How MYOB Partners changed lives forever at MYOBPC

It’s not often you get the opportunity to change the lives of an entire town, but at Partner Connect we managed to do just that.

I was privileged to be involved with MYOB Partner Connect as the MC and Keynote speaker in September.

Starting in Auckland on 7 September and finishing on the Gold Coast six events later, I could not have been more thankful for the opportunity to touch lives and inspire positive change.

My involvement also gave me the opportunity to share the background story of opening my own orphanage in the earthquake-ravaged remote island of Haiti in the Caribbean.

Over 316,000 people died after the 2010 earthquake and more recently Hurricane Mathew has destroyed cities and left a devastating outbreak of cholera that is now in epidemic proportions.

The innocent children of Haiti who have been left with nothing, no family, no home, continually amaze me and melt my heart with their beautiful smiles, positive natures and ability to find happiness while surrounded by heartbreaking devastation.

This Christmas, thanks to a select group of individuals who are passionate about giving and making a difference, the beautiful children in my orphanage and those in the wider community will have hope in their hearts.

Together we raised more than $60,000, which will go towards transforming an entire town.

The initial goal was to simply replace the roof at the orphanage, but the outstanding generosity of those at MYOB Partner Connect Gold Coast (and others who also kindly contributed) means that we’ll be able to do so much more.

Not only is the roof being replaced, we will be purchasing new security gates, installing fly screens on the windows and purchasing a much-needed washing machine.

We’ve also purchased a large block of land and begin the building of a brand-new training and education centre for the wider community.

This will be a place for kids to study and adults to learn.  It will also have a rooftop garden along with a plan for several micro businesses.

This will be a first of its kind in Haiti and will be a benchmark for others to strive for. It will be a place where dreams will be created, education will be provided and hope will be instilled.

The team and I are forever grateful for your love, support and generosity!

Giving back like this is not only a great thing to do but also give you the power of perspective.

Looking at the world differently

Perspective is such a powerful tool when acknowledged, understood and implemented in our daily life.

The terror and fear that sadly can so easily embrace our world can also, if we lose perspective, embrace our lives.

To better understand our place in the world we must look at the world’s problems with a First World perspective.

Only then will we gain a real understanding of how lucky we are to live in this amazing country.

Only then will we understand that the problems we experience from living in a wealthy, industrialised nation would probably see those living in the Third World rolling their eyes.

Our First World issues can so easily take control of our emotions and, because we no longer allow our head to be where our body is at, we compromise the level of enjoyment that life can bring us.

Perspective is such a powerful thing and when we begin to appreciate the true blessings in our life, our mindset will shift and we will begin to once again appreciate the little things.

We all have our story and we all experience pain, suffering and problems in our life.

It’s only when we compare our problems with those of the world at large that we gain true perspective.

It’s not the adversity in our life, but rather how we deal with it, that determines the quality of the life that we live.

Be the change you want to see in the world and remember the importance of perspective cannot be overstated or underestimated!!

‘Do something today that your future self will be proud of’

Merry Christmas!