FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF EXEMPLARY LEADERS

By Serena Aubrey (Copyright, 2011 -- All Rights Reserved)

In JESUS, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom For Visionary Leadership (1995), Laurie Beth Jones wrote:

Eleanor Roosevelt, one of the greatest leaders of our time, personally supported a number of students financially. I once read an article that said a young man remembered getting checks for $75 per month, made [out] and signed by Eleanor Roosevelt on her personal account. He said he received those checks for years, even after she ceased to be the First Lady. It would have been much easier for her to refer him to some giant scholarship committee, maybe even write him a nice recommendation letter. However, she was personally committed to education and supporting students she felt were worthy. She supported more than twenty-five students out of her own personal funds.

On December 9, 2010 the Wall Street Journal podcast, digits, interviewed Jason Franklin, adjunct professor of philanthropy at NYU. Franklin is also the Executive Director of BOLDER GIVING, an organization whose call to action is: GIVE MORE. RISK MORE. INSPIRE MORE. Their mission is to inspire and support people to give at their full, lifetime potential (http://www.boldergiving.org/).



It is in part because of the work done by BOLDER GIVING that Melinda and Bill Gates (co-founder of Microsoft), Warren E. Buffett (Chairman, CEO and primary shareholder of Berkshire - Hathaway), Jean and Steve Case (founders of AOL), Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook), and many other of the world’s wealthiest people, as well as scores of professionals and working-class individuals, have committed to the GIVING PLEDGE: pledging to give away half, or more, of their fortunes or incomes during their lifetimes, or upon their death, to charitable organizations (http://www.givingpledge.com/).

At the age of 26, Mark Zuckerberg has committed 50% of his wealth (estimated at $6.9 billion to date) and has already donated $100 million to the Newark, New Jersey school board; while Warren E. Buffett has pledged that 99% of his Berkshire - Hathaway stock will be used for contributions within ten years of his passing. Ted Turner (founder of CNN), who donated $1 billion to the UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION said:

“The more people you meet, the more you learn, the more you learn, the more you want to help, and the more you help the better you feel.”

These admirable organizations and people ELECTRIFY ME! I want to be part of this ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE and this MOVEMENT of GIVING. It sets a course that will allow me to look back in old age and know I accomplished something of worth; something that made a difference for people who were trying their hardest and deserved encouragement and assistance. When asked, during the interview if he felt that the internet has generated this movement of giving, Franklin said that:

“The internet has created more awareness, but [it is] more so that there is an expectation of being able to have an impact, due in part to the power of communication through the internet…there are more low-hanging opportunities that allow individuals to add their voice and be heard…giving is the next thing you do after talking, the next thing you do after speaking; it’s a way of taking action.”

I expect and anticipate being able to have an impact with WAY-FINDER WEEKLY (Copyright, 2011), a print product Serene Promotions(TM) is currently developing. Sharing these stories is my way of walking the talk. If I can electrify people the way these concepts and good works have electrified me, then I will have contributed positive energy to the life current that flows through us all. I will be able to look back upon my life and know that I achieved an accomplishment that says my life’s purpose meant something to me. And hopefully it will encourage others to find that same personal satisfaction.