Admitting Failure

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” asks Sheryl Sandberg in her New York Times best selling book, Lean In.

My answer is easy –launch a media company that does good and does well, Make It Better Media.

And launch a 501-C-3 to amplify support of outstanding nonprofits–the Make It Better Foundation–and our Philanthropy Awards.

And start counting “Lives Made Better” by this work.

All things considered, we’ve been relatively successful with the media company and foundation.

One area where we could do to improve, though, is our “Lives Made Better” section.  It’s a number the track the number of lives that we’ve made better through our efforts.  This just seems to be too vague, or perhaps too ambitious, to get most people to respond.

I’ve been touting this audacious goal to count lives made better for some time. And much as I’m afraid to admit failure, I need to do so to clear my conscience.  I failed on this one.

Perhaps now, instead, I’ll count connections that help others instead. What do you think about this as a goal?

Dream More, Learn More, Care More, And Be More

Dolly Parton’s motto is “dream more, learn more, care more, and be more,” as cited in the Vanity Fair Proust Questionnaire.

Photo courtesy of National Geographic

When you dream more, learn more, care more, what do you wish to be in your future?

Success is built by implementing that wish with heart and hard work. Just like Dolly did.

I dream about creating a better world where everyone gets to nurture their passions, talents, and dreams. Imagine how beautiful that society will be! I believe this can be achieved, too–by collaboration, innovation and determination.

Please let me know if we can innovate and work hard towards that better world together.

Good Sibling Relationships – A Building Block Of Success

Want a better world?  Nurture a better family.

During our conversation yesterday, Harvard psychologist and professor Howard Gardner declared that one of the most common traits of highly successful individuals is good sibling relationships.

So, if you want to raise a future leader, the best thing you can do is make sure your child knows how to get along with his or her brothers and sisters.

How sweet is this? A win for your family also equals a win for the world.

The Secret To Success – Building Trust With Women

Part of the mission of Make It Better Media is to be the most trusted, easiest to use community resource and magazine for our audience of educated, affluent women. Turns out, this is an even more powerful mission than we originally anticipated because women are connectors and powerful change agents.

Lisa Witter and Lisa Chen explain this well in “The She Spot.” Understand well women’s concerns, needs and aspirations and their ability to care, connect and create community and you can change the world. They are just naturally inclined to Make It Better for others as well as for themselves.

Learn more about The She Spot here.

Participate in Make It Better Media here.

Thank you!