I know times are tough and we’re all feeling it at one level or another.

It is also a time of opportunity and a chance to define who you are.  It’s how you handle adversity and challenge that will define not only who you are but whether you will prosper or just survive in the years to come. 

Hardship and challenge can give you purpose and meaning and become the catalyst for greatness.

I was listening to the Today Show this morning as I was writing an article inner strength when I overheard Matt Lauer mention a familiar name.  Augie Nieto the founder of LIFE Fitness and a prominent leader in the fitness industry for nearly three decades. 

A few years ago Augie received a life changing diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). It meant a slow humiliating and painful death.  Augie wanted to end it and even tried to do so.

Then he made a decision that his illness had meaning and that he could use it along with his influential list of contacts to truly make a difference.  He and his wife immediately got to work and created Augies Quest a foundation to raise money for aggressive treatment and cures for MDAs and ALS and in just three years they raised over $18 million dollars.

Now at age 50, Augie is approaching his role as co-chairperson of MDA’s ALS division with the same ironclad will and determination that catapulted him to entrepreneurial heights in the fitness world. Greatness is defined by our action under adversity not when things are easy.

You too can make a difference in some small way everyday… find a way to make yourself, me, and others proud of you.

I watch very little television these days.  After all, why would I?  There’s so little time and way too much bad news being televised.  Who needs it!   Every now and than however a show comes along that sparks my curiosity.

 A new “reality” program called, ’The Secret Millionaire’ on FOX network did just that.  The show features different “self absorbed” multi-millionaires who go completely undercover as an almost destitute person living at the poverty level.  The undercover millionaire is sent to a some remote poverty stricken area of the US to live for a full week with only a few welfare level dollars in his or her pocket. They have to find a job if they are going to make it. 

Their main objective is to find some poor unfortunate individual or organization worthy of help, then wright them a check for some fairly big bucks.  The total give away is in the area of $100,000.00 or more of their own money.  Although the show itself is tainted with an obvious philanthropy-for-profit undertone (which I have no real problem with) the end result was quite inspiring. 

I found myself having to wipe more than a few tears away from my eyes as I watched the faces of the people who were so desperately in need receive a check for a substantial amount of money.

This wasn’t a handout to people who have found themselves in dire straits as a result of alcoholic or drug abuse, but rather a helping hand for people who have chosen inspite of their own circumstances to stay in their communities and give back, contribute, and help others purely out of the goodness of their own heart.

When the show ended I was left with several questions and impressions not the least of which was how important money really is in helping others less fortunate. 

As good old Abe Lincoln once said,“The best way to help the poor is by not being one.”  What a gift it would be to be able to go out into the community and give back at that level. 

Then I asked myself how I can do more to help others with the time and gifts I already have at my disposal?  As a leader you need to ask yourself that same question.

Not only that but how can we do more to inspire others to do more as well.   I’m looking for your suggestions and solutions… let me know your thoughts about the show and about giving back.

Happy Holidays.

Last weekend I was in Kirkland, Washington, a small very affluent waterfront town just north of Seattle hosting its 2nd Annual TTTS Race for Hope (Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome). The event was a massive success and although in the shadow of the passing off my dear friend, Steve Stone that same weekend… I had a blast.

It seems that giving back was exactly what I needed. The experience made me acutely aware of the fact that focusing on our own pain, loss, or self pity can be a major obstacle to our success, fulfillment, and happiness. Last weekend was an exercise in shifting focus from self to others. By giving something back in the form of my time and expertise to those people who needed it I received a tremendous gift in return.

Whenever we focus to deeply on ourselves especially during times of challenge our own wow’s, insecurities, and self imposed short comings are magnified. If on the other hand we were to put those things into perspective and shift our focus outward we would soon see as I did this weekend that we’re in pretty darn good shape.

The gift I received was twofold:

First, I was surrounded by survivors, children who if not by the grace of god and the miracle of modern medicine would not even be alive today. Little boys and girls who’s identical twin brothers and sisters may have sacrificed their lives for them. As well as the fortunate little ones who get to embrace their brother or sister every day. Just being around their energy was like a jolt of electricity into my system. 

Secondly, I was reminded of the importance of both contribution and gratitude. In fact I was tremendously grateful for the opportunity to contribute and thrilled to have something worth contributing.

So when you start retreating back into yourself and begin thinking about how tough it is to get started, or keep going, and make it to the finish line… instead start making it about someone else and not you.

Start giving back and contributing to others and I believe you will find life to be a whole heck of a lot easier and a lot more fun. You’ll also discover that it’s not really about the starting line or the finish line but rather what is in between.

PS.  Yeah, that’s me lying there at the finish line… I gave it my all.