I want to sincerely thank you for being a part of our community, and allowing me and our entire team to do what it is we do.
I also wanted to share a very special story with you — something that you’ve played a part in, even though you may not have known about it.
This may just be one of the proudest moments of my entire career, because we’re about to bring to life a dream that I’ve had for some time — and it’s thanks to all of the incredible people who support and follow me.
As with most entrepreneurs, I love to serve others and help people get the clarity and confidence they’re looking for. Part of being an entrepreneur is this deep-down sense that you have the potential to really have an impact on the world, and others.
When you own your own business, you’re literally creating new opportunities, new things in the world. That’s one of the things I love about being an entrepreneur, and also having the opportunity to inspire and educate so many others.
One of my core values is contribution, but for the past couple of years I’ve been struggling a bit with this.
The reality is that we’ve been so busy with our business, adapting to the changing market and focusing on what needs to be done .. that I didn’t consciously focus on feeding my core value of contribution.
So at the beginning of 2011, I said to my business partner (and best friend) Kourosh that this was the year we needed to step up and make an impact.
I didn’t know what that would be, or how, but we both committed that this was the year we’d find a way to really make a contribution that would affect people for the better.
I’ve always believed that writing a cheque to a charity is sort of empty for me, because I like to see the results of the impact I’m having. To me, doing something “hands on” is infinitely more powerful, especially for your spirit when you get to witness the impact.
Both Kourosh and I are parents, and feel grateful every day for having healthy, happy kids that never want for anything.
We decided to set an ambitious goal that would involve changing the lives of many children, their families, and their entire community for the better.
Earlier this year, through the Just Like My Child Foundation, we committed to building a new school in Uganda, Africa.
In 2012, we’re going to travel to Africa, along with many of our team, friends and partners, to experience the opening of this school.
These are some of the kids that will benefit from this brand new school that is now under construction — a school that will literally change their lives, and open up opportunities they would have never otherwise had.
This LITERALLY would not have been possible without the support and trust of our clients, subscribers, marketing partners and associates.
I want to thank YOU, because the fact you’re reading this means you are part of our community, and I genuinely appreciate your trust in me, and what we do.
The greatest outcome of owning a business ultimately is being able to create a ripple effect in the world, and that’s what I’m excited about for this school.
We’re literally helping children get an education that they would otherwise never have a chance at, and changing the world begins with education.
I am so humbled and grateful to be able to play a part in this, and I can’t help but reflect on how blessed we are to never have to worry about access to education, or even access to basic health care or food.
I hope that over this holiday season that no matter where you are, what you have or what’s going on around you .. that you take a few moments and count your blessings.
And know that my entire team and I are deeply appreciative of having you in our little universe, and I look forward to continuing to inspire, educate and challenge you in 2012 and beyond!]]>
67 Responses
Hi Greg! Thank you for sharing this powerful story.. it brought tears to my eyes to hear about what you’re doing in Africa for these kids. It was so wonderful to see you in Maui and meet your family and to see how your passion for helping children is now spreading to the other side of the world. May you be blessed abundantly this holiday season and throughout the New Year! Talk with you soon… Christine Kloser
A new school! Well, done . . . and thank you. Please consider a school project on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana in the very near future!
Just remember to include all the good ways to teach… not the strict repetitive ways, that is one way to learn, but being creative is another way. Helping the girls have a safe place to be, to learn and become who they are, is wonderfull,…. We are taking care of the world, despite the falling down of governments…… <3
This is great work which demonstrates the sincere commitment of Greg Habstritt and his staff. Greg, you absolutely awesome! Perhaps you can come to Jamaica next time around. Keep up the good work.
Uganda? We have mothers living in cars under bridges with multiple kids, dumpster diving for food and things to sell…and you send lots of $ OUT AND AWAY from the VERY needy in this country? You would make a terrific politician: sending $ to everyone but Americans. Sorry, there are lots of desperately poor in the world..start at home THEN, when all is fine here, send help to others on the other side of the planet.
Yes Mike, and God made you a kind person and he is proud that you are beginning to help the desperately poor peaple in the States. Thank you so much
Here, there, let’s start anywhere, and give where we aspire to, as it all counts, being that we’re on this planet together.
I so appreciate what Greg & Kourosh are up to.
Does it really matter where? Look at the BIG picture!!!
Dear Mike, Thank you for sharing your thoughts, those are very important. Creg message is that he is helping others. He also help pleople in is own town. That you are maybe not aware of. Greg is contributing in his manner to cause that he believe in and for that I say congratulation. Help is needed in many place nearby us or far from us. Creg is contributing to both aspect. I hope that you do your share. My self I don’t do enough but I thank people like Creg that show us a direction. A direction is not perfect for everyone but at least it is a lot more then doing nothing. Thank you Creg and other poeple that show us direction.
First of all, Greg is not American and why are you so angry? If the plight of some American’s bothers you this much, then it sounds like you have a purpose to fulfill :).
Great work, Mike. That’s the Christmas spirit. I am starting at home – because whether you realize it or not, EVERYONE is part of our home. Your brainless theory of helping only those in your own country is part of the reason that these gaps exist. Shortsighted, greedy and selfish thinking that causes the problem to begin with. I’d guess you’d be singing a different tune if you were born in Africa. So have a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and hopefully Santa brings you a new attitude and awareness.
Wow! Good job, I am proud to be a fellow Canadian. Keep up the good work!
Hi Greg,
Great job! One of the first people who found me on Twitter was @nonprofitcoffee
The name of their company is Three Avocados and they put their efforts in providing
clean drinking water in Uganda. Have a Happy New Year 2012!
Well done Greg. Your contribution will be transformational for that community.
Beautiful work. God bless you all
Well done!!!I can relate and fully appreciate both the need and the impact of this initiative. May your resources continue to multiply ten times over, so you can continue to bless others who are less fortunate.
M.
Nice that you are giving back, but I agree with Mike – “Think globally and act locally.” .
As well, has anyone thought a bout the commitment needed to keep the school running? See this TED talk by David Damberger from Engineers without Borders about how NGOs fail their beneficiaries and learn from those failures.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGiHU-agsGY
I agree with Taylork – it’s a great and very generous beginning. I hope and trust you have built into the plan a manner in which to make it sustainable and organic so that your Good Work can continue to grown, spread and mature rather than burst forth only to wither on the vine.
Thanks for sharing your story Greg, I’m sure you already know righteousness is it’s own reward.
Greg I wanted to thank you and Kourosh for being the very special people you are, for your commitment to providing tremendous value for your Simple Wealth members and for being the change you want to see in the world by building a school in Uganda. May you both continue to be richly blessed.
I’m sorry Mike Kane, but you need to know that Greg Habstritt is not American, and neither am I. I trust that you are doing exactly what you address, and when you have resolved the problem as you say “at home” and “all is fine”, you would have broadened your own horizons to the “desperately poor in the world” of which American is a small portion. God bless you and Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012.
He’s not American… is he Canadian? If he is… Canada is American also… so are people in Central America and South America…
Great job and continue to do so.
Great job and continue to do more.
Wonderful news. You couldn’t make a fellow Canadian be prouder than to be a part of your community. All the best for the 2012 and thank you for all you do.
Awesome Greg! It is touching. I feel honored to be part of something bigger than my life at the moment. More power to you and your team. May God Bless every step you guys are taking!
Greg, when I read this post, I thought of a quote I read a few days ago.
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” ~ Mother Teresa of Calcutta
I’m sure we all feel that way at times when we see all the needs, both locally and globally. All we can be is “that missing drop” and trust that it will have a ripple effect.
Blessings on you and your project.
Kudos to you and your team Greg, this is why we do what we do. Nothing better than enriching lives and sharing the love. Keep up the incredible creating that is Simple Wealth, be well!!
This is beautiful Greg! I’m always inspired by entrepreneurs who give back from heart and follow through with the intentions that really matter in the scheme of life. Thank you for sharing your story and spreading inspiration.
Fantastic Greg! I’ve been to Uganda and served the people with a missionary friend of mine. The people are in great need and the generation of kids w/o parents due to Aids need all the help they can get. God is smiling on your efforts!
Greg, Thank you for your contribution. Creating a place to educate children (especially girls) in a third world environment is a great starter gift. The real meat & potatos of this project is in the consistent support of infrastructure/staff/etc…that facilitate a growing population of girls into educated women. If supported correctly, the ROI is a several year delay in motherhood – which translates to smaller sustainable family units, significantly reduced AIDS, and an eventual parent who will make sure everyone in her family is educated, oh, and HOPE. These are HUGE wins considering that there is virtually no cultural push for a family to educate their girls. The true gift comes back to you if you stay connected to this effort. Take your kids there, go on safari, and foster relationships between your local Canadian school kids and the students at St. Kizitu. Your world just became much richer.
Greg, Kourosh, I’m very proud and honoured to be a part of this community – your generosity has certainly rippled to me as I follow in my own way to impact the world. Keep raising the bar because I never want to reach it!
And here in North America the question is:
Who is going to educate the parents, the schools, and society about
who our kids REALLY are? And who is going to offer these highly sensitive kids with warrior personalities
who are here to lead and take command, the tools they desperately need to achieve this extraordinary task?
I am – See what I mean at: http://www.dimension5.tv.
Yes… make sure their their “warrior personalities” are not “educated” out of them!
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! Yes, much can be improved… but keep what is spectacular about their rich ancient African culture.
Mr. Bsavi2,
It is very obvious that there is hatred in your heart. You express negatives, criticisms and fears. Maybe you are not a happy person in your own life.
Look at the horizon; magnetize yourself with the splendor of God’s blessings that abound. Please take a deep breath and thank Him that you are not a breeze that will come and go ; never to return a good deed.
Smile, God loves you.
Congratulations on following your dream! An amazing contribution!
Thanks for sharing this. It’s very hearthwarming to know that there are several little girls that now have a chance of not only surviving, but surviving and thriving because of this school. Who knows what this one thing may achieve….you have changed the world by your actions no matter what. I am very glad to be a part of this community.
May your education cement the bonds and ingrain value system in those young children and be forerunners of a societal change as caring and loving humans in world full of love and devoid of drugs and corrupting influences. Very Happy Christmas to All
Africa really needs really big help.I thnik it is one of the weakest place on Eareth.So we must concentrate our powers to support african people as much as we can.
Hi Fraktali
Africa does need help, but having lived in Kenya for the last 14 years, I have found that there is great wealth in the people of Africa. They are resourceful, hard working, kind and sociable. Can you imagine living on a dollar a day. Many Africans do – that shows great resourcefulness. Welcome to Kenya!
Thank you Greg for sharing this. Sometimes I am one step from “unsubscribe”. But seems it had to be with my attitude and my mindset. Your emails are pushing me to get to the next level. Thank you for that.
Educational projects – 100% right path.
Very laudable. Bless you and your team.
VERY VERY GOOD NEWS INDEED.
Brillant team work, keep it going!!
Great inspirational story
Keep it up
I am from Wales. For the last 14 years, my wife and I have lived in Kenya and built a Team of Kenyans who rescue children who live and work on the streets of Nairobi. We trace their families then reintegrate the children with the families which involves working alongside the families in various ways to empower them. Greg, you’re doing great. welcome to Kenya. i want to learn from you how to create wealth for these families. to be self sustainable. Our website is http://www.kenyachildrenofhope.org
Heddwyn
Working WITH and to EMPOWER needs to be the main focus.
Blessings Greg, to you and your team.
Happy Holy Holiday.
Lee
Dear Greg,
Thank you for having a heart to educate an African child. I am from Africa, and live in Africa, Malawi. I know and understand the conditions in my continent. You and your team, are creating a good future for those children in Uganda.
We are also fundraising for a school for the orphaned girl child in Malawi because we believe this is the best way to help these children.
Have a restful holiday
Patricia
Well done to everyone involved in this endeavour. It just goes to show that active participation is far more rewarding than merely writing out a cheque!
Greg you are wonderful. The seed of kindness can sown anywhere for the benefits of humanity. No seed of kindness go unrewarded. Well done Greg
Thats great move to learn that you are travelling to Africa especially East Africa Uganda. I am a Kenyan and I am happy to hear that.
Simply Beautiful, Thanks for caring
Children every where need all the help they can get. It is wonderful that you can make such a large impact. I look forward to the day that I have the resources to do the same. Thank you.
This is a wonderful effort! I know your hearts are in the right place.
Please give some time and energy to considering the deeper and more far reaching implications of our “western” superior attitude. Africans have existed for tens of thousands of years, in dignity and nobility. We westerners come in and we impose our self proclaimed “superior” knowledge and ways. The knowledge and ways that are poisoning and destroying our environment, torturing and abusing our fellow creatures so we can eat meat and drink milk (which are destroying the health of our nation) because the milk is dead/pasteurized filled with puss (FDA allows 13%) laden with hormones and antibiotics… and eating at the top of the food chain provides all these poisons and neurotoxins in concentrated forms… etc. etc. Our nation is top in obesity, heart disease, cancer, Diabetes II, high blood pressure…. on and on… Oh yeah! Let’s spread the JOY and teach them our ways!!!!
Please make sure that your school honors and provides education from the superior wisdom of their elders about herbs and healing and utilizing local plants and food sources, (instead of dead, denatured, bleached and packaged imported crap) local ways of building and respecting local culture etc.
Teaching African children (and even our children) some artificial curriculum dictated by the “higher minds” of our western culture, to make them be “sheep” and followers of our “western ways” (which in arrogance is destroying our world and our health and minimizing over 90% of our population for the wealth and gain of the 1%)/
Is this what you want your own children to learn… and now these African children to learn?
It is like taking a wild, highly nutritious grain, hybridizing and genetically modifying it, mass producing it, grinding, bleaching, denaturing, packaging with added chemicals etc. to turn into a “superior” white, long shelf life, pasty uniform PRODUCT.
Make sure the educational focus is on retaining the original, highly nutrient rich, healing, made by nature essence of these beautiful people! (Western thinking has had the arrogance to think one can improve on nature, but we are now finding out the opposite is true)
Sorry about this RANT, but seeing these lovely girls lined up in their little “european” dresses, knowing they will be forced to sit in rows and have their minds numbed by memorizing facts (that may have no relationship to truth) and being taught that our ways are better than their ancient indigenous ways… just made me sad.
Greg! I love what you do and am inspired by your work.
Here’s to a great New Year! Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this!- Hannah
Awesome work Greg & team. I’m humbled to know I may have played a small role in this all! Happy Holidays!
Thanks
The greatest outcome of owning a business ultimately is being able to create a ripple effect in the world, and that’s what I’m excited about for this school.
Love this.
This is the type of support I’m looking for to help millions of youth, their families and the communities right here in the USA. GPYS needs your help to not only help our youth, but sustain services for their future, when the future looks so dismal. Just a little support can go a long way and literally help millions. Gilbert Sanchez, GPYS Founder
Helping others is becoming my number one motivation for wanting to succeed in business. Great Job!
Fantastic Greg, thank you for sharing
Job well done,proud to be part of your community
Fantastic goal with a great achievement and an even greater purpose. May the Lord bless your future work.
Greg I just had to share this story with you and how your Trusted Authority product that I got from you is having an impact on some other kids within the USA! What a strange turn of events that allowed me to put two people together, Bob Danzig (former helm of the Hearst Newspaper Group) and a Amber S. Riviere who is organizing a series of events to raise funds and awareness for the Foster Care program. She’s calling it Foster Jam. Check out this short video clip to see how it all came about: http://www.absolutepersonaltransformation.com/video-interviews/amber-singleton-riviere/#interviewclipvideo
You never know how what you’re doing will be able to impact people in such a round about way.
Happy New Year, Greg. I deeply appreciate you creating a ‘little universe’ for me to be a part of, it’s mutual.
Building a school is a very hands-on contribution, will you be hammering the first nail? 😉
well done
Thanks so much for your amazing commitment Greg and Kourosh. Can’t wait to host you in Uganda to see the new school and for you to experience our holistic approach to ensuring that the community “owns” the school and is sustainable, to see our Girl Power Project that empowers our girls to live free from disease and marry later in life and our microenterprise program that puts parents to work so they can educate their children and so much more. Your commitment is already bringing hope to so many. The children of St. Kizito parish bless you for this enormous endeavor. Vivian, Founder, Just Like My Child Foundation