Can you do good, and make good money?

A while ago I was scanning Facebook and saw a video a friend of mine posted. Her brother modified a Jeep-like kid’s vehicle to be remotely controlled for the son of someone he knew. Their son had a handicap that kept him from being able to drive a vehicle like this in the same where their brother could.

I’m not that surprised that he was able to develop this type of thing. The guy who did it is incredibly creative and resourceful.

The first thing that came to mind was that he should make more of these vehicles and sell them. I figured there were tons of parents out there with children with similar conditions and would love to have something like this.

Do you know what filled my mind next? Guilt. I felt guilty that I could take a nice gesture like what he did and turn it into a money making opportunity.

Then I thought about it more. Should I feel guilty for thinking that way?

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that I shouldn’t. I thought that this incredible act could end right there with the one modified Jeep, but if someone were willing to pay for another one, why should it stop at one?

What if he were able to make a healthy profit modifying things like this for kids who need them? Would that tarnish the good work being done? I don’t believe so.

Let’s think this through a bit. Let’s imagine for a minute that he starts making these and people are interested in buying them. He’s doing this on the side, but can’t keep up with the demand on his own. So he may quit a job that isn’t that fulfilling and start making these full time. Eventually he ends up hiring an extra person or two with his profits and expands the business. He continues to turn a nice profit and is able to use some of it to give some of these vehicles to children’s hospitals and others who could use them.

I know I made a lot of assumptions there. The point is not that he should do any of these things, but more to point out that someone can truly do something good, and make good money while they’re doing it. If you’ve got the right mindset and good intentions, you can do good works, while making good money doing it.

Photo by State Farm

What your desktop background says to your coworkers

In the land of cubicle dwellers, everyone has at least one window to the outside world – the desktop background. It can tell a lot about you to those around you.

For example, solid color backgrounds show you don’t care to open your window. You’d work in a basement if you could, most likely without anyone around you.

If you’re sporting that beautiful beach scene, it’s pretty obvious where you’d rather be. You’re either thinking about an upcoming vacation, a vacation you’ve been on, or one you wish you could take. If you could work on the beach, then your dream would be complete.

Sci-fi and action heroes means you’ll probably be late to work the day after the next Marvel movie comes out.

Cats and dogs – animal lover, possibly single

Kids – family man/woman (who is possibly trying to remember why you drag yourself into work each day)

Random pictures – you just don’t want to be staring at the same thing all the time, it takes your mind off of what you’re doing

The next time you consider “personalizing” your desktop, consider what you might be conveying to the people around you, and then change it anyway!