Today is Friday, December 22, 2006. This will be my last post for 2007. I am going to take some time off to celebrate the Christmas holiday and visit family. Today, I want to take a break from the series I’ve been doing on how great leaders lead and tell you another power of 1 story. I was in New York this week. A few days ago, I was riding the subway, the Times Square to Grand Central Station shuttle train to be exact.
I met Tyron Mathis on the train that morning. I got on at Times Square. Mr. Mathis was on the train with a shopping cart filled with fruit, sandwiches, juice, water, clothes toothbrushes and toothpaste and blankets. He spoke in a loud voice – explaining that he distributes the food, clothing and supplies to the homeless. He said that he was once homeless himself, but that he now has a job, but spends a few hours each day distributing his good free of charge to the homeless, and collecting funds and other donations so he can buy more.
This is New York City. Most people ignored Mr. Mathis, many looked away, some turned up the volume on their iPods, a few listened. I listened, because I was impressed that this man believes in what he is doing so much that he will ride this one train – between Times Square and Grand Central -- for hours facing a lot of rejection to try to help others.
I gave him a buck, several other riders did too. Mr. Mathis told me that on a good day, he collects about $100. As I was leaving, he handed me a copy of a newspaper article in which he was featured. On the back of the article, he had written this prayer:
- Oh God, when I have food, help me remember the hungry.
- When I have work, help me remember the jobless.
- When I have a warm home, help me remember the homeless.
- When I am without pain, help me remember those who suffer.
- And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency and bestir my compassion.
- Make me concerned enough to help, by word and deed, those who cry out for what I take for granted.
Mr. Mathis is helping, by his words and deeds. I found inspiration in his story. It reminded me of why I set up my fund raising page for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. In this holiday season, I urge you to help others less fortunate by your words and deeds too. I especially want to thank those of you who helped me raise over $2,500 this year to fight childhood cancer.
Thanks for reading this year. I’ll post again the first week of January, 2007.
That’s it for today -- and this year. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more leadership common sense. Check out my other blog www.CareerSuperStar.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
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