Minute With Mallon: What Difference Will You Make?

Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught: 

Recently, I began working with a high-energy, highly motivated young man named Travis who lives in Florida.  (Seems everyone is young to me these days! 😳) 

During these initial calls with a client, we take time to get to know each other, and then we do an exercise that looks at 10 separate areas of their lives.  Community Involvement is one of the areas. 

This can mean different things to different people.  It could be volunteering in your community, being active in your church or in civic groups, etc.  My wife Sandy and her friend Jana just returned from Asheville, NC where they worked on getting mud out of a home that had been devastated by Hurricane Helene.  (I’m very proud of them!)  But essentially, it's all about being part of your community and using your talents to better the world around you. 

In short, we are not made to be consumers all the time.  We are at our best when we are serving others!  And it's an important part of life.  On a scale of 1-10, Travis rated it a 4.  That’s not unusual the first time around, and I appreciated his honesty! 

Travis told me that he used to be a linebacker at a local high school and that he helped coach his high school's teams when he was in college.  They loved him and I could tell why as I talked with him.

"I love coaching, I love sports, and I love developing people!" 

He told me it had been a couple of years since he worked with the team and that he really missed it. 

At a certain point I asked him why he wasn't doing it anymore.

He told me that he was hesitant to reach out because he was focused on his job and career, and that he'd been doing lots of traveling, church activities, and wedding prep!  (He's getting married in three months. ❤️) 

"I've been scared to commit and then not be able to be there." 

I totally understood, but then asked him if he could still reach out to the coach to see if he could help out on the sidelines when he was available. 

I'm 100% sure the coach would want him – he's smart, high-energy, and a great role model.  The team needs all three of those.  The coach would be a fool not to use him! 

He committed to me that he would reach out to the coach and have the conversation. 

And by the way, he got so pumped when he committed! 

We didn't know what the outcome would be.  The coach could say yes, or he may say no, come back next year.  

But here's the point:

ANYTHING YOU DO THAT'S SIGNIFICANT WILL BE INCONVENIENT.

JUST DO IT ANYWAY! 

I told him about a group of 8 men I worked with the night before from 6:00pm - 10:00pm.

It was also about an hour and a half driving time total.  I'd coached all day, then did that, and didn't get home until after 11:00pm. 

BUT I was totally pumped and energized at the end of it. 

I tried to explain what it had done for me, and he finished my sentence: 

"You felt full, worthy, and complete!" 

Yep!

Now, it’s your turn.  Take a moment to think about how you can make a difference in your community, even if it feels inconvenient.  Reach out, get involved, and commit to something that fuels your energy and your purpose.  Don’t wait—just do it!  Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a big impact.  And it can fuel your life like nothing else! 

True fulfillment comes not from convenience, but from the impact we make by stepping out and serving others.

Something to Ponder:

 "You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety."

Abraham Maslow

Something I Learned:

This came from James Clear who wrote the book Atomic Habits.  So simple and so true!

"Focus on your likes, not your wants.

●  You may not want to exercise, but you like how it makes you feel.

●  You may not want to write, but you like the feeling of accomplishment.

●  You may not want to wake up early, but you like the calm beauty of morning.

Wanting is the desire you feel before doing something. Liking is the satisfaction you feel after doing something. Let your likes guide you."

That's some wise advice! 

Something I Saw: 

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Have a blessed week! 

Robert