide your REAL impact can reach.
I post frequently on forums and discussion groups. The reasons and motives are diverse. But I’m often stunned to hear from people whom I’ve never been in direct one-to-one contact with, saying how their life changed after something they read on one of my forum or blog posts!
For instance, Joanne Mason asked me to read and approve of her including me in the introduction to her new ebook, “21 More Income Streams - Multiple Ways to Make Money Online”
I’ll quote a bit from Joanne’s introduction message:
“Let me tell you a quick story that may help you to understand my motivation a
little better.One of the most generous (TIMIC) forum members is Internet Marketing guru, Dr. Mani. Some of the information that he freely shares on this forum could be packaged and sold at a premium price. Some of his tips might help you discover something that you never knew existed. Some of his other posts simply cause you to look inside yourself and reflect on your true purpose in life and business.
That was the case recently after I read a post where Dr. Mani asked the forum
what was our reason for doing whatever it is that we do in business.Of course, I already knew how I much I love working at home before Dr. Mani’s
question. However, after being challenged to think about it more deeply I also
realized how much I love sharing even my limited knowledge with someone else.
Thank you, Dr. Mani.”
While this indeed was the intention behind my posting to the forum, the insight made such an impact on Joanne, she made it the focus of her foreword to a new project that will help hundreds of beginners make money online.
That’s what I like to think of as the ‘Ripple Effect’ - where your impact just spreads and spreads, like ripples on the surface of a smooth pond when you drop a pebble in it.
But with one difference.
While ripples on a pond’s surface can’t spread beyond the limits of the pond itself, YOUR impact has absolutely no limits to how and where it can spread.
Two days back, out of the blue, I got a telephone call from Bangalore. It was from the representative of a large charity that was helping under-privileged children.
The organization had heard about my work, and was interested in seeking my help with their new Internet initiative. I asked for more details about their work.
The email I got in reply blew me away - I had no idea this was so big. Here’s a part of it:
“Our aim is to feed a million kids by 2010. Presently, we are feeding 950,000 children daily and hope that we will reach our goal by this year.
Our Foundation has been recognised as the largest school meal program in the world by ‘The World Economic Forum’. And Harvard Business School has made it a Case study that is being used as part of MBA curriculum for operational excellence and for the use of technology in the social sector.”
By being a part of this foundation’s work, I will indirectly be helping feed 950,000 children every day! That is so very exciting, fulfilling and rewarding - and this is not something I could have achieved if I had consciously set out to try and do!
It happened naturally, as a consequence of steadily growing IMPACT.
On Monday, I was reading an amazing document that I found through Seth Godin’s blog. It’s called “A Brief Guide to World Domination” and it’s about how to lead a remarkable life in a conventional world.
It’s a report EVERYONE should read - and internalize. Especially entrepreneurs and people who want to make an IMPACT. That’s YOU.
Chris Guillebeau stretches one’s mind to the limitless possibilities that our vast human potential allows, yearns, indeed clamors for - but sadly, too many of us ignore.
In one section of it, Chris talks about how we get to extend our impact - without even trying. Because once you become good - REALLY good - at something, become known for it, recognized as an expert… suddenly people from other unrelated areas of specialization come to you for advice and support.
That allows you to increase your impact on the world - without even trying.
And amazingly enough, within 24 hours of reading those words, I had proof of it in my own life!
The formula, as Chris reveals, is really quite simple.
“You have to be willing to give it your all, and for a long time with potentially few rewards. In the short run, few people will notice, but in the long run, everyone will.”
So, in case you’re wondering if it’s all worthwhile, if you have doubts and uncertainties about whether anyone at all notices or cares… keep the faith.
Far more people are aware of you and what you do than you might dare imagine. And that works in a positive sense, as well as a negative one. You cannot afford to let your guard down - ever.
Because just as there are people watching when you behave and perform like a role model, they are also looking when you behave like an immature, spoiled child - and making their judgements, drawing their conclusions… even if they never, ever spell them out to you, or anyone else.
Go on and continue making YOUR impact on the world.
It is real.
It is meaningful.
It will help change the world, make it a better place - if you give it enough time.
8 Comments Received
July 17th, 2008 @4:29 am
Brilliant piece, Dr. Mani.
“While ripples on a pond’s surface can’t spread beyond the limits of the pond itself, YOUR impact has absolutely no limits to how and where it can spread.”
This is the principle of precession R. Buckminster Fuller talked about - the effect of bodies in motion on bodies in motion. Our true life’s purpose is always at a 90 degree angle to our forward motion. Like the bumble bee buzzing around getting nectar, he has no idea he’s pollinating the flowers in the process! We often have no idea the tremendous impact we’re leaving in our wake and our ripples and our footsteps.
Btw, be sure to also check out Ken McArthur’s excellent book, IMPACT!
Cheers,
Mari
@marismith
July 17th, 2008 @4:52 am
After a long and very challenging day I sat here quietly, in the stillness of my home, at my desk, trying not to be too noisy as my family sleeps. I was wondering why I was still up, trying to catch up on correspondence when my heart was not really engaged. I knew better!
Then my spirit led me, reluctantly, to Twitter to sign off, I thought. Then I saw your link to this post…I must admit, I felt too tired to read but again, my spirit compelled me on.
ALL of this to say that this is clearly the reason I’m still up. I NEEDED to read this message. It is a powerful message. Helping and profoundly impacting people, especially those who are most in need and too easily discarded is my purpose in life. I get drained sometimes and today was one of those days.
Thank you from the bottom, middle and top of my heart for being an angel, sent to whisper a word of encouragement to a somewhat weary soul. I am so glad I trusted my inner spirit!
All the best to you Dr. Mani.
July 17th, 2008 @1:10 pm
I have believed for most of my life that whatever you put out into the world (good or bad) comes back to you; so the impact you have on the world is also the impact you have on your own life.
I also liked the bits about using “mind games” to get yourself to do things you need to do; I plan to use it myself, whenever I lack motivation to do things I think are worth doing, but are not always enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
July 17th, 2008 @5:42 pm
Doc, I would add one more thing to your list about influence…
You are also seen when you think no-one else is looking.
That’s what really tells about you and what your character make-up is… and in my not-so-humble-opinion, is the greatest source influence you can have on others. It is in the mosaic of character that you create, that, in the end, tells the world who and what you are - and what your legacy will be.
Let me give you an example from my own life’s experiences:
In 1998, when I first started being active on what was then a fairly new medium for me… the Internet. A now good friend had just started a website to freely discuss and promote entrepreneurship for anyone interested. The intent was to provide a free, “NO BS” service - without promoting OR selling anything - just teaching entrepreneurship and sharing real-world business information that worked.
Since I was “retired” from the business world, I thought this a grand idea. That little inner voice told me to share what I had learned in a long life-time, having has some very grand successes along the way (and not too few failures too!), and lessons to teach to whomever would use what I could and would pass along.
In the early days, we had very few visitors (we also did little to no promotion)… but we still posted numerous messages (for the archives mainly!) - and I created a lot of valuable information pages (Marty, my friend and partner, didn’t have all the skills needed for this). As time went along, the membership steadily rose, and after 10 years, we have served/helped well more than 30,000 folks at various stages of entrepreneurship - and continue the service to this day.
With this in mind, we now have many 1,000’s of members, followers and regular readers - as well as having created a sort-of mastermind group to provide for, and share in, many areas of business and entrepreneurial expertise. The “member-experts” now range from a former director of a regional SBDC, an owner of a large CPA firm, a well-qualified and diverse corporate/business lawyer, several former college professors for business, and a fairly large number of long-time entrepreneurs and former & current business owners… some from large businesses and some from small businesses, but with one commonality - each had built at least one very successful enterprise for themselves.
(We also have some of the biggest names in today’s on-line businesses as members too. Most just “monitor” us - with some using us and what we post as “lead-ins” or idea-generators for their own e-zines and websites.)
These days, the “ripples” from our archives and pages, many written in the early, lean days still carry great influence on every visitor that bothers to search our site. On an almost daily basis, I get emails from members and non-members alike telling me about their experiences (gotta’ love that feedback!) with the information we provide. Sometimes they have a follow-up question, but many times - their message is just one of appreciation for all the things they’ve learned from us - without spam, scams or cons.
Most of all, they tell me on a very consistent basis just how “refreshing” it is to get all this help… without any commercial intent! (Not that I have any problems with folks making money from selling info, it’s just not they way we want to do things… OK?)
That, in a nutshell, is my “payoff” - a job well done. A legacy left.
Thanks folks!
BTW: My original philanthropic intent stills holds sway… teach and share.
I didn’t care then, nor do I care now about making money from this endeavor… it was, and still is my personal passion to share with willing listeners, no matter who, what or where they may be. “Lady Luck” has shown her lovely face to me in many ways… and in my dotage, all I want to do now is keep the things I’ve learned along the way alive. Passed to willing listeners - and to folks that will take action on what we share.
Could I capitalize on this?
Yes, definitely.
Will I capitalize on all this?
Probably not.
That’s not who I am.
You see - I don’t care who’s looking - or if anyone is even looking. I serve but one master…
and it’s all for him, because…
I know he’s looking all the time.
-Nick
PS: Some words to live by: Let him who would be great among you be servant to all.
Mark 9:35 - Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
2 Chronicles 10:7 - If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants forever.
1 Corinthians 9:19 - For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Greatness in the kingdom of heaven consists in doing, rather than in being, and in doing for others, rather than for self. Greatness is to be found in service. Only those men are truly great who are the servants of their race, helpers of mankind.
July 17th, 2008 @8:33 pm
From the Heart of Dr. Mani’s desk
Generous!
Inspiring!
In short:
Beautiful!
…
Take to heart Dr. Mani’s Post
…
And Extend to the Future and
leave a meaningful Legacy
to all the children of the world.
Cordialement
Joel Bomane from Sunny Sudden France
July 18th, 2008 @4:08 am
Well Dr.Mani you showed yourself to be a classy person.
After all, who cares about what type of person a Dr should treat, as long as there’s money, right?
As far as a money grabbing character is concerned, why care who the person that will benefit from the touch of your culminated skills REALLY is, right?
But you showed otherwise. You had to do the mind games.
There’s a great conscience to benefit only those who deserved to benefit, not wantonly serving even the murderous and criminal minded, when you can put your skills to better use for better people.
However when you can come round to full realization of treating people equally, because EVERYBODY is equally precious, that’s a vast and profound statement.
And you do it not because of money but because of a moral issue. You saw there’s good in every individual, whatever station they are in life.
You are impacting on the good side of mankind. Touching on the good souls of people wherever you’ve treaded.
It’s a spiritual lesson for us lesser mortals.
Well done my good man.
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