Nov 20 2009
“all in” Room to Read
I’m not a huge poker fan, but it seems like many of my peers are playing these days… After almost a year of searching for the right fit in a not-for-profit doing good work that is results driven I’ve connected with Room to Read. I’d like to thank Tony Winders for reconnecting me with an long time associate, Jim Howard. I’d also like to thank Jim Howard for inviting me to participate in the Los Angeles Chapter of Room to Read. I’m “all in”. I’m not sure if I’m late to the party, see the recognition and Integral Award John just won, but it feels like I am right on time.
Maybe stars aligned, but I’ve never joined a group and had a book “dedicated” to me (along with his mother) in the same week. “This book is dedicated to my parents, for teaching me to love education, to taek risks, to believe in myself, and to serve others. It is also dedicated to the amazing people at Room to Read – the employees, Board, donors, and worldwide base of volunteers. To be collaborating with such a passionate and fun group of people has been the greatest experience of my life.” – John Wood
Of course this is tongue-in-cheek, but I do really feel like John is talking to me. I’m only on page 17 of his book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, and three hours sleep. I’ve got a fire in my belly over this thing, this concept that I can really change the world right from my quite sleepy little house in Los Angeles. Here a few lines from his book that speak to me:
p. 13 quoting the Dalai Lama from The Art of Happiness, “The basic fact is that all sentient beings, particularly human beings, want happiness and do not want pain and suffering.” John goes on to summarize, “He (the Dalai Lama) suggested that is we were lucky enough to be living a good life, we should recognize this gift and thank God for it by looking out for others who need our help in breaking out of the cycle of poverty.”
p. 16 quoting Dostoyevsky, “if you wish to glimpse inside a human soul and get to know a man… just watch him laugh. If he laughs well, he is a good man.”
p. 17 quoting Soren Kierkegaard, “There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.”
Wowwy, if that doesn’t get your heart racing! I’ll come back and write more as I continue reading and working on Room to Read. If you want to learn more about Room to Read, please see their web site and the recent news story about John Woods Integral Award.
Parting shot, shared with me by Cindy Romaine, President-Elect of the Special Libraries Association.
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the people to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Are you yearning yet?
Related posts:
Mission for 2007 and the rest of my life: 10x
“Waiting for the Mountain to Move: Reflections on Work and Life” by Charles Handy
How to Change the World