The Tale of 2 Sales Men

Was doing groceries with my family today after dinner with a couple. While we were about our things, I was approached by 2 'sales' person - one was rallying me to give to an established worldwide humanitarian organisation and the second one was rallying me to sign up for a credit card.

The first one was an middle-age man who explained to me the cause with conviction and passion. The credit card guy on the other hand, was a young chap who also relentlessly tried to pursue me (or my signature rather).

I told my wife - i bet the first guy is a volunteer and is probably not getting paid (maybe just meal allowance). He sacrifice his Friday night and probably time with his family. He probably has a day job and decided to live his life for a greater cause. And he's doing it even though he's not getting paid. And i'm pretty sure the second guy will not be selling card if he's not getting paid ... hey, let's volunteer ourselves to help banks sell credit card. Very unlikely i would say. (Disclaimer, i'm not in anyway dis-crediting credit card sales man, in fact, i dedicated a post to them a while ago).

I believe that's how you know you are living for something. That you are willing to do it:

• Even if it means sacrificing your time, energy and resources
• Even if it means you are taking your own initiatives without being told to/ or forced to
• Even if it means you live beyond the norm
• Even if it no one else is doing it and you're doing it alone
• Even if you are dead tired from the day job but the fruits of your labor and seeing the difference that you made to eleviate suffering in this world makes it worth it ... and you'll be doing it all over again.
• Even if you have to go through tremendous obstacles to do it
• Even if you are not paid to do it (in fact, in most cases you actually give financially to the cause)

I think that's how you know you are living for a cause.