17 Simple Ways to Make a Difference in the World

You can make a difference in the world, even without money. You can already impact someone’s life today.

How?

Contributing to the world comes by sacrificing either your:

• Money
• Time
• Energy

You can start making a difference in the world today by building the habit of contributing in one of these three areas.

To help you do so, I’ve listed 17 ways to make a difference, sorted by the amount of effort from small to large. 

That way, you can start where you feel comfortable.

Let’s dive in!

#1: Smile

While a smile might not move the world, getting into the habit of smiling more often can impact someone’s life. 

And isn’t that where impact starts?

A smile is effective because people are on autopilot most of the time – worrying about the daily stresses of life. And cracking a smile is such an easy way to spread some warmth and kindness.

And it barely requires any effort at all.

So make sure you smile at your colleagues, your baker, the cashier, and the strangers on the street.

It can make a difference.

Or at least, you will feel a little happier yourself. And, it’s a good starting point for developing the habit of contribution.

#2: Donate

Donating money is an easy way to make an impact. And you can already do so for a couple of bucks each month.

Small contributions matter.

Of course, if you’re rich, you can make a more significant impact by donating more money. But even though you might not be able to give much, it’s the intention that matters.

Plus, it gets you into the habit of donating.

And building the habit of donating is more powerful if you want to make a difference in the world than just a one-time donation. 

So why wouldn’t you donate 1% or even 0.1% of your income every month? Do that consistently, and you will make an impact.

#3: Speak through your actions

Another relatively easy way to make an impact is by following through on your promises. 

Do what you say you’re going to do.

If you promise to do something, make sure to do it. And if you make a promise to be somewhere, actually show up. 

And also, consider the promises you silently make to yourself. For example, when you sign up for a course, you silently commit to attending that course.

Stick through on all your promises.

Doing so builds trust in yourself and others. And it’s a powerful habit to build if you want to make a difference.

#4: Leave the place better than you found it

Making a difference in the world starts with the environment around you. So ask yourself: how can you leave the place better than you found it?

Here are some examples:

• Smile
• Bin the rubbish you find – even if it’s not yours
• Help someone without expecting something in return
• Correct things without looking for appraise

The idea is simple: make minor improvements without the need for selfish gains, like approval and validation.

Once again, these small actions add up and make a big difference in the world. 

Or, at the very least, it strengthens your habit of making positive contributions.

#5: Random acts of kindness 

Random acts of kindness are a great way to make a difference in someone’s life. But what does it mean exactly?

A random act of kindness means making an effort beyond what is expected to leave a positive impact on someone’s life.

Here are some examples:

• Send a handwritten thank-you note to someone.
• Alternatively, write a thank you email to someone.
• Tell someone how much you appreciate them.
• Make a cup of coffee or thee for a colleague.
• Cheer someone up by making a joke.
• Give praise to the people around you.
• Smile to strangers on the street.
• Talk with someone who seems to struggle.

Making a small effort without expecting anything in return is a remarkable way to make a difference. And it certainly helps you to build the habit of making positive contributions.

#6: Let others be themselves

Everyone has an opinion about everything and everyone. So it’s not surprising that people often feel judged by others.

It also means that you can make an impact simply by letting people be who they want to be.

Stop judging others.

The obvious reasons are that you might hurt someone, and it may break trust with people. But also, judging others means you indirectly judge yourself.

Instead, appreciate people of all walks of life. Even if they dress, behave, or think differently than you do. 

What if you disagree with someone’s appearance? 

Wonder why they might appear that way. Wonder where your difference comes from. And question your own beliefs.

#7: Encourage others

If you want to make the biggest impact possible, you will need the help of other people. And the best way to get other people to make a difference is through encouragement.

Even if that’s not your goal, encouraging people allows you to make a difference in someone’s life. 

So there are only benefits to it.

Encouraging others becomes especially important when you gain positional power and are able to manage others. Think about being a parent, teacher, manager, or any other role that involves people. 

But even if you’re not in such a position, you can still encourage others to become the best version of themselves.

Here are some ways to do so:

• Praise the small things they do – and praise often.
• Involve them in the decisions you make.
• Trust them by giving them objectives without telling them exactly how you would do it.
• Inspire growth by allowing mistakes to happen.
• Give them a challenge they can rise to.

Even if not all examples apply to you right now, you can undoubtedly praise someone. So I challenge you to give praise to someone else today.

#8: Listen attentively

How often do you listen to someone without actually listening?

For example, the moments when you’re doing something else simultaneously. Or what about the times that you wait for them to finish their sentence so that you can make your point.

Listening with focused attention is hard.

But if you listen with focused attention without trying to make your points, that can make a big difference in someone’s life.

You see, often, all someone needs is a listening ear. 

So how to listen attentively?

• Stop whatever else you’re doing.
• Make eye contact.
• Let the other person finish their sentences.
• Don’t interrupt or make conclusions.
• Look for non-verbal cues.
• When you speak, summarize what they said.
• And address any underlying feelings you picked up.
• Don’t share your opinion unless they ask for it.

Though it sounds so simple, listening is a challenging skill to master. 

We all want to share our point of view because we think it will benefit others the most. But more often than not, what people need is a listening ear first, rather than straight-up advice. 

#9: Rally behind a mission

Rallying behind a purpose is a great way to make a difference in the world.

And there are many ways to do that.

Say that you dislike the deforestation that’s happening. And you make it your mission to plant more trees in the world.

Here are some ways to do that:

• Donate money regularly to a charity that plants trees. 
• Start a project to plant trees locally.
• Alternatively, you can look for someone already planting trees and join them.
• Choose to work for a company whose mission is to plant more trees. For example, a company that does so for every dollar of profit they make.

Especially the last one is an indirect way of rallying behind a mission. But you could essentially do such a thing regardless of the occupation you hold.

The point?

There are many ways to rally behind a mission.

But first, you will need to know what’s most meaningful to you.

#10: Be the change you wish to see

Mahatma Gandhi once said the wise words: “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. 

Change yourself if you want to change the world.

Self-improvement leads to higher awareness, self-confidence, and becoming a stronger person. In addition, it allows you to rise to new challenges and overcome new obstacles.

In other words, personal development increases your ability to make a difference in the world.

Sign up for the Insideout Mastery updates if you want consistent stuff to help you become the best version of yourself.

#11: Be proactive

The difference between reactive and proactive is that the latter means taking action on things without anyone telling you. The opposite is only doing what you’re expected to do. And it’s a great habit to develop if you want to make a difference.

The reason is that making a difference requires you to do things that no one tells you to do. Stuff that isn’t obvious to everyone. 

And if you develop the habit of proactivity, you will be able to see and act on the opportunities you spot to make slight differences.

Here’s a little exercise: look for something to pick up extra that you wouldn’t do otherwise. That could be a task at work, doing chores at home, or helping a friend with something.

#12: Share your struggles

Vulnerability is one of the strengths that all great leaders have in common. 

Why is it so powerful? 

Everyone is struggling in life to a degree. And vulnerability makes you relatable to others. So if you can open up and share your struggles, it can inspire others to overcome theirs.

That requires humility and confidence.

It demands that you let go of your ego and the idea that you have to be perfect all the time. 

To develop this habit, you must become comfortable with the idea that some people may laugh at you. 

But it’s worth it because vulnerability leaves a much bigger impact than being the tough guy.

#13: Volunteer

Volunteering is a clearly selfless way to make a difference. So what’s a good place to start volunteering?

That depends on what’s most meaningful to you. The best volunteering opportunities are those that bring you the most satisfaction.

Here are some ideas to help out:

• Family members who need help.
• Serving meals to the homeless.
• Work some hours at animal care facilities.
• Help out at your local school or library.
• Volunteer at any non-profit in your area.

Even contributing a couple of hours each month can make a difference in the world.

#14: Raise money

Raising money is one of the most popular ways to make an impact. After all, money is often the fastest gateway to resolving problems worldwide.

But of course, not everyone has millions of dollars to donate to charities. So why not raise money instead?

There are various ways to do so:

• Go door-to-door for a fundraising campaign.
• Host a fundraising event and donate all profits.
• Open a fundraising account and share your story online.
• Create something in which all profits go to a charity.
• Sell items you no longer need and donate the money.
• Collaborate with local charities to help them out in any fundraising activities.

Is there any other way you can think of to raise money?

#15: Teach

Do you have any skills, knowledge, or wisdom you could share with the world? 

If the answer is yes, teaching is a great way to make a difference.

And there are many paths to choose from:

• Become a teacher at your local school.
• Teach a specific subject of expertise in a university.
• Support students with additional learning needs.
• Lead a (small) project.
• Create a course (for free) and share it with the world.
• Use social media platforms to teach about your experiences or any topic of expertise.

Whether you do it on the side, during your day job, or just teach a little through social media as your hobby, it can make a difference in someone else’s life. 

#16: Mentor

Another form of teaching is mentoring. 

The difference is that a mentorship focuses on a specific relationship – often between two people: the mentor and the mentee.

In this relationship, the mentor’s role is to guide the mentee. To challenge them to make better decisions and to inspire growth.

How can you mentor someone?

• Perhaps someone has already asked for your help.
• If you work for a big organization, you may be able to sign up for an existing mentorship program.
• Alternatively, your company (big or small) might be open for you to mentor new employees or interns.
• Students often need a mentor. So check your local school or university to see if they offer mentorship programs.

Mentoring can be satisfying for both the mentor and the mentee. And it certainly makes an impact.

#17: Start a business

We already talked about rallying behind someone’s mission. But perhaps, you would like to create a business around your mission.

There are many ways to make a difference in the world by building a company.

• Start a non-profit organization.
• Build a business around a big issue.
• Build any kind of business and implement a way to contribute to the world. For example, plant a tree for every dollar of profit you make.
• Or build a business that also engages in periodic charity events, like free local educational events.

These are just a few examples out of the infinite possibilities you have to make contributions part of your business model.

With a business, you have the flexibility to make a difference in the world in almost any shape, way, or form.

Closing thoughts

You learned that there are many ways to make a difference in the world. And regardless of your resources, you can already do so today. 

You don’t need a big audience or lots of money. 

Instead, you can already make a difference by either investing your time, effort, or money – even in small amounts.

Even if that only means smiling at strangers on the street.

And if you want to make even more positive changes in the world, these often start with yourself. One tip is to find your personal strengths and seek ways to leverage them. Here are the best free online strengths tests.

So make sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter. In it, I share tips on becoming your best version so that you can make the biggest possible impact.