Chad Silverstein, strategic advisor and lead writer at Authority Magazine, reached out to my co-writer to ask her some thought-provoking questions about “purpose,” so I naturally did a follow-up interview. While the values are the same as my initial behind-the-scenes interview with Lisa Ullven, the recent Authority Magazine interview vibe was quite different as it invites us to explore “a new mindset.”
A wise colleague, Aron Thompson, recently said to me, “If you want change, you have to help make the change.” Lisa invites us to realize and reveal the “good” within each of us. When I asked her if she could solve the problems in the community, she answered, “WE can create solutions in our community.” She invites us to flip our mindset!
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Angie Whitehurst: In the interview, you mention your then-five-year-old daughter asking if you could help fix problems in the community as you drove by a homeless man. How did that inspire your purposeful mission?
Lisa Ullven: As a parent, I was surprised at how even children’s animated movies with fun names like “Happy Feet” clearly illustrate the problems that we are currently passing on to our children. I say “currently” because my mission is to empower children and adults with small steps to achieve significant positive change.
AW: Even your “most interesting” story relates to people “uprooted” from their homes. Can you share how that experience with 1 million homeless women and children affected you?
LU: It is so easy to generalize people from afar, whether it is refugees, homeless people, or even movie stars who have lost their homes in a fire. As I get to know brilliant, kind, former college students forced out of their homes, I see how their energy is focused on escaping starvation, violence, and death. Imagine if they could redirect their incredible strengths to focus on adding “good” to our world.
AW: I was excited to see that Street Sense was featured at the top of the article – please tell me more?
LU: Being grateful to Street Sense, I mention how Washington D.C.’s Street Sense invited me to co-write Road Trip Stories to empower people to improve any part of their lives – personal, work, or community. In the 5 things video on purpose-driven business, I share how Street Sense’s far-reaching partners like the International Network of Street Papers position us to reach up to 35 countries in 25 languages.
AW: What prompted you to mention American University’s Humanities Truck and Oral History Project?
LU: In my interview and video, I suggest “Be open to a new path.” Who would have thought that stopping by to meet Dan Kerr and the American University Humanities Truck volunteers and graduate fellows would introduce us to ways to further magnify the “good” in our world via the Oral History Project?
AW: Speaking of adding “good,” can you share more on your ultimate vision of “organized kind?”
LU: If organized crime is possible, is organized kind possible? As leaders with a global influence reach out to us to learn ways to magnify their positive impact, we get closer to that ultimate vision. The Authority Magazine article was published on Medium, which has 100 million readers per month. Collectively and LSF invite me to speak on the global Project ECHO platform, reaching over 200 countries. Together, we are connecting to magnify the “kind” in communities.
AW: When you were interviewed by Authority Magazine, was there one question that stood out?
LU: Chad’s carefully designed questions were like a road map to discover the answer to the grand finale prompt on how we would add the most “good” for people. To ensure my reply was achievable versus a pipe dream, I shared how we could each take small steps for significant change. The “we” is key.
AW: What is next?
LU: Over the next two years, I plan to help people realize how enjoyable it is to be a part of positive change. Since I shared my plan to “co-design” a way to empower and mentor students and trainees, both business and community leaders are reaching out. They They are on board!
Stay tuned with us at linktr.ee/guidedresults.
