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Over the past month and a half, I’ve been contacting just about everyone I know in an effort to raise $5,000 for charity: water, an organization that donates 100% of its proceeds to building wells in developing nations. I’ve talked [to a great extent] about the need for clean water across the world [and you can check out all the posts by clicking here].  Photo provided by Egilshay on stock.xchng To be honest, it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been incredible to see people give generously and abundantly. I think a lot of us have trouble asking for help. It’s difficult. It’s uncomfortable. It requires a leap of faith. But let me share a little secret with you. ...

Leaders don’t exist without followers. It’s like a peanut butter sandwich trying to exist without bread. A zoo existing without animals. Northeast Ohio without snow. It’s simply not possible. So how do you attract more followers (the real life kind, most importantly, but inevitably the Twitter kind too)? Authenticity and Engagement.  Photo provided by Odyar Don't be afraid of who you are. Whoever you are, wherever your from, there are people who want to know the real you. Not everyone will give you a chance, and that's their loss. People crave authentic, engaging leaders. ...

When something doesn’t work, do you ask why bother or why not? When you’re presented with an opportunity, do you ask why not try it or why should I? When you are considering trying something new (blogging, skiing, college, career change), are you asking why put in the effort or why not give it a whirl?  When you’re asking if you should reach out to someone, are you asking why waste my time or why miss this connection? ...

Forrest Gump said life was like a box of chocolates. In 2010, I think he’d be more apt to say: Life is like a bunch of blog posts–you never know the impact of you’re gonna write. Blogging creates a platform to influence people, even people who don’t know you beyond your About page. If you’re a blogger, I hope this list inspires you. If you’re thinking about starting a blog, I hope it convinces you to take the plunge. ...

Moving is essential. It’s not easy. You’re going to think about going back. But at some point, somewhere along the way, you have to say: It’s time to pull the trigger. I’ve officially dove in head first, my friends. The pool is kind of shallow, and now my neck kind of hurts.  You see, I’ve been entertaining [or at least, attempting to entertain] the interwebs for about 15 months, and I decided it was time to ditch the diapers and put on my big boy pants. ...

I take things for granted all too often. This is my attempt at realizing how much I have to be thankful for. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but instead just a start of the nouns I’ve been so richly blessed by.  ...

I’m not comfortable asking people for money. I’m especially uncomfortable when I’m offering something of little value. When I was growing up, I hated pushing candy bars. I hated book orders. I hated “selling” anything in fundraising form. I could never quite nail the approach of the sale… “Would you like to buy a [fill in the blank with crappy product] for only [an unreasonable price] so our school doesn’t shut down?” ...

The word you got you here. You want to know about the big problem you have. It’s interesting that you thought I was talking about you specifically. It's especially interesting because I am. The Big You Problem I always turn around when I hear my name. It’s a reflex I’ll never shake. ...

[This post is a transcript of a Toastmaster’s Icebreaker speech I gave Wednesday, November 10, 2010. If you’re a reader, scroll down. If you’re a listener, press play. If you like sing alongs, press play and then scroll down. If you’re about curious what I look like when I give speeches, well, that’s taken care of too. I’ve found togas command respect.] My Life According to Water by jshirk Water is life’s mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water. – Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Albert and I are on the same page. I think water is incredibly important. More than just being the precursor to the “ice” of an ice breaker, water is life. I’ve identified three key dimensions in my life that revolve around water. Drinking water helps me complete my daily activities. Living water, my faith in God that guides me, and charity: water, an organization that has inspired me to help people gain access to clean water on the other side of the globe. ...

[This post is part of a continuing series on getting clean water to developing nations. If you want to be a part of giving this story a happy ending, donate $22 and make my birthday wish come true.] As I scribbled down notes from Scott Harrison’s life story and events leading to the founding of charity: water, I somehow felt isolated from the other 13,000 people in Gwinnett Arena. It seemed as if the spotlights on the center of the stage had slowly, simultaneously spun outward, focusing on me. ...