Latest / Inspirations for Your Life / Your KINDNESS Means NOTHING Without ACTION! (S5) S44 Monday

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Your KINDNESS Means NOTHING Without ACTION! (S5) S44 Monday · Inspirations for Your Life

0:22
Well there hello everyone and welcome to the
0:25
ever popular inspirations for your live show.
0:28
It is so great to be with you.
0:30
It's Monday night.
0:32
It is October 26, 2026 and welcome.
0:36
If this is the very first time you're
0:38
joining me, I want to take the opportunity
0:39
to say welcome and of course I want
0:41
to say thank you.
0:42
If you've been here one time, five times,
0:44
10, 100 or maybe even more or maybe
0:46
you lost track of the count, I'd like
0:48
to say thank you.
0:50
Welcome.
0:51
But I also like to say the important
0:52
words welcome back.
0:54
You are very welcome here and I do
0:56
thank you for deciding to watch the show
1:00
or listen to the show.
1:02
So if you're thirsty, if you're hungry, feel
1:04
free to go grab yourself something like an
1:05
RO water with lemon or soda or another
1:07
beverage or candy or fruit or yogurt or
1:10
what have you, nuts, anything.
1:14
And don't forget to check out believemeachieve.com
1:16
of course for more of my amazing inspiring
1:17
creations which you can do 24 hours a
1:19
day after the show is off the air.
1:21
All right guys, so let's get into this,
1:24
shall we?
1:24
All right, so your kindness means nothing without
1:29
action, okay?
1:31
This is show 44 episode number two.
1:35
It is Monday and welcome everyone to the
1:37
ever popular inspirations for your life show.
1:40
I'm John C.
1:42
Morley.
1:42
I'm a serial entrepreneur.
1:43
I'm an engineer.
1:44
I'm a marketing specialist, video producer, podcast host,
1:49
coach, a professional keynote speaker, graduate student at
1:53
Montclair State University, and yes guys, a passionate
1:57
lifelong learner and so grateful now to be
1:59
a published author.
2:01
It is really great to be a published
2:03
author and I thank everyone.
2:05
So let me ask you something.
2:08
How many times have you told someone, let
2:10
me know if you need anything, right?
2:12
But you never followed up.
2:15
How many times have you wanted to help
2:17
yet never actually, well, took the first step?
2:21
Here's the uncomfortable truth.
2:24
Good intentions don't automatically create good results.
2:26
I'm sorry guys.
2:28
This week's master topic is stop saying you
2:30
care, start proving it.
2:33
Yesterday we learned to show compassion by recognizing
2:36
when someone might need support.
2:39
Today, Monday, we're taking the next step together.
2:42
Our theme is take action for the week,
2:45
right?
2:46
Because you see kindness isn't simply about what
2:49
you feel.
2:50
It's about what you do.
2:52
Let's explore 30 powerful ways to turn your
2:57
concern into meaningful action.
2:59
Number one, I understand that caring intentions become
3:04
meaningful through behavior.
3:06
It's wonderful to want to help someone, but
3:08
your actions determine whether that intention becomes useful
3:12
support.
3:13
Number two, stop promising support when you have
3:17
no plan to follow through.
3:19
Before offering help, consider what you realistically provide
3:24
and when you actually can deliver it.
3:28
Number three, recognize the difference between feeling concerned
3:32
and taking action.
3:34
Concern may motivate you, but completing a thoughtful
3:38
step is what turns that feeling into a
3:41
contribution.
3:42
Number four, learn to turn a compassionate thought
3:46
into a practical step.
3:48
Instead of saying you should help someday, identify
3:53
one specific action you can take today.
3:59
Number five, stop waiting for the perfect opportunity
4:03
to do something helpful.
4:05
A small gesture completed now can be more
4:07
meaningful than an elaborate plan that never actually
4:12
happens.
4:14
Number six, understand why small consistent actions can
4:19
matter more than grand gestures.
4:23
Reliable support often builds stronger relationships than occasional
4:27
dramatic displays of generosity.
4:31
Number seven, recognize when your words are creating
4:35
expectations for others.
4:37
If you promise to help, someone may begin
4:41
depending on you.
4:43
Make commitments thoughtfully.
4:46
That's important to understand, guys.
4:48
So sometimes we do things and we want
4:50
to help, but then we're not really planning
4:52
to follow through.
4:53
We're just going to say we'll do whatever
4:54
we can, but we don't actually follow through.
4:57
And I think that's something that a lot
4:58
of people today don't realize that you need
5:01
to follow through.
5:03
And I think a lot of people sometimes,
5:05
they don't realize what's happening, why things are
5:08
happening, and why they're not basically doing what
5:14
they need to do.
5:14
And that's happening because people don't understand what
5:19
commitment is.
5:21
Number eight, guys, stop confusing sharing a problem
5:25
online with solving it.
5:27
Raising awareness can be useful, yes, but consider
5:30
whether additional practical action is actually needed and
5:35
necessary.
5:37
It's not about putting a show on, guys.
5:40
I think that's one of the most important
5:41
things that I want to say to you.
5:43
It's not about putting a show on.
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If you think it is, well, then you've
5:47
missed everything.
5:49
Number nine, learn to identify what you can
5:52
realistically contribute.
5:54
Your time, skills, resources, and availability all matter.
6:00
Offer support you can sustain in your life.
6:04
Number 10, recognize when someone needs practical assistance
6:08
rather than encouragement alone.
6:10
Sometimes a person needs information, transportation, or help
6:14
completing a task instead of another motivational statement.
6:19
Number 11, stop making commitments simply to appear
6:23
generous.
6:24
It's better, guys, to offer something modest and
6:27
reliable than something impressive that you unfortunately can't
6:31
deliver.
6:33
I think that's an important thing to understand.
6:41
So we have to realize that.
6:49
If you understand that, then you'll understand what
6:55
I'm saying.
7:02
I think when people understand that, they're going
7:04
to be like, wait a minute, this makes
7:05
sense, but now I know why something's working
7:08
a certain way.
7:09
So number 11, guys, stop making commitments simply
7:14
to appear generous.
7:16
That's the thing I want you to be
7:18
understanding.
7:18
You don't have to do that.
7:20
Number 12, understand that reliable support builds stronger
7:23
relationships.
7:24
People develop trust when your actions consistently match
7:28
your promises.
7:31
Number 13, learn to ask permission before stepping
7:35
into someone's situation.
7:38
Helping shouldn't mean taking control.
7:41
Ask what support would be welcome.
7:44
Number 14, recognize when helping requires preparation or
7:50
specialized knowledge.
7:52
Some situations call for professional expertise.
7:55
Know when to refer someone to a qualified
7:58
resource.
7:59
I think sometimes we try to help as
8:01
much as we can, but then we go
8:02
beyond our limit, and then we kick ourselves
8:06
in the back because we're not able to
8:08
go further.
8:09
That scares a lot of people.
8:13
Number 16, understand why meaningful action must respect
8:19
the recipient's wishes.
8:24
Your idea of helping may differ from what
8:28
the other person actually wants or even needs.
8:33
So be sure to do an assessment before
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you do anything.
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That's probably the most important thing that I
8:37
can tell you.
8:40
Number 17, recognize the value of following up
8:45
after assistance.
8:46
A thoughtful check-in can help you understand
8:49
whether your contribution was useful or not.
8:53
Pretty easy to do.
8:55
Number 18, stop assuming that one good deed
8:59
resolves every ongoing problem.
9:02
Unfortunately, guys, it doesn't.
9:04
Some challenges take time.
9:06
Recognize the difference between temporary assistance and lasting
9:10
solutions.
9:11
A lot of people want to be there
9:13
for the moment, but they don't necessarily want
9:16
to help you get through the whole thing.
9:18
Okay, that's important.
9:26
That's really, really important.
9:29
I think a lot of people get scared
9:31
with that.
9:34
Number 19, learn to distinguish sustainable support from
9:37
temporary enthusiasm.
9:39
Consider whether your actions can continue without exhausting
9:42
your resources or creating unrealistic expectations.
9:46
That's key, guys.
9:48
Number 20, recognize when teamwork can accomplish more
9:52
than individual effort.
9:55
Collaboration can bring together different skills, resources, and
9:59
perspectives.
10:00
Number 21, stop using your busy schedule as
10:03
an automatic reason to avoid every opportunity around
10:08
you.
10:08
You may have limited time, but a realistic
10:11
contribution can still be valuable at the moment.
10:15
I think people lose track of what value
10:18
is.
10:20
Sometimes we do something, you're like, wait a
10:22
minute, that didn't make sense or that didn't
10:24
have value because you didn't appreciate, you didn't
10:25
understand it.
10:26
Okay, that's important.
10:28
Number 22, understand that generosity includes time, attention,
10:33
and also expertise.
10:36
Financial donations aren't the only meaningful contributions we
10:39
have.
10:40
Knowledge and thoughtful listening can also help and
10:43
realize they're a very viable gift that we
10:47
can provide others, right?
10:50
Definitely a very viable gift that we can
10:52
provide others.
10:55
Number 23, recognize when your assistance might unintentionally
11:02
create a dependency.
11:04
Effective support should respect independence and encourage appropriate
11:10
self-direction.
11:12
Number 24, stop seeking applause for every positive
11:16
contribution you make.
11:18
Genuine kindness doesn't require public recognition.
11:21
Sometimes the most meaningful help happens quietly.
11:25
Number 25, learn to measure helpfulness by impact
11:30
rather than intention.
11:32
Ask whether your contribution actually helped and be
11:36
willing to adjust your approach.
11:38
If it didn't help, then you need to
11:40
adjust it.
11:42
Don't be upset that it didn't work, okay?
11:46
Don't be upset about that.
11:48
Do not be upset about that.
11:52
I think if you understand that, you're going
11:55
to realize that the person's not upset with
11:57
you, they're just not happy with what you're
12:00
doing.
12:00
So you can make a change, okay?
12:04
You can actually make a change and then
12:08
you can learn from that, okay?
12:12
But ask whether the contribution actually helped and
12:15
be willing to adjust your approach.
12:16
Don't let your ego get in the way
12:18
of that.
12:18
Number 26, recognize the importance of honoring commitments
12:23
you make.
12:24
Following through demonstrates respect for the person who
12:29
trusted your promise.
12:32
Number 27, understand that meaningful kindness often happens
12:36
privately.
12:37
You don't need an audience to demonstrate compassion.
12:40
What matters is the value of your action
12:44
and actions.
12:45
Number 28, identify one caring intention you have
12:50
not yet acted upon.
12:52
Think about a call, a favor, introduction, or
12:56
even a contribution you have made, but you
13:01
actually really didn't.
13:03
You postponed it.
13:05
Number 29, complete one practical step that turns
13:10
that intention into reality.
13:14
Send the message, make the call, schedule the
13:18
time, right?
13:22
Or offer the appropriate assistance, whatever that may
13:26
be.
13:27
And sometimes you're like, I don't really know
13:29
what it is.
13:30
All I know is I need to do
13:31
something, but I don't actually know what it
13:32
is.
13:32
And that's okay if you don't know what
13:34
it is, all right?
13:36
I think the intention is probably the most
13:39
important thing I can tell you.
13:43
If you understand that, then you're going to
13:44
be miles ahead of everyone, all right?
13:49
And that's a big thing, okay?
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That's a very, very big thing for everyone
13:56
to realize.
13:57
Number 30, guys, make your kindness visible through
14:02
responsible, consistent action.
14:04
Don't rely on promises to demonstrate concern.
14:08
Let thoughtful follow-through speak for itself.
14:14
Don't try to say, well, gee, you know,
14:16
if I do this for you, you have
14:17
to do this for me.
14:18
No, don't do that.
14:26
I think sometimes people don't understand the truth.
14:37
I think it happens because you get stuck
14:41
in believing something.
14:42
But what you're believing is actually wrong, right?
14:47
What you're believing is actually wrong.
14:50
And you're operating on that premise.
15:01
That's what we're talking about.
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I think sometimes people don't understand, but we
15:18
have to be aware.
15:26
Sometimes people think one way, but they may
15:29
be wrong, right?
15:38
If we understand this, then we can make
15:41
choices.
15:43
If we don't understand it, then we're going
15:46
to be like going in circles, not because
15:49
we have to, not because we want to,
15:55
strictly because of the situation that we're involved
15:58
in, that we're involved in.
16:10
That's important, guys.
16:12
It's really important to understand that what you
16:15
do and what you contribute can help you
16:19
grow and can help you learn in the
16:20
world.
16:21
But I don't want to tell you that
16:22
it's going to be easy, okay?
16:25
I don't want to tell you that because
16:26
you need to come to a realization before
16:30
you actually can make a change in your
16:31
life.
16:33
And as I said, guys, kindness means something.
16:37
It's not something we put on a bulletin
16:38
board.
16:39
It's not something we wave on a flag
16:41
and say, hey, I'm kind.
16:43
I found that when you have to tell
16:46
people you're kind, you've thrown out the beauty
16:50
of being kind, right?
16:53
You've heard of people that, you know, give
16:56
like donations that are basically, let's say they're
17:02
anonymous.
17:03
People want them to stay that way.
17:06
Why?
17:08
Because something fades when people know.
17:12
I always say the only thing I want
17:13
people to know is just to get the
17:16
tax bill.
17:17
That's it.
17:18
Nothing else, okay?
17:21
And not for anyone else to anything else,
17:25
okay?
17:30
A lot of people want to be known
17:32
for everything they're doing.
17:36
That's important.
17:37
But in this case, I think just the
17:40
act of doing something positive means a lot,
17:45
right?
17:46
It means a lot for a lot of
17:48
people to actually understand that.
17:52
And maybe you're going to say to me,
17:53
John, well, that's not the case for me.
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Okay.
17:56
Maybe it's not the case for you.
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Then again, maybe it is.
18:03
Maybe it's about who you are in your
18:06
life.
18:06
Maybe it's not about what you're just doing
18:10
for yourself.
18:11
Because a lot of people think life is
18:12
just about what you do for yourself.
18:13
And that is a big part of it.
18:15
But it's also important what we're able to
18:17
do for others or what we're able to
18:19
actually get other people to do for themselves.
18:23
So there's things you can do for yourself.
18:24
There's things you can do for others.
18:25
But what we can get other people to
18:29
do for their own selves through their own
18:32
accomplishments, maybe our guidance, that's something to celebrate.
18:39
That's where a real success lies, right?
18:43
That's where it lies.
18:48
And I think if we can understand that,
18:50
we're saying, wait a minute, this makes sense
18:51
now.
18:52
I can do this now.
18:55
And then we start to become aware of
18:57
these different things.
19:01
And these things will give us different perceptions,
19:07
right?
19:12
And that perception is something I believe that
19:14
a lot of people miss.
19:17
Because again, they're not, but I don't want
19:27
you to get scared about it because you're
19:29
saying, gee, I'm not sure how to help.
19:32
You don't need to be an expert to
19:33
start helping.
19:35
You just need to start.
19:37
I always said you don't have to be
19:39
great to start, but you have to start
19:42
to be great.
19:44
You don't have to be an expert at
19:46
giving advice or showing compassion or care, but
19:52
you have to start to be able to
19:54
deliver it.
19:57
Most people you help, you're going to find
19:58
this out.
19:59
They're not going to be very judgmental.
20:01
They're going to be so grateful that you've
20:02
taken the time to help them.
20:05
That's key.
20:06
Now, ladies and gentlemen, here is your Monday
20:08
challenge.
20:08
You're ready for the Monday challenge.
20:10
I know you are.
20:11
It's not an easy one.
20:12
I'm going to tell you that right now,
20:13
but you guys know you don't want easy.
20:16
You want to learn.
20:17
That's why you guys are here.
20:18
You're here so that you can actually learn.
20:22
Think of, let's say, one helpful thing you've
20:26
been saying you want to do.
20:28
Maybe a meaning to check on someone.
20:31
Maybe a promise to share useful information.
20:34
Maybe you want to volunteer time or expertise.
20:39
Maybe you wanted to just be with somebody,
20:45
keeping them company.
20:52
Maybe you wanted to take care of a
20:54
need that they had.
20:57
Maybe they needed grocery shopping being done.
20:59
Maybe they needed their driveway plowed and you
21:04
have a plow.
21:06
Maybe they needed their groceries taken out.
21:11
Whatever it is, identify one realistic first step
21:16
that you can take.
21:18
Then, ladies and gentlemen, take that step today.
21:22
Depending on what time it is, you can
21:23
do it today or you could do it
21:24
tomorrow, but take that step within 24 hours.
21:27
That's what I want you to do.
21:28
I don't want you to stop there.
21:32
Now, decide how you'll follow through.
21:38
If you choose to make a commitment, please
21:44
honor that commitment.
21:46
If you discover you cannot help as planned,
21:50
be honest.
21:51
Communicate it.
21:52
Maybe something came up.
21:54
It could be a flat tire.
21:55
It could be some emergency, but communicate.
21:58
Look, I know I was supposed to help
22:00
you today.
22:00
I had an emergency come up.
22:03
As soon as I resolve this, I will
22:04
give you a call back tomorrow or whatever
22:07
day it is and we'll reschedule this.
22:09
I apologize.
22:10
Then, follow up.
22:11
Don't keep them hanging.
22:15
That's important.
22:17
If someone declines your offer, respect their decision.
22:20
It's not about pushing help on someone.
22:23
Somebody doesn't want your help?
22:24
Okay.
22:25
No problem.
22:28
Because you see, Lejo, meaningful kindness combines compassion,
22:35
responsibility, and respect.
22:37
Wow, John, that's a lot of words.
22:40
So, being kind doesn't cost anything.
22:46
Compassion doesn't cost money.
22:48
No, but it does require a bigger toll
22:50
on ourselves.
22:51
Bigger toll.
22:53
Responsibility and respect.
22:57
Responsibility is taking ownership for someone or something
23:01
and following through.
23:03
Respect is treating people in a manner in
23:12
which you would want to be treated.
23:16
Now, let's connect today's lesson to our weekly
23:20
journey, shall we?
23:21
Okay.
23:22
So, Sunday taught us to show compassion by
23:24
noticing people who may need our support.
23:28
Today, Monday, we're learning to take action so
23:32
that compassion becomes something meaningful.
23:37
Something meaningful.
23:39
Tomorrow, Tuesday, I'm going to explore fairness and
23:44
why genuine concern should never become an excuse
23:47
to take advantage of others.
23:51
I'll give an example.
23:55
We owned a plant many years ago.
24:00
And I remember a long time ago, you
24:04
know, I had gotten money from my grandparents
24:06
and I brought the jack and the blazer
24:10
to the dry cleaners.
24:13
And the money wasn't in the pocket.
24:19
Fast forward 10 years later, we owned a
24:22
dry cleaners for many years.
24:24
And whenever we found something, keys, money, change,
24:32
jewelry, the first thing we did was we
24:36
put it in what we called a looky
24:40
bag.
24:41
Okay.
24:42
And that looky bag would get stapled to
24:46
the ticket.
24:47
And because of the highest level of respect
24:50
that all of our staff had for us
24:53
and for the clients, we would then call
24:57
that customer and say, hey, Mr. Johnson, you
25:00
dropped off an order.
25:01
Oh, yes.
25:02
Is there a problem?
25:02
Well, we were going through the pockets and
25:05
we found a $100 bill.
25:07
We're going to put it with your order.
25:08
You can pick it up later or pick
25:09
it up with, we have it with the
25:10
looky bag.
25:12
And they were like, so amazed.
25:15
Doing the right thing when no one else
25:19
is watching, that's when accolades are passed.
25:25
That's important.
25:27
People miss fairness because they think fairness is
25:30
going to make them a millionaire.
25:31
No.
25:33
Being unfair is not making you a millionaire.
25:36
Later this week, I'm going to examine respect,
25:40
resilience, leadership, and finally, living in your own
25:46
core values.
25:50
And just to think that we gave hundreds,
25:55
if not thousands of dollars back.
25:56
We found a Rolex watch.
25:59
We found diamonds, all kinds of things.
26:04
Travel gift certificates, plane tickets.
26:10
But finding money, $100 bill.
26:14
We found American Express traveler's checks.
26:18
They were already validated.
26:21
They were already signed.
26:26
That says something.
26:28
Each lesson that we have this week and
26:33
every week builds on the one before in
26:35
case you didn't know.
26:36
And here's something I want you all to
26:40
remember, even though this may not be easy
26:42
for you to understand.
26:45
You do not have to make a huge
26:52
contribution to make a meaningful difference.
26:55
Let me say that again.
26:56
You do not have to make a huge
26:57
contribution to make a meaningful difference.
26:59
I don't mean money.
27:02
Could be talking time.
27:05
It just has to be something that shows
27:07
you care.
27:10
But you do have to move beyond intention.
27:14
Okay.
27:15
Now I want to hear from all of
27:16
you.
27:17
What's one act of kindness you're going to
27:19
turn into action this week?
27:21
Tell me in the comments if today's episode
27:24
challenged your thinking, like it, share it with
27:27
someone who believes in meaningful action, and subscribe
27:30
to Inspirations for Your Life.
27:32
I'm John C.
27:33
Morley, serial entrepreneur, so much more.
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I thank you so much for spending part
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of your Monday with me.
27:39
And remember, the world doesn't need another impressive
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promise that never becomes reality.
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It needs people who care enough to follow
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through.
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Stop saying you care.
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Start proving it.
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Stay driven.
27:57
Keep growing.
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Do this from the heart.
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And ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to see
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you on another show real soon tomorrow.
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Be well, everyone.