Fri, July 09, 2010 - 3:25:07

If We Could Fix This Block, Then We Could Fix the Next Block.

Over the past few months, you may have seen commercials on television for American Express’ new joint project with TakePart that supports charities doing good in their communities. One ad featuring the Harlem Children’s Zone catches our attention every time; we can’t get enough of the organization’s founder’s philosophy that you can take on even the most daunting challenge if you approach it one small step at a time. And in his case, that means block by block.

In essence, the program headed by Jeffrey Canada aims to transform the neighborhoods of Harlem one block at a time—starting with their smallest residents. By surrounding the children with a supportive network of adults, Canada believes they will reject the negative influences that tear communities apart and instead develop into members who will contribute to it in a positive way.

And one block at a time, he’s proving that theory right.

It’s just one more inspiring example of how SMALL really can change the world, one neighborhood, one block, or even one square foot at a time.  When faced with a problem, the natural inclination might be to move forward full steam ahead, to attack it from all sides, and try to solve it all at once. But, in the end, this approach rarely works. It’s intimidating, it’s illogical, and it’s exhausting.

On the other hand, when you think small, look at each factor that makes up the larger problem, and begin to solve them one by one, you can work efficiently and build the momentum needed to carry you forward. Of course, harnessing the power of small to tackle life’s challenges isn’t always the fastest approach, but as any child who has heard the story of the tortoise and the hare can tell you, faster isn’t always better. When you go one step at a time, you not only reduce the risk of fatigue, you can ensure that even when you make the wrong move, you can recover more easily and make progress once more.

So, let go once and for all of the notion that bigger is better, and discover for yourself how the “one block at a time” approach can help you make this SMALL world a better place—and change your life in the process.

Posted by Linda and Robin