There have been a few too many times in life where people around me speak about winning the lottery, or coming into a large amount of cash some other way (rich-uncle on the verge of kicking it?) Each time folks get into this sort of conversation I sit and listen. Everyone has dreams, hopes, and simple aspirations –I know I do. Everyone always starts with the “I’d buy…” list, and then some move into the “I’d start my own…” list, and when its folks my age there’s always the “I’d get out of college and…” [ruin their life, I’m sure] list.
My list also has most of that, I would buy myself a nice car right off the bat, I’d also start my own business, I wouldn’t leave college, but there’s more. From an early age I was taught that without an education (or some damn good skills,) you simply aren’t worth the air you breathe.. As I grew older I found that to be more and more true, so leaving college is out of the question.
Now here comes the part where I wish I had a few million bucks to spare. I’d love to go out into my community and others, to help empower folks. No cash give-aways, no free cars a-la Oprah, no PC’s in the classroom or libraries, no parks down the street –all of which are good, don’t get me wrong, but not what I’d do. At this point you might be wondering what on earth I have in mind, so here it is: Micro loans, small business training, angel investments, and guidance. Truly empowering folks to help themselves and help their communities for a long period of time.
If I don’t win the lotto some day, or I don’t make it big, I really hope I can accomplish some of what is on that list. Some I can start now simply based on what I’ve learned about business administration, start ups, marketing, and advertising –among other stuff I know and love. I try to go around looking or opportunities to help on a small scale (sometimes as small as helping with a simple press release); but there are a whole lot of thoughts that just spin in my mind after I ask myself how I could possibly make the world a little better…