You can change the world.

You can change the world. A few of you believe me. A few more want to believe me, but really don't. Many don't really believe it at all and most think it's just plain craziness. Someone asked me recently if I would change the name of my book, "the 100th human." The answer was and still is, absolutely not. That name represents my unfaltering belief that you and I can change the world.

People have always needed reminding of how much influence they really have. "No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." is from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII. written by John Donne in 1624, nearly 400 years ago. Martin Luther King said in 1963, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." Whether it be justice or life and death, we are all interwoven in an elaborate quilt of life. Naturalist John Muir said, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." I find it ironic how often we feel so alone in light of this truth. But it is the truth, you can and do change the world - whether it be for good or not is up to you.

Today, the internet has leveled the playing field and made the global canvas accessible by which you can make your mark, whether a broad stroke or a tiny indent, the effect is still evident. Should you choose to really lead, to really step out and step up, your voice can be heard by millions; Youtube and email and Myspace have seen to that. What will you say? How will you affect the rest of the world?

I will tell you a secret: If you do not learn the power of service, you will live in fear. For it is in service to others that we find faith. And faith is required to really change the world for good. As Seth Godin explains, "The only thing that is holding you back is your lack of faith. Faith that you can do it. Faith that it is worth doing. Faith that failure won't destroy you." But the next part of that, the real way in which faith empowers you, is in your knowing that you are serving another. Because when you see how your actions directly help, serve and encourage another human being who is in desperate need of your help, service and encouragement; then the focus is not on you any longer. Your fears thrive when you are focused on yourself. How do I look? What are they thinking of me? How will they interpret my actions? What will history write about me? Will I be laughed at? Am I smart enough? Am I good enough? All of these thoughts create fear and eventually stagnation. But when you are actively involved in serving another, fear falls away and faith takes hold like a bolt of electricity, empowering you to do amazing things. All of a sudden, you won't care what "they" think. You will know that what you are doing is so very needed. You can see the effect in the eyes of the people for whom you serve. I believe that Barack Obama cares not what the nay-sayers are dribbling onto pages regarding him. He is far too focused on helping and serving in the most effective way he can. He is far too focused on the people loosing their homes, and jobs and families. He has chosen to serve at one of the very highest levels of commitment. You will only see him falter, if he takes his eyes off of those he has chosen to serve and begins to focus on himself. I pray that day never comes.

But what about you? Who do you serve? What do you trade your life for? What do you spend the hours doing? If you are not doing something that you can get passionate about and know how it improves the life of another, than you are not doing the right thing. And fear has a permanent home in your heart and mind.

As for me, my way to serve is to teach about the 8 Keys. I know that when we remember them, apply them and live by them, we are happier, more fulfilled, more at peace, and closer to the potential of who we all can be. I have seen and felt the effect of these keys on myself, my family, my friends and my readers. I have seen lives change for the better. When my focus shifts from me, to teaching others these truths, to people who I know want and need them; fear is immediately replaced by faith. And I know again what I must do. I must stand out and stand up and write and speak. And I will remind myself each time I feel fear, that my focus needs to shift to those who need the 8 Keys to transformation. This is my service to the rest of the world.

Join me in learning, living and sharing the 8 Keys. If you have read "the 100th human," and it changed your life, made you think, reminded you of what you can do and be, then share it with another. Because together we - you and I can change the world.