How to Cultivate a Passion for Teaching - Bijoy Goswami

In Chapter 7 of 15 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, leadership philosopher Bijoy Goswami shares how he cultivated his teaching passion. He learns when and how to use teaching as a communication tool. He finds he learns more from teaching that what he gives. Ultimately, Goswami finds the greatest reward when a student applies what he teaches to their lives. He reflects back on his childhood and the formative teaching experiences that have shaped who he is today. Goswami lives in Austin, TX, where he develops models, including MRE, youPlusU, and Bootstrap, to help others live more meaningfully. He teaches his models through community activism, lectures, writing, and online communication. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University, where he studied Computer Science, Economics, and History.

How Parents Become Role Models and Inspire Family - Randall Metting

In Chapter 2 of 11 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, brand marketer and Austin on-air radio personality Randall Metting shares how his parents each became important role models in his life.  Metting notes his parents beliefs and actions both impacted his personal ambition and goals.  From effective communication and kindness to watching his dad develop a music career, Metting learns to apply the lessons in his own life.  Metting is a brand developer focused on the intersection of luxury goods, professional sports, and charitable cause sponsorship and promotions.  He is also an on-air radio personality for 93.3 KGSR Radio Austin.  He earned a B.S. in Advertising from the University of Florida.

How Crowd Funding Donors Star in Micro-Philanthropy Story - Adam Carter

In Chapter 7 of 16, micro-philanthropist and crowd funding expert Adam Carter shares how each local investment he makes across underserved global communities is rooted in crowd funded participation. This element informs the narrative and evolving story behind his approach serving those in need across the globe. Carter, founder of the Cause and Affect Foundation (http://www.causeandaffectfoundation.org/), raises money from donors and travels the world each year to identify and finance local underfunded or undiscovered projects. Carter in effect takes his donors with him, allowing them to participate through his actions financing local projects to better individual and community wellbeing.

How Micro-Philanthropy Helps 80-Year Old Man Rebuild His Home - Adam Carter

In Chapter 1 of 16, micro-philanthropist and humanitarian Adam Carter finds clarity of purpose while rebuilding an elderly man's El Salvador home after a mudslide. Carter looks for the most direct way to support those in need by partnering with or complementing existing organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In effect, Carter seeks and identifies overlooked or underserved opportunities to contribute, in this case pooling local labor resources and investing his non-profit's funds - in this case $300 - to rebuild the house of an 80-year old man, Senor Montoyo, after a mudslide catastrophe. Carter has been developing a micro-philanthropy career for over a decade and is the founder of non-profit foundation Cause and Affect (http://www.causeandaffectfoundation.org/).

How to Find Fulfillment Serving Others in Crisis - Matt Curtis

In Chapter 3 of 17, public affairs and communications strategist Matt Curtis shares how an early Catholic education ingrains a lifetime focus on serving others. Curtis finds fulfillment serving community in Austin, Texas, where he balances simple tasks such as helping eldery with groceries with more complex ones, such as Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. Throughout, Curtis finds immense fulfillment helping others each day.

How Politically Active Family Inspires Public Service Career - Matt Curtis

In Chapter 1 of 17, public affairs and communications strategist Matt Curtis, shares the family experiences informing his decision to become a public servant. Curtis grows up learning from two politically active grandparents, focused intently on helping individuals in northeastern Pennsylvania. One grandparent was president of the local coal miners union and the other led a club running democratic politics in northeastern Pennsylvania. They teach Curtis the value of service and inspire his move to become a soldier of the community.

How Arkansas Showcases American Cultural Values - Andrew Hutson

In Chapter 8 of 16, environmental management expert and Wal-Mart corporate sustainability advisor Andrew Hutson talks about finding a newfound respect for American culture upon relocating from Washington DC to Arkansas. Between a genuine neighborly inquisitiveness and a slower, gentler pace, Hutson finds the move a refreshing reminder of what makes his country great.

How Socially Conscious Pet Business Helps African Orphans - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 8 of 16, entrepreneur and connector Hattie Elliot connects her passion for pets and social causes and starts Socially Conscious Companion (SOCOCO). She creates a pet accessory business where a portion of proceeds were sent to African orphanages to help abandoned HIV infected orphans.

Learning the Power of Human Touch at African Orphanage - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 7 of 16, entrepreneur and connector Hattie Elliot volunteers at a South African orphanage. Holding the children teaches Hattie about the power of human touch and its affect on an infant's temperament. Elliot learns how African women hold babies constantly and sees its positive effect on children. The experience teaches Elliot to be more affectionate with friends and family.

How Fatherhood Made Exec More Socially Consicious - Marc Ferrentino

In Chapter 7 of 17, engineer and Salesforce.com Chief Technology Architect Marc Ferrentino finds himself more socially conscious and philanthropic after becoming a father. Ferrentino finds inspiration with the Gates Foundation and how individuals can make contributions working on technologies and for companies advancing the human cause.

How to Make Friends by Participating in Cookoff Events - Cathy Erway

In Chapter 5 of 15, "The Art of Eating In" author Cathy Erway shares how entering over 100 cooking contests, or cook-offs, has been so gratifying. Specifically, Erway has been able to meet others, learn about food's role shaping their passions and interests, and make new friends. Erway cites the benefit of being around open, friendly, creative, sharing and loving individuals participating in the events.

How Childhood HIV and AIDS Experiences Shaped Purpose - Louise Davis

In Chapter 8 of 20 in her 2009 Capture Your Flag interview, Louise Davis shares how, while in 6th grade, she sees an HIV positive friend get AIDS-related infection and pass away. The effect is lasting and pushes Davis to then begin volunteering locally at HIV/AIDS organization Project Open Hand in San Francisco. Meeting HIV positive peers, Davis sees how with proper health education and empowerment, transmission could be significantly reduced. Over time, this leads Davis to start Peer Health Exchange to provide health education and healthy decision-making skills to teens.

How to Teach Grandchildren to Be Inclusive - Jason Anello

In Chapter 9 of 13, while growing up in Oyster Bay, New York, Jason Anello learns how to accept differences in others and stay positive through his Grandfather's open-mindedness and inclusive behavior.

What Motivates Lawyer to Practice Law - Jen Duberstein

In Chapter 1 of 18, corporate lawyer Jen Duberstein builds skills and experience she uses to help others.  This validates her motivation and reinforces her purpose for why she does what she does.  Through 18 months practicing law, Duberstein, now a Major League Soccer legal counsel, gains confidence in what she knows and further applies her knowledge to help clients.

Joe Stump on How to Successfully Blend Mentoring and Friendship

In Chapter 14 of 16 of his 2009 Capture Your Flag interview, Digg colleagues Jay Adelson and Kevin Rose support Joe Stump with friendship, life lessons, encouragement, mentoring, and entrepreneurial guidance. From a post-surgery hospital pick-up through a decision to accept a leap into starting a company, the constant support provides Stump reassurance when making big life and career choices.

Transcript:

Erik:  How did your friends from Digg, Jay Adelson and Kevin Rose, inspire you to take steps and be an entrepreneur?

Joe Stump: What Jay has taught me is that you can be a good human being and be a good businessman at the same time.  Jay is one of my favorite people.  I think one of the best things about Jay, one of the best stories I can use to convey Jay’s personality is: I had back surgery a couple years ago and Jay and Kevin picked me up from the hospital.  Jay came up to my room and was like “well, you ready to go?” and I was like “yeah.”  The nurse was in there.  I introduced him: “this is my boss, Jay.” And he was “I’m not your boss today.  Just a friend picking you up.”

Kevin has influenced me and mentored me.  Basically, he made me accept the fact I was an entrepreneur and that I had to do this.  He also helps me a lot with product and stuff.  Kevin is really good with product. 

Jay did the same thing, where he was “You have to do this.  I have always known you were an entrepreneur. It’s just a matter of you accepting it.”  He has also mentored me a lot on the business side.  Raising venture capital is an extremely – it’s an interesting game to say the very least – and having someone like Jay, who at this point, he has taken a company public, he’s raised probably a couple hundred million dollars over multiple rounds of financing, he knows everybody.  Having a guy like that you can call up and say  -“I have this term sheet, can you talk about it” - it’s invaluable.  You cannot put a price on it.  There are other entrepreneurs out there that would give their pinky to have that

Parenting Advice on Teaching Forgiveness and Redemption - Julia Green

 

In Chapter 9 of 9 in her 2009 Capture Your Flag interview, lawyer and public defender Julia Green shares how she learned about forgiveness and redemption from her parents. By leading by example repeatedly through her childhood, Green witnesses her parents set a precedent fighting for the underdog, offering forgiveness, and enabling redemption. Their actions embolden their daughter to make a greater difference in her career. Beyond education and law school experiences, Green finds motivation to fight for her clients and offer them a second chance. Julia Green is a federal public defender working in New York City. She earned a law degree from Georgetown and a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan.