According to a recent Oxfam report, the world’s eight richest people have the same wealth as the poorest fifty percent. While I believe firmly in the entrepreneurial spirit, the benefits of competition, and reaping the rewards of hard work and innovation, I also feel we have a profound responsibility to give back and do what we can to alleviate suffering so that “a rising tide lifts all ships” as the saying goes.
While I don’t have a grand plan for helping right the world’s greatly lopsided wealth, this report did make me think along the lines of small things each of us can do to stretch ourselves beyond our charitable comfort zones.
This week I’d like to issue a simple challenge to every reader of Tuesday Tactics, one which will not only positively impact the lives of other people, but will also increase your own happiness. I think of it as the “Seven for Seven” challenge, and it goes like this:
Over the next seven days, find a way to give meaningfully to seven strangers.
If possible, do this personally. Deliver the goods by hand, buy the coffee for the next person in line, repair the neighbor’s steps yourself. Do so with no expectation of return. (And yes, this means resist the urge to turn this person into a “someday” lead in your database!) Even better, if you can do it yourself and do it anonymously, don’t hesitate.
If you have the eyes for it, you will see need everywhere. Do not ignore it. Your spirit will thank you.
