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By Jim Carey, Core Strategies
Have you ever see the movie, "It's
a Wonderful Life?" It's on a lot
this time of year. In it, Jimmy Stewart
spends his life building his family, his
business and his community. Then, he has
the rare chance to see what Bedford Falls
would be like without him. He realizes
what a difference his personal contributions
have made. Finally, when he needs it the
most, his neighbors help him.
You see, by his contributions, he made
his community an extension of his family.
Living a Balanced Life
We all work hard. I'm sure we all struggle
to balance commitments to our families,
our friends, businesses, careers and communities.
I certainly do.
In our businesses, we seem to spend 24/7/365
trying to seize opportunities. It's exciting
and rewarding. Then, we get our W-2's
and our 1099's. I hope that measures the
growing economic value of our contributions.
But let me remind you of what it doesn't
measure. Let me quote Bobby Kennedy by
saying that it doesn't measure, "the
health of our youth, the quality of their
education or the joy of their play, the
beauty of our poetry or the strength of
our marriages, the intelligence of our
public debate or the integrity of our
public officials. It measures everything,
in short, except that which makes life
worthwhile."
Tax Free Psychic Income
W-2's don't measure contributions to
our families and to our communities. And
they don't measure the global karma we
create.
Let me take this opportunity to remind
us all that we do have something important
to contribute to our larger communities.
Helping to "build our own Bedford
Falls" is both right and smart.
There is a larger role that we all must
fill. And importantly, we have special
skills to do it. The very skills that
we use in our professional lives can be
re-deployed to help our local community
service organizations.
Direct From Your Heart
For several years, CADM's Direct from
the Heart team has been a clearinghouse
connecting CADM members with non-profit
organizations who need our professional
abilities. DFTH is the CADM at its best.
The non-profits need our help to tell
their stories, and to raise money to continue
their important work.
In my experience in working with these
organizations, I found them to be everything
we would want them to be: smart, tough,
professional, caring, compassionate, hard-working,
lean and mean. These are amazing people
and they deserve our help.
You can make an important contribution
to them, and make it fast, because you're
already good at what you do. They need
the skills you already have.
I urge you to contact the Direct from
the Heart team: Susan Kryl leads the team,
Rosalie Harris does the communications
and Karen Heil (kheil@mindspring.com)
runs the clearinghouse. Offer to help.
They can find something that fits your
abilities, interests and your busy schedule.
You won't see the results on your W-2,
but I promise you, the psychic ROI is
huge.
And you will have done your part to
prevent Pottersville.
1,000 Years of Goodwill
It's a wonderful time of the year. Together,
we can help make it more wonderful for
more people.
I urge you to seize that opportunity,
and to help us ... together ... build
our own Bedford Falls.
From all of us, I wish you 1,000 years
of health and happiness and prosperity.
And peace.
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