Something I felt very strongly back in the 1990s when I was part of the newly created rave scene was a feeling that we were onto something bigger. That we had the ability to change the world. When I speak to older ravers these days and bring this up, they enthusiastically respond with a “Oh my god, yes!” as they remember that feeling. Unfortunately, that moment in time passed.
And then I realized something recently… I have unfinished business.
I was pondering the word “philanthropist”, and when I look up philanthropy, the Miriam-Webster dictionary defines as :
goodwill to fellow members of the human race especially : active effort to promote human welfare.
So much of the philanthropy conversation these days seems to be tied to billionaires. And then I wondered, what if it didn’t have to be that?
What if, just as I stopped comparing the money I make to other people, what if I stopped comparing the money I give?
What if I were to create a game around this, a game I win the moment I decide to play it?
And then I thought more about what comes to mind when I think of philanthropists: Galas, black tie dinners, the super rich. It seems “activists” are on the streets, and “philanthropists” are writing the cheques.
And then I thought of myself: A guy who doesn’t own a suit. I don’t want to go to a gala.
So what if I didn’t have to? What if I played another game?
And then I came up with this phrase: t-shirt philanthropist.
It’s not about image, or comparing myself, or connections, or anything. Simply that I want to make an impact from where I’m at. And that is good enough. I am one person.
My personal time is most valuable when I focus on the things I am strongest at: challenging impossible thinking, being awesome, inspiring myself and others.
For the rest, I’ll let my money do the work. I already give to and support causes that excite me. I am particularly moved by things I see as existential threats, like climate and environmental causes. I am particularly attracted to innovation as a solution. You can’t use yesterday’s solutions to solve today’s problems. We need to come up with new ones.
Philanthropists can give their time, talent, and money. And so that is what I now do.
I share the best I have to give every week on this blog. It’s here for anyone to read.
I write books sharing my stories and wisdom.
I show up powerfully in the communities I am a part of with the intention of making them better.
And I donate money to the things I am not capable of doing myself. One of my favorite causes is the Ocean Cleanup. I’m not going to go on a barge to clean up the Pacific Garbage Patch, but I’ll help fund those that do.
I’m not going to break my back planting trees, but I’ll fund college kids to do it.
I fund my philanthropy by creating money doing what I do best. If I play at the highest levels, I’ll attract the same.
And then of course there’s the propagation aspect. The people around me, who I help, who in turn become more powerful at supporting the causes that they are excited by, all help in their own ways.
I see it as a giant fusion reactor. Generating more and more energy, all in service to a global humanity. And I give myself grace while I think about this, that I don’t have to solve the world’s problems over night. And that gives me some peace.
And I wrote this while wearing my Toronto Pinball League t-shirt.
It can be scary to make a public declaration to the world. Where this is edgy for me now is to speak it into the room. Thank you for reading.
What are you holding yourself back from declaring? Imagine what might change if you did.
