Making a difference doesn’t have to involve wars or Mars

Making a difference is an Entelechy core value. It is what we, as a business and individuals within the company, are here to do. Here is how we celebrate making a difference.?

Small acts = big impacts?

Making a difference sounds such a grand affair! Declaring “I want to make a difference” sounds like you are aiming for a Nobel Peace Prize or something. Those who negotiate peace after long and bloody wars or deliver a vaccine that saves millions of lives – are undoubtedly making a difference.??

Yet, the person who hands a sandwich to someone homeless and hungry is also making a difference. The man on the bus who smiles at another and helps him feel less sad – also makes a difference. That hug you gave a small child when they scraped a knee creates a lifelong memory of being nurtured and cared for. That core memory makes a massive difference to that human's life.?

Our daily acts?

The Entelechy team meets each quarter to enjoy each other’s company and connect again after working remotely. We hold an award ceremony during these offsites to celebrate team members who uphold our values. So, we have a Making a Difference award.?

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I get to write this blog celebrating Make a Difference Day because I won the award in June. And I could talk about me, but that would be boring. Instead, I want to talk about Mark.?

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In September, this award was given to Mark Rustemier , who is our Product Designer. He is a specialist in all things user experience and interface and is a perfectionist – which we love him for. Mark’s talent is bringing our vision to life – and this isn’t why we chose him for the Making a Difference award. Each of us offered a handful of small things that Mark achieves each day – from committing to generating a hundred different versions of the same design so we can see all possibilities, to understanding the intricacies of navigation through a feature-heavy product.?

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My nomination?

I nominated Mark because of his work to make our product accessible. As Head of Learning, ensuring our product is accessible to all learners is core to my values. It is also one of the most significant challenges facing any Product Designer.?

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Mark deserved my nomination because he shares this desire for accessibility and has worked hard to understand how we create UX and UI that benefit neurodivergent and neurotypical users. Facing the frustrations of knowing that a design decision for one person might be counterproductive for another makes this a difficult battle. Every day, in every small decision he makes, Mark is helping us make a difference to people because he is including them in our experience.?

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We all can make a difference every day – honest!?

The hard-hearted of you will say that Mark is just doing his job. The more astute of you will note that he has chosen a more complex path because he wants to make a bigger difference. That is why I decided to nominate him.?

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Today, as you go about your routine, remember it is Make a Difference Day. Then, ensure your next decision is a little more thoughtful to those around you – and ta-daa! – you, too, are making a difference in the world.?

Here is a powerful question that sums this idea up for you:?

If every person – all eight billion-plus of us – decides to be 1% more committed to making a positive difference – what would happen to our world??

What will your 1% be??

Author:?Racheal Smith FLPI FRSA - Head of Learning at Entelechy