The other day, someone had contacted me and wanted me to help them get set up in their own nonprofit group which would be engaged in humanitarian efforts.
I tried to talk them out of it because I've learned a lot and have had a lot experience with that over the years.
It's not as easy as it looks, and yes, while everyone does want to save the world, sometimes the world doesn't want to save itself.
Worse, there are often gigantic arguments between various political groups, and humanitarian organizations on how to go about what is necessary to help the people in those regions of the world.
If you think corporate politics get nasty, or that our politicians can't seem out of control in their behavior, as statesmanship goes out the window, you should see how some of these humanitarian organizations operate from the inside.
Some of these leaders are some of the most headstrong, belligerent, and hard to deal with people on the planet.
They often treat their underlings like crap.
Why, it's just amazing that they can get anything done.
Further, they go into a region decide what must be done, and they start to work without even consulting the people who live there, or considering their culture, or the unintended consequence later.
And don't think it just happens to egomaniacs or megalomaniacs, as it also occurs when billionaire philanthropists come in with their executive teams, consultants, and advisors.
Sure, they have enough money to bankroll the operation, and get things moving, but sooner or later they end up causing other problems, often much worse.
Some of the best humanitarian organizations which I have found are simply groups of volunteers getting together to do such things as drill wells, build septic tanks, set up schools, or teach people how to farm.
There are groups like Engineers Without Borders, Doctors Without Borders, and groups of medical professionals who fund their own vacation time, if you can call it that, and go out trying to serve medical services to lines of people, sometimes mile longs, literally.
It's amazing how much help is needed in the world.
Thus, you can understand why I tried to talk the individual out of what they believe to be their life's mission.
I told them that it isn't what they think it will be, and for them to take a good long look in their mirror.
Indeed, if you are going to coach clients in humanitarian organizations, or help consult them as they get going in their nonprofit group, you might want to give them a little bit of this wisdom before they start and end up learning the hard way.
I hope you will please consider these words very carefully, and what I've had to say.
If you still want to go for it, or if you are coaching someone who wishes to fix the world, or help starving Africans, or some other noble cause, you can reach me by e-mail.