Here’s the remarkable thing about Benjamin Franklin: he didn’t start his day by looking at the world. He started it by looking inwards, asking: “What good shall I do today?” The world’s issues didn’t set his agenda. His conscience did. His focus wasn’t on being busy, it was on doing good. A small shift in intention, but a seismic shift in impact.

Doing good—it’s an infinitely flexible goal. It accommodates grand visions and small kindnesses, innovations and encouraging words. It’s a compass that, no matter how far you travel, keeps you on a path that is fundamentally human.

Franklin’s choice to prioritize ‘good’ is a lesson for all of us. Our days are our lives in miniature. Choosing to do good, day by day, is a choice to live a life of impact. It’s a choice to move from success to significance, from getting to giving. And that is a ripple effect that extends far beyond our own shores.

Stephen Boudreau serves as VP of Brand and Community at Virtuous Software. For over two decades, he has helped nonprofits leverage the digital space to grow their impact. To that end, Stephen co-founded RaiseDonors, a platform that provides nonprofits with technology and experiences that remove barriers to successful online fundraising. He is an avid (but aging) soccer player, audiobook enthusiast, and the heavily-disputed UNO champion of his household.

Copyright ©2023 Stephen Boudreau.