This kid pulled out his portfolio and began a well rehearsed spill about mortality, sickness, education, and community impact as it relates to clean water. He even had pictures of sick kids and dirty water to go along with it. As he was speaking I was thinking to myself, "You're preaching to the choir, dude." He then showed me the digital model of the portable water filtration tank that he had created.
It was genus really. By using inexpensive materials he created a bladder and coal filtration system that were both housed inside a plastic case. The whole unit was on wheels and individuals could take it with them to gather water. One trip to the watering hole using this puppy would equal five trips to the watering hole using only buckets. I enjoyed looking at his portfolio, asked him some questions, and was basically checked out of the conversation.
Here he was commenting on how his classmates were designing products like remote controls that control everything, and chairs that feed you while you sleep and that's when I heard him say something incredibly profound. He said, "Making this water system was my way of respectfully flipping off my classmates and telling them that they've been given a talent to design and they need to use it to make a difference."
So I started thinking about whether or not I am respectfully flipping anybody off. Are you?
What do you do that challenges people?
Use your skills to flip people off... or encourage them to use their skills to make a difference too. Either way, it's our world. Let's change it.
