Go MAD Giveaway

Andy Gilbert, Group Managing Director of Go MAD Thinking, entered the Poker Face TV quiz show to demonstrate the power of the Go MAD Thinking System. From over 10,000 people he successfully made the final three. Now he has decided to make a difference and give away his £65,000 prize winnings to help 1,000 people with £65 each.

However, you cannot ask for money to help yourself or support other charity fundraising, religious or political activities. This blog is about challenging you to use your thinking skills to make a positive difference, preferably sustainable, and help others to "Pay It Forward". What difference could you make? Please post your requests and comments.

Sunday 6 July 2008

Choosing to be happy on the inside

Having just returned from a holiday in the Med. to mixed weather in the UK, I attended an open air concert last night - in the rain. Despite the weather on the outside, all was sunny on the inside as the company of good friends and the great music more than compensated.

It did get me thinking, as I looked around the crowd, that many of the audience had chosen to be miserable because of something external they couldn't control, ie the weather, rather than choosing to react in a helpful way and have a great time.

We can all make a difference to ourselves or others. We can choose to say, "It's only £65 - I can't do much with that." Or we choose to think, "What difference can I make with £65 to help someone else?

Keep sending your requests.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Andy,

We agree that the weather is out of our control, so it is so important to be in control and only think about the controlables. After all controling the controlables is really the only thing that one can control. Once things are outside your control then that is no longer a controlable, therefore we must call it an uncontrolable because we are no longer in control. Maybe people could benefit from £65 pounds to help them stay in control of their own unique controlables. Or they could always buy an umbrella.

Love Gene

Anonymous said...

Hi Gene,

Reading your response I smiled - which was obviously outside of your control, but within your influence. Thanks.

Andy G.

Anonymous said...

Hi Andy,

I heard about your crazy (amazing, but crazy!) project from a friend and was just ever so slightly blown away by the beauty of your premise. And I'm really hoping that you might be able to help me...

I'm a Speech and Language Therapist, working with adults who have communication difficulties following neurological injury or disease. I came to the profession late - after a pretty unrewarding career in media, I went back to Uni and qualified last October - and it's the best gamble I could have taken. I have a great job and I work with such interesting people, but it consistently frustrates me how little is known and understood about the type of disorders and difficulties we see.

And now to my request. The research project I completed as a student has been accepted for presentation at the World Stroke Congress in Vienna in September. It's a big medical conference, where therapy and rehabilitation aren't always given as much attention as they should be, so it's a great chance to raise the profile of Speech and Language Therapy and the clients we work with. Unfortunately it's a pretty big financial burden too - conference fee, travel, accomodation etc. My employers and my Uni department are trying to find funding to support me but it won't add up to the total cost, so I'm applying as far and wide as I can to add to the pot. I don't know if you've already reached your target, but if not then I'd be so grateful if you could consider my request.

Thanks so much, and hope you're enjoying the summer!

Jane Dunton

Anonymous said...

Hi Jane,

Congratulations on your research project.

I am sorry to disappoint you, but you cannot ask for my money for yourself - it has to be to make a difference for someone else. Plus, it is not intended to be a "top up" fund to support other fundraising efforts.

When you have found the money to help yourself, please come back to me with another idea to help others make a difference.

Andy G

Anonymous said...

Hi Andy,
I would like to request the 65.00 for a sheet of glass. This will be used to cover a Wooden, 1st World War Momerial situated in the streets of Ross-on-Wye to remind the community of the bravery and dedication of those who fell. The glass will cover the surface and help to preserve this keepsake for generations to come.
Thanks for inspiring us all.
J.W.

Anonymous said...

Hi J.W.
This is an interesting request and I deliberated how to respond. Whilst I agree with the preservation of historical monuments, I am unsure if this meets my criteria of my £65 making a difference to help others. I guess loosely it does. However, shouldn't the council be responsible for things like this?

So,after reflection, I am declining your request on the basis that the money should more directly be used for making a difference to help people - rather than for repairs/restoration of objects.

Keep thinking.

Andy G.