Fri, April 03, 2009 - 7:00:38

Taking on Hunger One Grain at a Time

If you thought trivia was trivial, think again.  It turns out that all of us Jeopardy fans just might have the power to end world hunger.

Thanks to the website, FreeRice.com, millions of people around the world are helping to fill the bowls of the needy just by playing a trivia game.  The site, which we also discuss in our new book, THE POWER OF SMALL, donates one grain of rice to the UN World Food Program for every correct answer you give.

You might ask, what can one grain of rice accomplish.  Well, imagine that in one minute, you answer ten questions correctly, and that at any given time, 100 people are doing the very same thing.  In just one minute, FreeRice.com would have donated 1000 grains of rice and in one hour, 60,000 grains of rice.  Clearly, a little goes a long way.

In fact, FreeRice.com has donated over 2 BILLION grains of rice in 2009 alone.  And since the site began on October 7, 2007, they have given away a whopping 58 BILLION grains of rice by using the power of small to its greatest potential.  Instead of asking a few people for a vast amount, they ask everyone for one small thing: a simple click of a mouse.  And, most importantly, they start by thinking small.  Rather than concentrating on the big picture, world hunger, they look at the small details, grains of rice. By collecting the rice one grain at a time, they are slowly succeeding at conquering the impossible.

But, this approach isn’t just for solving the great issues facing humanity: you too can take life “one grain at a time”:

If you are looking to save money, why not start with a dollar a day? Set up an automatic transfer from your checking to your savings (make sure transfers with your bank are free) and watch as your savings account effortlessly grows.

If you want to lose 25 pounds before your wedding day, forget about the big number and make mini goals to lose just one pound at a time. Rather than facing disappointment on the scale, you can celebrate your small victories.

If you’re looking for a new job, make the commitment to yourself to send out one perfectly crafted resume and cover letter a day.  Instead of blasting every employer in your area with a template application, take the time to cater your resume and cover letter to the jobs you really want.  Your time and effort is more likely to be noticed by hiring managers.

How else do you take life “one grain at a time”?  Let us know with a comment or follow us on Twitter @ThePowerOfSmall to share your Small Stories!

Posted by Linda and Robin