The $100 Surprise
I flew home to Salt Lake City last night thinking about my almost indescribable weekend in Portland at a little event called The World Domination Summit. I bought a ticket last September, the same week that I quit my job. I remember thinking that if my new business didn’t take off, I would have to return or sell my ticket. Thankfully, that didn’t happen.
Fast forward 10 months and I am in the middle of 1000 friendly faces and brilliant minds. Scott Belsky refered to us as free radicals.
Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
How do you live a remarkable life in a conventional world?
During the weekend the following ideas presented by volunteer speakers answered that question, or led me to answers. (or more questions)
- Brené Brown said ”The key to vulnerability is joy and gratitude.” and ”Unused creativity turns into rage and grief.”
- Chris Brogan told us “Confidence is Sexy” and reminded us to get untangled by remembering that when someone says, “I am disappointed in you” it doesn’t mean you did something wrong. It only means you didn’t follow their script for your life or decision. He also said, “You will succeed the weirder you get.”
- Someone (I didn’t take good notes) said, “Don’t compare your insides with someone else’s outsides”
Each speaker made me laugh and cry, and some made me dance and sing (way out of my comfort zone and so much fun). Well known speakers like Chris Brogan, Brené Brown, Susan Cain, Jonathan Fields, Pamela Slim, J.D. Roth, Scott Belsky, Scott Harrison and Cal Newport volunteered their time and blew our minds, but it was the words from the less well-known Dan and Audrey that stood out the most for me. They said things like “Embrace regret avoidance” and “We are all more connected than you think.” but it was this last thought that brings me to the $100 surprise …
“Personal accomplishment is great, but shared accomplishment is sublime.”
You are the reason that I went to this life changing, unconventional business conference. You are the reason that I do what I do. I have this amazing opportunity to do what I love because of you. Personal accomplishment is great, but shared accomplishment is sublime. We are in this together. The Be More with Less community is a reminder that when you think you are alone, you are not. It is testament to the fact that when people think you are weird, you are probably on the right track, and that we each have the choice to change, and the support to do it.
Sunday night, at the end of the conference, Chris Guillebeau took the stage to thank his amazing action team and volunteers. Then he told us a story. He told us about an anonymous donor who wanted to support the World Domination Summit. There is no advertising or sponsorship at WDS. You won’t see logos plastered everywhere and we didn’t have to consume a certain brand of water or snack during breaks. Because of his commitment to deliver a pure message, Chris almost turned the money down. The donor insisted that it was an anonymous donation without strings and that Chris could do whatever he wanted with it.
So this is what he did with the money.
1000 attendees walked out with $100 each. While $100,000 is a large sum of money to give away, the dollar amount wasn’t nearly as impressive as the spirit of the gift. Everyone with an envelope in their hand felt a great sense of joy and responsibility. Someone believed in us.
I believe in you and want your help, because personal accomplishment is great, but shared accomplishment is sublime, and we are in this together. I’ve thought about everything from handing the $100 to someone on the street, to donating to Charity Water, or starting something new that can give back even more.
What should we do with this $100? Think big, think small, think different. How can we use this money in a remarkable way? Please leave your idea in the comment section below and share this post with someone who might not be familiar with the Be More with Less Community. Let’s see what happens when we come together to live remarkable lives in a conventional world.
In addition to this $100, I am giving away an another $100. If you would like to win a copy of Chris Guillebeau’s $100 start up and $100 to start up, visit my business blog.
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Courtney,
Great post! but caution–almost sounded like you were comparing your insides to someone’s outsides in the last paragraph :>
Caring, support and generosity are abundant here and that’s priceless.
I believe you sent readers to a site Quest4??? at one time. Loved it and have not been able to find it again. Do you still have the info and would you be willing to share? The writer was on a quest to make a difference in every country in the world.
Thanks so much for all you do.
Mary, I couldn’t get the words right in that last sentence! I wanted that to be funny, and not competitive. The site you are talking about is http://www.questforanewperspective.com.
Thanks so much for your helpful feedback.
I wish I had been there! Sounds like a fantastic conference.
It really was a great and unselfish idea! love it! i wish i would’ve been there as well! It sounds like a heck of a conference and great inspiration!
I think I would give the money to someone in need, either a friend or a family member. Someone who still can remain positive and optimistic about their future regardless of hard times or struggles. Someone who doesn’t know it has a great potential within himself and just need a little push to start it!
What a generous donation!
An idea: invest it in creating materials to help small non-profit organizations to be good bloggers! Help them to help their constituents even more by sharing what you do so well!
What a wonderful thing!
When one has the opportunity to help others with a set amount, the choices can be overwhelming. Hmm, I’d have to think on this…
Perhaps something to do with seeds? A hundred dollars goes a long way in buying seeds. A hundred dollars worth of seeds could feed hundreds of people. Not sure if you should buy the seeds and grow them or give them away or what. But they would certainly be a gift that would keep on giving. Just thinking that $100 would give you a pretty big bang for your buck if used as “seed money” … ahhh puns
A non-profit in San Antonio does just that. Organized by Sean & Holly Hirschberg, The Dinner Garden sends free seeds to anyone who asks. Their organization is incredible and has made such a difference in so many lives.
I think Kiva is the epitome of do more with less…talk about the power of seed money. Maybe use the $100 either at Kiva or in a Kiva-like manner so that it builds on itself and ca seed other projects in time.
I am a big supporter of Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.
(http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/occ)
With all of the school supplies going on sale right now in the US – I would fill tons of boxes with that $100. My parents visited an orphanage in Tanzania and the whole school (over 70 kids) SHARED one pencil!! Buy in bulk and send it to them!! We take so much for granted in this country and waste so much. Giving to these kids would bring so much joy to them.
I’ll get off my soapbox now…..
Alison
Do you know of any organizations helping these schools? or the address of a school in need? My company can help.
Lorri,
I know that they travel through Overseas Adventure Travel and have visited several orphanages and schools in Botswana, Namibia, and Tanzania. I don’t know the names of the specific schools, perhaps contacting the travel company can help.
If it were mine I would make 4 $25 loans at Kiva.org~ such a small amount to give someone a start… Since I’m a native New Orleanian, still living in the greater New Orleans area, I would start with at least 1 loan here, then maybe do 3 in other countries. Hopefully something that would give someone a chance to make a better life!
I agree, I think Kiva makes sense, because (assuming the money is paid back, of course) the same $100 could help many people. $100 applied once can have only a limited impact, but the trick is to somehow multiply its usefulness.
I agree, Kiva would be an amazing way to multiply the effect of the $100.
What an incredible gift!
& what an inspirational man to have thought that up … If I lived in the States I’d have gone for sure!
I’m very impressed and very excited to hear how you’re going to put the $100 to good use. I’m sure you will a great job, I think rather than donate it – start something new! I feel like there is great creativity to come from this but surely it needs to inspire your heart? We’ll all be interested in that
x
I LOVE when people are not afraid of people.
that Chris was able to GIVE without attachment…..that it was a gift.
I LOVE that this has inspired you to continue the flow of prosperity, generosity, and human-ness!! How wonderful to give!!
Be Blessed!!
Kelly
Perhaps you should contact other assitants to the event that are right now wondering what to do with this gift. If you gather a significant sum I am sure that you will be able to expand exponentially the possibilities of using this funds to start something valuable and, who nows, lasting.
It reminds me of one of those Dave Ramsey things like here’s a hundred, now put it to good use and get out of debt and help others. Well, one could invest and start something that would eventually put others to work. Then it may be most worthy to find one of those micro lending sites where people who have money can lend in small amounts directly to others in poor countries that are starting their business.
continue the gift: give a similar presentation to a grade school and give away five or ten dollar bills to students to spend on someone else. we have to teach the next generation how to share and be kind.
There are so many possibilities! Love this idea! think I would end up giving it to a family/child for tuition. A gift of knowledge can never be broken, stolen, or returned. Instilling the love of learning at an early age can change the course of a life. Another option-Buy movie tickets and a restaurant gift certificate for a family that is struggling financially. A night out to recharge batteries may be just what they need. If you know somebody that has something they would like to try-skydiving, knitting, cooking classes-but seem to have some reason for not getting started, give the money to them to take the first step on a new adventure. I could go on and on…
Love this idea.
What if you gave a group of children $2 each, $1 to keep, the other to give away.
They could spend their dollar on whatever they want, and the give away dollar would begin to show them the joy of giving, with no strings attached.
I say trade it for five twenties and pass it out on the streets. Or twenty fives, if you prefer.
Such a great idea and gesture to no doubt fuel more ideas and passion for change well in excess of the actual value of the $100.
I would be tempted to frame the $100 and use it as a constant reminder to myself to exceed and excel in all that I do towards building the next project, working with like-minded people or a lifestyle or change.
Regarding the event itself, it would be great to have the event touring or a east coast branch. However for next year, I’ll be committing myself to attend, regardless of where I’m at
I too thought of Kiva… you can choose to lend in $25 increments, picking by gender, country, and type of loan requested (retail, agriculture, etc.). When the loan is repaid to you, either lend it again to new people or withdraw it and use it another way. Microfinance loans are a powerful way to help stop the cycle of poverty.
I also really like World Vision’s gift catalog, where you can “buy” gifts of animals, training, microfinance loans, food, clothing, medical care, etc. I’ve “given” those as gifts to family members who already have everything they need and who I knew would appreciate it.
Ah, I thought of one more thing– you can help offer a free, life-changing surgery to a woman with a childbirth injury through donating to Worldwide Fistula Fund. They do amazing work; I’ve volunteered with them before in Niger, West Africa. Read Nicolas Kristof’s article in the NY Times about this organization here: http://worldwidefistulafund.org/in-the-news/
World Vision has a wonderful gift catalog that allows you to buy a very poor family in a 3rd world country a goat for $100 that will enable them to feed their family with the milk it supplies.
I vote for Charity: Water.
Sounds like you had a simply beautiful weekend! Every day I’m thinking “Just what do I *really* want to do?” Every day. I’m hopeful to also have one of those “fast forward” stories where I’ve done it and looked back and thought “Wow!” and “Yay!”. = )
Two years ago I gave 4 X $25 loans through Kiva, since then I have been paid back and reloaned that money 23 times. I usually choose to support women trying to make a better life for their families. I would definitely recommend this organization.
invest in some kind of children’s project or organization… kids are awesome entrepreneurs and brilliant ideas people!
What an inspiration. It does seem the more you give and trust the universe the more that flows back to you. Thanks for the reminder!
Courtney, I don’t have any amazing ideas for what to do with the $100, but I was overwhelmed by this post and it actually brought tears of joy to my eyes. Yay you for your amazing life!
WDS was just awesome. I’ve already decided to use my $100 investment to inspire shared accomplishment. I’m investing it in the most collaboratively creative person I know and hoping to inspire others to join me in the investment! http://bit.ly/Nmc2gs
What a noble gesture. I think the $100 would be best utilized if someone started a small home based business, make some good money out of it and use that money to do something big and good for the people like paying someone’s education fees, starting a free library etc.
I did this a few years back with a Christmas gift from my parents of $100. My wife and I started a personal training business. We spent $10 on 500 business cards, and the rest was on some basic fitness supplies (jump ropes, yoga mats, etc.). My wife now does this now, as I am a coach at a school district and do a little training here and there in the summer, but it is now making us close to $1500 a month working a little as 12 to 20 hours a month. It is a great little business, that can support us if my job goes a way. I recently invested $100 in my brother in law to do the same with his personal training business. We’ll see if he has as much success as my family.
What an incredible opportunity. I bet it’s easier to take a risk with someone else’s money. Start something new.
I think Ashley at Little Blue Boo could use the money to pay off some of her medical bills after just going through a very brave battle with cancer.
All the other ideas are great too – good for you for doing this:)
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/michael_norton_how_to_buy_happiness.html
Spend it on others.
A little can go a long way, especially with a great attitude. Becoming an entrepreneur seems like a big risk, but when one has passion, creativity and drive, it is far better to use it than to stifle it by doing something else. The $100 could be used to support an entrepreneur who wants to in turn provide inspiration, a platform, or a service for other people to realize their dreams of a happy, healthy and fulfilled life. Thereby, creating a ripple effect.
Pay it forward to a friend or family member in need with the stipulation that when their time of need had passed and are able to reciprocate that they do just that for someone.else and this is to be done anonymously
Wonderful, both the write up as well as the $100 challenge.
We are looking for somebody to start a charity to accept donations to replace kerosene lights by solar-powered LED lights. See http://flexiwaysolar.com for more info.
Every light donated (depending on amount and location it can cost less than $10 each) creates a direct 10x bigger saving for a sub-saharan family ($100/year or 25-30% of their total income…), and prevents health problems, house fires, ecological damage and promotes knowledge and increases school scores for students.
If one or more of the donated $100 were to be used for either donating lights or setting up a charity to accept donations, then the impact would be huge (we can accept them ourselves, but they won’t be tax-deductible, as we are a ‘for benefit company’).
Thank you.
I wish I was there too, will there be a connfarance next year with same topic?