When I started to look more seriously into giving back in 2019, I stumbled across these three big ideas (these ideas are better described in the book, The Life You Can Save):
- I’m relatively wealthy compared to the rest of the world. (Here’s a visualization.)
- Money goes a lot further overseas.
- There’s an opportunity to change people’s lives even if I’m not a millionaire.
I was excited about these ideas because it changed my whole perspective on philanthropy. The realization that I’m actually very fortunate and that I could have a real impact on people is empowering. It turns out that I don’t need to go into medicine or become a teacher to make a difference. While I’m not planning on giving 50% of my income (article), I’m very much into the concept of earning to give.
I wrote more about it here.