2024 December 10 Envisionment and Mission

You can view the original LIVE on Facebook HERE.

Hi, this is Jim Cranston from 7EveryMinute and 7EveryMinute.com, the podcast and website about reimagining your life. Thanks for joining me today to talk about envisionment and mission. Let’s get started! If you enjoy what you hear today, please leave a like, subscribe, tell your friends, or send me a message.

This past week, I had the pleasure of attending another James Wedmore BBD Live event. You might find mentions of it on Facebook or elsewhere. BBD stands for Business by Design, which is James’s main course. Every year, he holds an in-person event where people can come together, talk, and learn not just from the speakers but from one another.

As I’ve mentioned before, James Wedmore is one of my mentors. Through Business by Design, he teaches both the mechanics and the ethics of online marketing and course creation. There are plenty of people out there who claim to teach you how to sell online, but very few focus on the service aspect rather than just the money. That’s what makes James stand out.

Another mentor of mine, who I’ve mentioned before, is Pat Flynn. I have this little figurine from him—it’s hard to see when it’s in the background, but it says Smart Passive Income. Pat Flynn was my first mentor, and he’s an incredible person. I learned so much from him, especially about the idea of giving things away for free as a way to serve others. His philosophy is that by genuinely helping people, you’ll see returns later through other products or services.

Both James and Pat have built their reputations around service, not just making money. Their core content is free because their primary mission is to help people, especially with their online businesses. That approach has really shaped how I think about running my own projects. It’s not about how many ways you can make money—it’s about the impact you have on others.

The BBD Live conference was incredibly inspiring and motivating. The content itself was fantastic, but what really stood out to me were the other attendees. They’re always so inspirational and passionate. I even have a good friend I met there, and I want to give a shout-out to them—they know who they are!

He's called Jeff McCoy. I get nothing from mentioning him, and Jeff gets nothing from this either, but I really hope you take the time to meet him. Jeff is a wonderful person—enthusiastic beyond enthusiastic. No matter what mood you’re in, after you talk to him, you’ll feel more upbeat than when you started. Even if you were already ecstatic, you’ll walk away thinking, Wow, I didn’t even know I could feel this good.

Jeff and I have talked online for a while and have known each other through Business by Design. But meeting him in person was even better than I could have imagined. We always shared smiles and positive energy, and that’s what makes these events so special. You meet people like Jeff—some who were already friends, many who become new friends, and even a few who turn into close friends.

What stands out most about these events is the type of people who attend. Everyone is approachable, genuinely concerned about others, and willing to give—to each other, to their communities, and to charitable causes. It’s different from many other events where the focus might not be as selfless. Here, people go above and beyond to help others.

This year’s charity was Charity Water. Their mission is to bring clean water to areas that don’t have access, and I’ll talk more about them in a moment. But to give you an idea of the generosity at this event, let me set the scene: it’s a sizable gathering—maybe six to eight hundred people, possibly close to a thousand. It’s not a massive event, but the impact is incredible.

Every year, the community rallies behind a cause, and this year, it was Charity Water. Between the attendees and James Wedmore and his team, we raised over $300,000 for this amazing organization.

Charity Water drills wells and maintains them for impoverished communities that don’t have access to clean water. They’ve completed almost 72,000 projects and have brought water to over 19 million people worldwide. One of the most impressive things about their organization—and Pencils of Promise operates similarly—is that 100% of the donations go directly to the projects.

They don’t use donation funds for salaries, overhead, or advertising. Instead, they find corporate sponsors to cover those operational costs. So, when you give them a dollar, that entire dollar goes toward drilling a well or funding other water access initiatives. At this event, we collectively donated over $300,000, which is truly incredible.

But it wasn’t just the total amount that was inspiring—it was the individual contributions. Over 24 attendees each donated enough to completely fund a drilling project on their own. That’s $10,000 per project. Think about it: you’re in a room where people have already pooled over a quarter million dollars, and then you realize that more than two dozen individuals gave $10,000 each. It’s a humbling and awe-inspiring moment that reminds you of the incredible generosity and compassion of the people around you.

This group is special—a community of people who aren’t afraid to share their resources and truly care for others. That’s what makes the Business by Design community so unique and energizing. I’ve attended many conferences, and while some are good or interesting, this one stands out because of its focus on mission-driven impact and the way it brings people together to share and contribute meaningfully.

That’s why tonight’s topic is about envisionment—it’s at the core of what we talk about all the time. I’ve known some of these people for almost six years now, and nearly every one of them started out just like you and me. They were people with a dream but without many clear ideas about how to make it a reality.

At the conference, I was talking to someone about this, reflecting on the journey many of these individuals have taken. I’ve known people who’ve gone from poverty to a place where they can afford to give significant amounts of money to charities. That’s incredible. It’s not just about going from having no money to living in a mansion. It’s about going from having nothing to being able to care for their families and support the causes they’re passionate about.

That’s the essence of envisionment—creating a life vision that goes beyond just getting something for yourself.

James Wedmore has been helping people for about 19 years now, and he’s incredibly generous in his support of others. He’s always willing to help those in need, and that generosity radiates through his staff, friends, and community. What sets this group apart from the average person is that everyone involved has a vision. They may not yet know exactly how to bring that vision to life, but they know that, someday, somehow, they will make it a reality.

Sound familiar? That’s what we talk about all the time. It’s why, in 2016, I started down this path and, in 2018, launched 7EveryMinute, the foundation of my business. That led to the first of 227 episodes, which began publishing on August 4, 2019.

Working toward your vision isn’t a sprint or even a marathon—it’s a way of life. When I talk about not giving up on a dream, it’s because that’s the path I’ve been following for the past eight years. And, to be precise, the first spark of this idea—this passion—came to me in 2003.

Yes, that was 21 years ago. I’ve been following the same dream ever since. I know what it feels like to think you’ve missed the window of opportunity, to feel like it’s too late. But let me tell you something: it’s not. It’s never too late. Even when people told me I’d missed my chance or that someone else would surely do what I wanted to do, I didn’t let that stop me.

Here’s why: no one else is you. That’s the simple truth. No one else can bring to the table what you bring.

I’m sharing all of this because, while I’ve known my mission for years, I’ve also spent years hearing that it’s silly, unrealistic, or that it’s not the way to create big change in the world. Society has a way of encouraging people to say things like that—to plant doubt and make you delay your dreams. But the truth is, the only person who can bring your dream to life is you.

You don’t have to put off your dream. It might not happen instantly, but it will come at the right time and in the right way. Life doesn’t give you challenges—it offers lessons to help you grow and improve.

As of today, I’ve officially changed my work status to part-time at my day job. This change will give me more time to focus on the podcast and our courses.

There’s an old saying: “They who chase two rabbits catch none.” I’m incredibly fortunate to know dozens, maybe even hundreds, of people who have made significant, positive changes in the world. I’ve shared before about one of my college classmates who dedicated her entire professional life to Project HOPE.

These are extraordinary, inspirational people. And you are extraordinary and inspirational, too—both right now and as you move closer to fully committing to your vision.

At this year’s BBD conference, I finally came to terms with the fact that if I want to follow my passion, I need to be fully dedicated to making it a reality.

Will there be dramatic changes in the next few days? Probably not. But maybe. What I can say is that many of the projects and goals that were on the back burner have now moved to the front.

I’ve also started taking a course with Dr. Benjamin Hardy, who shares a fascinating approach: the idea that 10x is easier than 2x. It’s a mindset shift that’s already shaping the way I look at what’s possible.

This isn’t just a catchy phrase you hear everywhere these days. It’s deeper than that. Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan even wrote a book titled 10x is Easier than 2x, which delves into taking what feels impossible and reframing it—so you can accomplish it faster than you ever thought possible.

We’ve touched on this concept before, though briefly. At its core, it’s about recognizing that what got you here won’t get you where you truly want to be. And there is where your dreams and aspirations lie.

I’ve been fortunate to live a fabulous life. I don’t have many complaints—of course, there have been challenges, but overall, it’s been fulfilling in every way. Now, however, it’s time for me to help others find the same sense of satisfaction and hope for the future.

We’ve talked before about the negative influence of social media and broader societal pressures. The way forward isn’t to complain but to provide an alternative—a better path. That’s the work I’m ready to take on after 21 years of planning.

So stay tuned. I’m gearing up to share more material, welcome inspiring guests back to the podcast, host educational webinars, and much more.

That’s all for tonight, but I can’t stress enough how excited I am. This isn’t just a fleeting moment of motivation—it’s something transformative. Events like BBD are always inspiring, but this time was different. I walked in knowing I was ready for a transformation, and I left knowing now is the time to make it all happen.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve attended BBD and similar events before, and they always leave you feeling energized, excited about the possibilities, and ready to take action. But this time was different. I walked in knowing that a transformation was going to happen—and it did. I realized that now is the time.

Period. No exceptions.

From here, the goal is to move forward together and, hopefully, make some truly exciting things happen in the world. There’s no formal homework tonight unless you’d like to reflect on this: If you could change something in the world, what would it be? Think about it, because the truth is, you have the power to make meaningful, positive changes just as you are. You’re awesome, and the world needs what only you can offer.

That’s it for the evening. As always, I want to remind you to check out UKR7.com. There are wars raging in multiple parts of the world, and the situation in Ukraine is still far from improving. UKR7.com has a list of links to support the people of Ukraine.

If Ukraine isn’t your focus right now, consider supporting World Central Kitchen at WCK.org, which provides vital aid in disaster areas across the globe. And if neither of these causes resonates with you at the moment, remember there are always local charities and organizations that could use your help.

I want to mention a few organizations doing amazing things in the world, like Charity: Water. If you haven’t heard of them, look them up—they’re making a big impact. You can find them at CharityWater.org. I’ll be sharing their work more regularly from now on, along with other organizations that are changing lives, both on a global and local level.

Now, even if you’re not in a place to donate money or time to a charity right now, you can still make a huge difference. You don’t have to do anything extravagant—just a small act of kindness can go a long way. For example, if you see someone on the street who looks a little down, a simple smile or a greeting like, "Good morning" or "Hey, how’s it going?" can completely change their day in ways you can’t even imagine.

Remember, one of the best ways to care for yourself is by caring for others. Shifting your focus from yourself to the people around you gives you a whole new perspective on life. So, if you’re able to support a charity or a cause, that’s amazing. If not, just making small changes in your community can have a big impact, too.

As always, thank you for listening. I’m really excited about what’s to come, and I hope you are too. If you found something helpful or inspiring, please share it, subscribe, like, and tell your friends. And if you have any suggestions for future topics, drop me a comment.

Great things are coming. Don’t forget to live the life you dream of—that’s the path to true contentment. Love and encouragement to everyone. See you next week on 7EveryMinute and at 7EveryMinute.com.