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Why You Should Stop Obsessing About Making an Impact
A cautionary tale for those trying to change the world.
Yesterday, I was walking in the rain to see off a friend who’s moving out of town. As I jumped over yet another puddle, my eyes rested on a poster.
It featured a picture of a young man in glasses, timidly gazing into the camera. Under the picture, it read:
Can you appreciate that routine means everything to Joe?
The poster was promoting carer jobs for working with people with autism. The message stroke me. I thought to myself: Yeah, actually, I can appreciate that.
Four years ago, I worked as a one-on-one support worker for people with autism, epilepsy and learning disabilities. I was making a difference in their everyday lives. I wasn’t yet trying to “make an impact” writing online. I wasn’t concerned about how many people I reached or how many views my articles were getting.
My impact was local, one-on-one and focused. I could almost touch the difference I made, that’s how tangible it was. Sometimes, I think back to those days with nostalgia.
Everything seemed simpler when I wasn’t trying to “change the world.”
