I believe all of us want to leave some sort of legacy of our time on earth. Be it the creation of the light bulb, the first powered aircraft, a cure for polio, or connecting the world through social media, these accomplishments have no real monetary value. While we may not have the educational background to invent the next generation of cell phones or computers, or the financial backing to donate millions to an institution, all of us can donate time to make a difference in a fellow human’s life.
Back in 1990, Junior Achievement of Arizona came to my company to pitch a program that involved teaching our youth about financial literacy. My only interaction with this organization was in high school where students built and sold products for profit. They described this new program as a means to share my life experiences with the next generation of leaders and politicians in a classroom environment. As I thought about the opportunity, three things came to mind. First, I would get to see first-hand the effectiveness of our public school system. Second, I would be able to practice my public speaking skills, without the audience knowing exactly where I made mistakes along the way. And last, and most important, I would make a difference in the community where I live and work. I jumped at the chance to volunteer for this well established non-profit organization.
Over the past 25 years, I have taught hundreds of student’s through Junior Achievement programs. Subjects include economics, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and the stock market that complement their classroom curriculum. I have gained an understanding and appreciation of the challenges teachers face and their importance in our communities. I have been teamed with some incredible volunteers along the way. Many students I met wanted to become a pro athlete. While I encouraged each of them to follow their dreams, I pointed out the odds of attaining such a goal were slim, and having a solid back up plan was essential. No matter the age or subject, staying in school is the message I always conveyed.

Photo courtesty of Junior Achievement of Arizona
Living in the Phoenix metropolitan area, I have taught in high income and low income communities. I met children of our politicians and saw the sad faces of kids from broken homes. I sat on playgrounds in the beautiful suburbs and ate lunch across the street from a local jail. I spent thirty minutes talking about my neighborhood to one group of third graders, students who may never get the chance to experience life beyond poverty. And at another school we discussed the many destinations I have seen through business travel. In every case, students were thrilled to know that someone cared. Volunteers with no ties to the school, the students or facility were willing to give up part of their day for the benefit of others.
I know I didn’t reach every student that I interacted with. In fact, my goal was to reach one or two per classroom. Anything more was a bonus as far as I was concerned. While that may not seem like much, it’s infinitely more than if I hadn’t shown up at all. The best part is seeing the students eyes light up as they engaged in conversation. And having two students share with the next year’s class everything they learned twelve months ago. Or the one student that started his own stock portfolio after being challenged to discuss investing with family members. That’s the impact I have made on students over the years. So many people have similar stories around the world.
All of us are busy. Companies are demanding more of our time. A healthy life style requires hours each week in the gym. I just don’t have time to add more things to my already crazy schedule. Sound familiar? The fact is many companies support volunteer work during the business day to help offset our time constraints. Maybe teaching in a class room is not your thing. You may be better at tutoring, coaching a baseball team, leading a Girl Scout troop, or participating at a local food bank. The opportunities to make a difference in your community are endless. Write down how much of your “free time” you spend watching TV, surfing the web, or chit chatting with family or friends. I challenge you to take 10% of that time each week to help make a difference where you live and work. You might be surprised; your heart may grow three sizes or more! The impact to your community will be even greater. And your legacy...