Aviv’s Blog
To Lead is to Transform
Fifty
Strange. 50 in a few days. Graduating from high school was only yesterday. Suddenly 50. Back then, 50 looked like the other side of the mountain. Unthinkable. Whoops – it’s here. Feels strange to think I’ve now lived half of my life.
It’s been a great ride. Learning. Wisdom. Understanding. Great teachers. Amazing people I’ve learned from and worked with. Deep gratitude. Living is so much more than any concept I could have imagined. Still, it feels like I’ve just started. This has only been a warm up so far. A beginning. Many more things to do. To learn about. To find and explore. Conversations to open up. Problems to solve. Contributions to make. Stories to tell and live.
Five years ago I wrote down one hundred goals for myself. One of them was to touch and impact a million people in a positive, transformative way. Perhaps you can help. I don’t know how to count this. I have been transformed by strangers who did not know me, who did not know they were changing my life. I think of the teacher I met who walks into his class each time thinking he might inspire a student to be a president one day or to develop a new cure for cancer. The teacher may not live to actually see the realization of his prayers or his efforts.
I think I am ready to release the goal of impacting a million people. To let the intention live on its own. The lives of a million people will be touched positively free of my need to know. Like you, I do need a little validation. Not too much, just enough to keep going. To know I am headed in the right direction. To be part of a part of a greater realization is to know I have lived on purpose. We each need a witness in this life. It helps us bear witness to ourselves. 50 in a few days. What a journey. I am just beginning.
© Aviv Shahar
Hi Aviv, greetings from the Netherlands!
And welcome to the stronger side of life! I passed the 50 mark in December and I must say, it was a great feeling that I made it so far. Thankful that I have been able to give service to the greater good for all those years. May there still be many years to come in purpose and good faith and health!
Aviv,
I recently read your email update. Impacting 1 million people isn’t as far off as you may think and you may already be there.
The teachings from your courses and programs have stuck with me since I attended the first program years ago. Not only do I still have my passion and purpose and my personal mission statement in my dresser drawer at home but I pull them out and read them once a quarter to remind myself of my plan. Beyond my passion and purpose, I use portions of your teachings daily in everything I do, from family, work, to my overall approach to my personal life.
I thought I could help you with your mathematical formula and achieving your goals of impacting over 1 million people.
You impacted my life through the multiple courses I attended. One down, 999,999 to go!
I have used your information and learning’s with my direct and indirect family members –10 more impacted – at least!
I have used your teachings with my co-workers and daily approach at work – 23 direct reports and peers – At least another 25 impacted.
Finally my friends – 10 of my very best!
By working closely with 1 person, you impacted a minimum of 50 more. This is only 4 years after I first attended your course. I can’t imagine where this might be 15 – 20 years from now.
I’m sure you can now do the math based on the number of courses you have held x the number of attendees x 50 people. Don’t forget about the people who have not taken your courses but visit your website regularly.
I might guess that you may need to change your passion and purchase to 1 Billion people.
Happy 50th Birthday!
I am an Emerald
John
Hi Aviv
Wow, you are old…
Keep up the good work, and I agree with John a million is aiming low.
Hello Aviv, welcome back to Seattle and yom huledet sameach! (and purim sameach – what an interesting, significant birthday time!)
I turned 50, too, last summer and am finding it a very thought-provoking age to be – somehow that little change in numerals has helped me to be more attentive and on-purpose.
I like the comments that you are aiming too low with 1 million! – your effect is not only widespread but powerful, too.