It's bigger than you!

There really is no such thing as a small idea when it is comes to caring or serving others. There is a force behind this kind of goodness that takes on a life of its own - a life that is bigger than you!

PFC Nick Madaras was a 19 year-old soldier serving in Iraq. Growing up in Connecticut as a boy, Nick loved soccer. While in Iraq, Nick quickly discovered a common passion for the sport with all of the young boys in the Iraqi towns and villages. He loved playing soccer with the boys, but even the barest necessity of a ball was hard to come by. So, Nick wrote and told his dad that he wanted to gather up old soccer balls around the house in Connecticut and have them shipped to Iraq to give to the children.

Nick served his first tour in Iraq and then got to come home and spend time with his family. He and his father talked more about getting soccer balls to Iraq, but it wasn't long before Nick was called back for a second tour. During this second tour of duty, before Nick was ever able to organize a shipment of balls - he was killed by a street bomb.

Ken Dartley never knew Nick or the Madaras family- but he did live in the same town. After Nick's death, his parents shared the story of Nick wanting to send balls to the Iraqi children - and Ken Dartley decided to do something. A veteran of the Korean War, Dartley was inspired by Nick's desire to help the children - so with the permission of the Madaras family, Dartley started the "Kick for Nick" soccer ball drive.

It started with Dartley setting up a soccer ball bin in his front yard - and then slowly and slowly the bin began to fill up. Residents from all over the town brought their soccer balls - and on each ball it is written, "PFC Nick Madaras."

Nick Madaras had a small idea to send some soccer balls to the children of Iraq. He wasn't trying to change the world - he just wanted to do something nice. He wanted to help these kids experience some extra joy in their day - so why not soccer balls?

Nick never got to see his small idea come to fruition, but to date, over 1,400 balls have been shipped to towns and villages all over Iraq. Soldiers hand deliver the gifts and tell the kids why they are receiving the balls. Then, each kid gets a "PFC Nick Madaras" soccer ball.

It's bigger than you!

"Kick for Nick" drop-off spots are beginning to pop up in different locations all over the country. One simple idea of good is slowly turning into a movement.

"There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come." --Victor Hugo

In Stephen Covey's "The 8th Habit," he points out that the word "inspire" is from the Latin word inspirare, which means "to breathe life into another."

Do you, right now, accept the opportunity you have at this moment to inspire and "breathe life into another?" Or, are you walking around with your head down, buried in your own problems, and waiting for someone to inspire you?

As Nick Madaras proved, an idea based on good has the power to inspire and transform others. One idea. A simple idea.

It's bigger than you!

Are you listening to your ideas? Can you see that the choices you make to inspire has a life well beyond yours?

This is something I think about everyday. What can I do to inspire? How am I making a difference? I am not always happy with what I see to be the difference I am making - but I never stop thinking, listening, and moving forward.

Nick Madaras created a legacy based on an idea he never completed himself. What legacy do you want to leave?

Have a great week everyone - and please give me a call if you want to talk about the impact you want to have in the world.

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583