03/15/2026
When I think about impact, my mind immediately goes to purpose. Impact, for me, has never been about visibility—it’s about intention. It’s about showing up with a clear understanding of why you’re there and who you’re there for.
When I look at this picture, the first thing that stands out to me is actually the difficulty in finding myself in it. At first glance, I almost disappear into the background. But the more I reflect on it, the more I realize that this is exactly what purpose-driven work often looks like.
The focal point of the picture is the kids, and honestly, it should be. They are the reason the work exists in the first place. Their smiles, their engagement, their presence—those are the real indicators of what matters in the moment.
Second, the work that was done clearly impacted them. You can see it in their energy and their expressions. Something meaningful happened there. Seeds were planted, encouragement was given, and an experience was created that may stay with them longer than any of us realize.
And then there’s me.
My presence in the photo might be minimal. I’m not the centerpiece, not the one drawing all the attention. But when I step back and look at the bigger picture, I realize that impact isn’t always about being seen—it’s about what changes because you showed up.
Purposeful work often happens behind the scenes. It’s in the preparation, the intention, the guidance, and the environment that gets created for others to thrive. Sometimes the most meaningful contributions are the ones that don’t demand the spotlight.
So when I look at this picture now, I don’t see absence—I see evidence.
Evidence that something intentional took place.
Evidence that young people were reached.
Evidence that purpose doesn’t always need a stage.
Being purposeful doesn’t mean you have to be the face of the moment or the one standing in the front. Sometimes purpose looks like standing just outside the frame, knowing that what you helped create is bigger than being seen.
And to me, that’s real impact.
