Use your powers for good

What’s effortless for you might help someone else

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.
Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is to use your powers for good. If
something comes easy to you, you can make a big

(00:23):
difference in other people's lives without a whole lot of effort,
and it feels good to make this magic happen. So
I am guessing that you have many wonderful talents, but
there are probably one or two things that you do
well and that you don't particularly think about much, likely

(00:44):
because they are effortless for you and may not actually
be part of your day job. You're an accountant and
you happen to sing beautifully. You're a dentist by day,
but happen to also have an incredible command of colors
and can suggest just the right shade of white paint
to people doing home renovations, or maybe what color outfit

(01:07):
will make people look extraordinary. Maybe you are a stay
at home parent and have such an easy way with
introductions that people marvel that you are not running a
matchmaking agency. In any case, think about what is easy
for you, and then think about how you can strategically

(01:28):
deploy your powers to make the world a better place.
Let's say that fashion happens to be one of your
side interests. I know you're busy, and you are probably
not going to take a friend who is going through
a tough time shopping for a whole new wardrobe, but
you could strategically buy her a shirt that you know

(01:51):
is going to look amazing on her and will soon
become her favorite shirt, and send her links to a
few other pieces that you just happen to think will
be cool. You browse through lists of new clothes all
the time just because it's fun, and you probably don't
think much about it, but your advice could make a
huge difference to someone who doesn't naturally think that way.

(02:15):
If you are a genius with introductions, well you probably
aren't going to start that matchmaking agency, but you could
introduce that new parent at the playground to two other
families who are also deeply into youth hockey, and you
can watch the magic happen. Those introductions are easy for you,

(02:38):
they will make a profound effect on someone who finds
it a lot harder to make friends. I started thinking
of this idea of using your powers for good when
I heard the story recently on the How to Money
podcast about Shaquille O'Neil paying for an engagement ring that
someone was buying at a jewelry store. Now, to Mr O'Neill,

(03:01):
who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, buying an
average sort of ring is pretty easy. The How to
Money guys calculated that it is the equivalent of most
of us paying for someone's cup of coffee. In other words, doable.
So Mr O'Neill used his financial powers for good in

(03:23):
a way that was easy to him but made a
huge difference in a young couple's life. Now, most of
us are not worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but
we do all have some talents. Something that is easy
for you can be your own superpower used for good.

(03:47):
It can do a lot of good, so why not
give it a try. In the meantime, this is Laura.
Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of
our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you.

(04:09):
You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.
Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at
Before Breakfast pod that's B the number four then Breakfast
p o D. You can also shoot me an email
at before Breakfast podcast at i heeart media dot com
that Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.

(04:32):
Thanks so much, I look forward to staying in touch.
Before Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. For
more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the i heart
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