How Are You Changing the World?

I interviewed an amazing leader, Shari Arison, who not only is smart in business but cares deeply about making the world a better place to live in. Here are some of her insights:

This is a powerful time for women, isn't it?

It's definitely a time now for women to lead the way. But more than that, I think it's about the need for feminine energy. We all have masculine and feminine energy, but the feminine energy focuses on love and compassion and we need to bring that into the world. Both men and women can do that.

If you have a challenging decision to make in business, how do you connect with what's best to do in a situation?

I'm logical, practical, a down-to-earth kind of person. But I'm also spiritual, connected to my heart and to my emotions. If I'm looking at a business decision, I'm looking at profitability, but I'm also looking at the value to the community, to people, to society, or the planet — they need to be addressed equally.

In any field, you can add value. If I am looking at a bank, for example, a bank has financial knowledge — so why not give that knowledge and those tools to people to empower them to make the right decisions? Because when you empower people, you empower society.

How did you decide to start Miya [a global company focusing to maximize water efficiency in urban water systems]?

Miya was a company that came out of my heart and soul. It resonated with me; I connected with the idea that there's abundance in the world, and we're just not treating our resources correctly. If we learn to manage our resources efficiently and not recklessly, we can bring everyone a lot more water. For example, when we finish our work in Manila, three million more people will have pure drinking water.

You describe yourself as introverted, yet you are out there, making a difference in the world.  What suggestions would you give women who aren't feeling confident, but have a contribution to make?

I'm still a very shy, quiet person. I just really believe in what I'm doing and I feel that I have a role to play in making a difference in the world, just as everybody has their part to play.

Often we're looking at what we don't have, what we haven't accomplished, or what we are lacking. We need to focus on what we want, where we want to get to, and acquire the knowledge and tools to get there.

Don't let anyone put you down along the way. Tell yourself, "Okay, but I'm still going forward with what I want and believe"

You and several other leaders seem to have a unique mission to fulfill. However, there are women who are not in touch with their own, and can be blocked by the limiting beliefs they have about themselves. How do we turn this around?

The first step is for women to recognize what makes them tick, what makes them passionate, what makes them joyful. That's the first sign that they're connected to whatever mission they have. Because each person has a different role to play in this world. If someone's passionate about cooking, they should cook, and if someone's passionate about growing flowers, they should grow flowers. If someone 's passionate about teaching, they should teach.

I think it's all about one's passion: being aware of it, being connected to it, and then, like you said, being aware of what our thoughts are and what our actions are. Once we're aware, we can get rid of all those old patterns that don't serve us anymore, and change it to a new pattern that's going to contribute to where we want to get to.

How did Good Deeds Day start? What was your inspiration for that?

It's funny, because it was so easy. I was doing my morning walk on the beach —I exercise every morning — and all of a sudden it just came to me…good deeds are simple.

I tell people that even smiling at someone is a good deed. Because if you smile at someone, you brighten their day and change their energy: that's a good deed.

I think people have forgotten our basic human values. Fewer people help an old lady across the street, or ask someone older than them if they would care to sit down. But just being a good listener, or giving someone a hug, can make a huge difference. It doesn't cost any money, anyone can do it.

We've been doing Good Deeds Day for six years now, getting as many people out there to do a good deed. But it's not just one day — one day is an example. If people get excited and understand the meaning behind that one day, I believe we can create a critical mass of people who do good in the world.

We also have a new project called, goodnet.org It's a social network. And the idea is that it's really a gateway to doing good. It's connecting everyone who's doing good. Any organization, any person, any idea in basically any field. We need more people who think good, speak good, and do good.