We have all broken a promise once or twice in our lives. Most of us probably have someone who breaks a lot of promises and hopefully, you also have someone who rarely does. Promises are easier to make than they used to be. You make casual plans over text or click an attendance button on a social media platform. Next thing you know you’re double-booked or forgot to put that plan in your calendar. On a deeper level, you make a promise to always be there for a friend, but then one day you are just too busy or tired, and that promise is broken. These broken promises don’t seem significant on their own, but what happens when you add together every broken promise?
Breaking on your promises is not the end of your world, but it might be a huge deal for the person on the other side of the promise. Alex Sheen said something along those lines when I heard him speak February 21. This is the second time I have heard his story, the first being at my high school. His story is a little heart-wrenching, but the end-goal is a very positive one. Alex Sheen has created a non-profit organization all about making promises and keeping them. If you want to experience his story, find his TedTalks here.
‘Because I said I would’ was created in 2012 when Alex experienced a major life change. His father, who had been battling cancer, had passed away. Alex was asked to give the eulogy at his father’s funeral, and that was the birth of Promise Cards. The goal of Promise Cards was to write your promise on the card, give it to the person whom you made the promise, and when you fulfilled the promise you would earn that card back. Of course, some people have made their own interpretations, but as long as they keep their promises they have fulfilled the goal of the card.
This idea of making and keeping promises was from the character of Alex’s father. Al Sheen was the person in Alex’s life that was always there when he said he would be. Keeping promises shows a lot of a person’s character, which is another goal of the ‘Because I said I would’ organization. This non-profit also offers teaching tools in order to spark good character in the minds of students around the world.
Now Ohio University takes special pride in Alex Sheen because he graduated from the College of Business in 2007. He moved on from college to earn a high salary with many benefits from Hyland Software. Eventually ‘Because I said I would’ began to make a major impact, and Alex knew he could offer more through the non-profit than his career. Think about it this way, Alex left a high paying, secure job to follow the concept of how keeping promises could change the world. Fast forward to now, it has become one of his best decisions because the non-profit is making a huge impact on the world.
Have you ever wanted to make a difference in the world? I know I have. The first step to impacting the world is to make a difference in your life. Take a page from Alex’s handbook and keep the promises you make to the people around you. Doing just that creates good in your community that can lead to a ripple effect.
If you are feeling inspired go and take a look at the organization’s TedTalks. Even better, take a look at how you can make your very own promise card!
My Promise
