To even think about it would be bold—bordering crazy. Did he really say what I thought he said? Surely, I must have misunderstood—maybe he is bit crazy?
I arrived at Hudson National with high expectations about playing one of the finest golf courses in the country. For a golfer few things can be grander than walking 18 magnificent holes of golf with a good friend and not having to carry your own bag.
After being introduced to my caddy, my attention turned to golf as we walked to the first tee. For the first two holes, we focused on playing golf. It all changed when I asked a simple question as we walked down the third fairway. “PJ, when you are not here caddying where do you spend your time,” I asked? “I worked at a bar,” he began. As you might imagine, my first thought was I have heard this caddy story before.
While I had seen a pattern with caddies in the past, I did not want to dismiss him too quickly. Goodness, we were going to be together for another three hours. So I poked back, “Is there more to the story?” Indeed there was.
Was he crazy?
PJ self-admittedly grew up comfortably, built successful businesses including a bar where he started reaching out to the homeless. Then he sold his bar and raffled off his Range Rover and Mercedes Benz to fund his outreach program. Crazy entered my mind again.
Did he really say what I thought he said? He gave it all away? Yes, that is exactly what he said and no one would have concluded he was not of sound mind and body. But he was certainly crazy—in a very curious way.
As we continued to walk and talk, it was evident that PJ was not someone of average heart, ambition or intellect. He truly had a heart for people. You’d have to have such a heart if you were to give away your money and possessions in order to understand the plight of the underserved, homeless and hungry.
PJ founded 10,000 PB&Js—a volunteer organization that seeks to spread kindness and compassion to the homeless and underserved in NYC.
What are the chances of meeting someone who self-admittedly grew up comfortably, built successful businesses and decides to give it all away in order to understand a haunting problem most dismiss as unsolvable?
This is a story about impact—investing your time, talent and resources in work that changes the course and trajectory of the lives of people who cross your path every day. Impact for PJ started by making eye contact with a man who watched hundreds, if not thousands, of people walk by trying hard not to notice he even existed.
Impact presents itself as a question
Can one man filling up his car with bread, peanut butter and jelly create meaningful impact? He surely can. PJ's worked served as a powerful reminder to me about the seed for impact that has been planted in our hearts.
PJ is clearly crazy—in a curious and interesting way. Watch this interview with PJ and you quickly see he is convicted—passionate about making an impact. He listened to his heart and saw the world as a place calling for him to make an impact.
It was an unlikely encounter in an unlikely place. I was again awakened to the fact that we don’t have to be taught as much as we need to be reminded. What do we do when a crazy reminder comes our way? Richard Stearns crazy story is recounted in his book The Hole in Our Gospel. Stearns was leading a comfortable life as the CEO of Lenox when he was presented with the crazy idea to move across the county and become the CEO of World Vision.
World Vision is creating impact on a global basis. 10,000 PB&Js is creating impact on a local basis. Don't dismiss crazy! It is surely a reminder that when we use our time, talent and resources to create positive impact lives are changed.
What crazy idea do you have for creating and sustaining impact?