Comcast triggers change of thought

So an interesting thing happened this week. My Comcast cable box stopped working on Tuesday. At first I thought maybe it was unplugged, but unfortunately the problem was not that simple. So in effort to resolve the problem, I got online with Comcast eChat to find a solution. I had two options: wait a minimum of a week to get a technician to come to my home to replace my current box, or I could go down to Comcast to switch it out myself. Weighing the options and knowing that I really want to watch American Idol, the solutions was easy -- field trip to Comcast. Scenario in point: It's Friday evening around 6:30. The local Comcast office is located in a rather dingy strip mall on the south side of Alexandria. I walk into the office to find a line six people deep, two people sitting behind the Comcast desks with only one of them helping people. Ugh! This is going to be a wait I thought to myself. While in line, the wait seemed slower than molasses dripping down the side of a maple tree. The Comcast employees appeared less than concerned to speedily help the people in the growing line which was to the door at this point. Customers around me were growing more and more impatient and began voicing their annoyance. As I listened to the noise around me, I found that I was becoming annoyed as well and became more and more concerned about the time. At this point, another Comcast employee came to the front and began assisting customers. As I watched the Comcast representatives help the people in front of me, I started to think how bummed they must be to have to work until 9 pm on a Friday night. I would be extremely bummed as I was itching to leave work at 3:30 just earlier that day. So instead of being rude and impatient as some of my neighbors were being I chose to smile and be nice when it was my turn to go to the window. I had a pleasant exchange with customer service representative and she was extremely helpful in resolving my problem. I was on my way shortly after 7 pm with a working cable box. So I am sure you're asking yourself: what does this have to do with changing the world? Well, this example of how simple it is to do exactly that -- change the world. We all have a choice to smile, be nice and give someone the benefit of the doubt or we chose to be impatient, rude and short-tempered. People respond to how we act. Just simply giving someone a break and being nice can be a catalyst to a changing world. A world where people are kinder, happier and fun to be around.

Guatemala Project Update

So we are four and a half months out from heading down to Guatemala and I am getting very excited. Last week we had a fundraising event and raised $1200 for supplies. This was amazing especially since we pulled it together in two weeks. I wish I could take credit but it wasn't my idea or work, but the group putting it together did an amazing job.

So the activity was a mocktail party (we're non-drinkers) with mixed drinks and hor d'ouevres. It was a black tie event at an elegant home with a $5 cover charge. Live music, lots of people and mingling. During the event, we showed a video about the Guatemala trip and asked for donations. Great fun was had by all and we earned enough money to buy supplies for the school we will help build.

Easy Way to make a change

So Spring is in the air, at least in Washington DC it is. For many people that means "spring cleaning." I know in the next couple of weeks I will be doing a lot of cleaning and packing around my place, and I think it is safe to assume that many others will do the same as they pack up their winter clothes and equipment and pull out their spring/summer items. In this process I always find that I have a pile of items that I no longer want and/or need. The big question is what do you do with them? Well, one obvious option would be to donate them to charity.

Of course you could take this donation one step further and host a donation drive through your work, school and/or church. With very little extra effort you could help colleagues, friends and families as well as many people you don't even know.

Hosting a donation drive is very simple and most organizations, such as Goodwill, are willing to help you in this effort. The steps are simple:

1. Select the dates for your drive
2. Set a goal for how much you would like to collect
3. Contact your local charity to arrange pick up/drop off of donated items
4. Create and distribute flyers/communications about the drive (Goodwill actually already have the flyers made for you, all you have to do is input your specific information.)
5. At the beginning of the week, put out collection bins
6. At the close of the week, collect donation bins
7. Drop of donated items

It really is that simple. Another idea is to do it in conjunction with another event. That is what I am doing with my work. We have a large office-wide meeting in April and will collect donations at the meeting. Well, I am off. I'll let you know how much we collect. In the mean time, happy cleaning. :-)