Having an Impact on Others

I recently connected with someone new on LinkedIn and asked him about something I saw in his profile. He talked about having a positive impact on others. I asked him to explain a little about what he meant by this. Will Foster?gave me permission to share his response.

“Creating positive impacts, as I'm sure you know, can be challenging- especially when your energy tank is low (which mine frequently seems to be these days). In the world I live in, it is easy to be bogged down by the horrific things I see and hear and subject those that join me on the quest to help abused and neglected kids. There are a couple things that help me get out of bed and into the office every day.”

1) Knowing the big picture difference IS the impact. The bad things are just the steps to finding great things.

2) Celebrating all victories no matter how small. One's perception of victory tends to be on the tangible or instant gratification, which is fine until the tangible becomes less frequent and less grandiose. Helping my team see these is incredibly impactful.

3) Surrounding myself with people that are truly good people. Big hearts that like helping others is extremely refreshing, which makes it so much easier to return the favor of trying to refresh them.

4) I keep my eyes and ears open for the next opportunity to make the impact. Whether it’s with my staff, or my volunteers/board, or with the kids we work with, I'm listening intently to what's going on and making connections on providing support where it makes sense for me to do so- or connect them to someone who can help them effectively.

5) Lastly, self-care. I am terrible at it, but it does make a difference when I do it. Trying to fill others from an empty cup is extremely difficult. I remember the old first aid/CPR rule, don't help unless the scene is safe otherwise you can make a bad situation worse. I take that to heart when my self-care meter begins to reach empty.

He concludes, “I'm not sure if this was what you were looking for. But the simple answer is, I just try. I have a former board member that reminds me periodically that those who say, "I try" are actually getting more done than most, which really helps my perspective too.”

Will is the Executive Director of the Dauphin County CASA. Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children CASA is a network of nearly 1,000 programs that are recruiting, training and supporting volunteers in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Dauphin County CASA supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy with the goal that every abused or neglected child in the county can be safe and have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. CASA recruits, screens, trains and supervises volunteer advocates from the community to ensure cultural competence. Their mission is to be the eyes and ears of the Court by observing and collecting as much information as possible to provide the Court, the caseworkers and GALs.? Thanks, Will, for sharing!

I have been so blessed and privileged to connect with people like Will and to hear their incredible stories. He, and many others I have met, are inspirations with a drive and passion to help make a difference. Seeking TRUTH in the world has opened me to many different perspectives and ideas, inspiring me to continue this quest and share with you what I find. As I look toward the new year, I will reflect on many of the people and thoughts that have impacted me this year, and I will dive fully into several new topics and perspectives to further help me explore this important subject of TRUTH. I also hope to set up additional opportunities to meet, one-on-one, with people and develop relationships of mutual interests and assistance.

This is my request of you…continue to engage with me, answering my inquires and sharing with me your stories and perspectives. If you find any of my articles interesting or thought provoking, please comment and share them with others to help expand this circle of knowledge and TRUTH. Thank you for your engagement and continued support.

Seeking TRUTH and Understanding,

Bob Price

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