Curious about Difference: Making One or Having One?

“To make a difference is just... I think... the purpose of what life is.” – Anastacia, American musician

“One person can make a difference. In fact, it's not only possible for one person to make a difference, it's essential that one person makes a difference. And believe it or not, that person is you.” - Bob Riley, American politician

As the year 2007 winds down, I realize that I will always remember it as the year when my life and businesses experienced the making of a difference. That’s one of the main reasons I chose the theme of “making a difference” for this blog.

And, thinking of all of the forces working together to make a difference for me, I consider the strongest to be the company I joined in July. Its mission is straight forward and works: “Have Fun, Make Money, Make a Difference.”

I submit to you that we don’t only want to see a difference in ourselves, but most want to make a positive difference in the lives of others. That is why this group appeals to me the way it does. Everyone who is part of this community is upbeat, positive and working on making a difference in themselves and others.

When I checked for “difference” quotations, the number was overwhelming and not all address making a difference. I will start by sharing those first:

• “It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.” - Zig Ziglar, American author
• “Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one's ideas, to take a calculated risk - and to act.” - Andre Malraux, French author
• “If humanity does not opt for integrity we are through completely. It is absolutely touch and go. Each one of us could make the difference.” - R. Buckminster Fuller, American inventor
• “I made a commitment to myself; that I wanted to be an actress, and I wanted to do films that make a difference. It has to move people.” - Laura Dern, American actress
• “When you believe in what you're doing and use your imagination and initiative, you can make a difference.” - Samuel Dash, American lawyer

Here are some difference quotations with a bit of a twist and turn:

• “The sharing of joy, whether physical, emotional, psychic, or intellectual, forms a bridge between the sharers which can be the basis for understanding much of what is not shared between them, and lessens the threat of their difference.” - Audre Lorde, American poet
• “It makes little difference how many university courses or degrees a person may own. If he cannot use words to move an idea from one point to another, his education is incomplete.” - Norman Cousins, American editor
• “Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.” - Niccolo Machiavelli, Italian writer
• “There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.” - Norman Vincent Peale, American clergyman
• “Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.” - Robert Collier, American publisher

Here are the ones I am going to work on:

• “Let everything you do be done as if it makes a difference.” - William James, American philosopher
• “Life is the movie you see through your own eyes. It makes little difference what's happening out there. It's how you take it that counts.” - Denis Waitley, American writer
• “There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.” - Norman Vincent Peale, American clergyman

Are you making and/or experiencing a difference? Do you want to? If you would like to find out more about the company I mentioned, e-mail me at chris@creativekeys.net.