The Olympic Games are always full of inspiring stories. Take U.S. Olympic surfer Carissa Moore. The 28 year old from Hawaii won 11 national titles as an amateur before going pro and winning the Women’s World Tour four times. She competed for the U.S. in surfing’s Olympic debut in Tokyo.
But she has a higher goal than a gold medal.
“The titles and the trophies and the results are amazing, but they’re fleeting,” Moore told NBC. “I think being able to pass on knowledge and just sharing your time is the best gift you can give somebody.”
In 2018, she started a nonprofit called Moore Aloha. The foundation uses surfing as a platform to inspire girls, with events that encourage healthy lifestyles, clean microplastics from beaches, and offer the expected surfing lessons.
“I do a couple camps and events with girls to share with them how to live fearlessly and with love,” Moore said.
Passing on what you know and being generous with your time is something all of us can do, even without the Olympic credentials. Many of us, myself included, can point to people who did that for us, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without that investment of time and insight.
Consider what skills or lessons you have to share and how you can be generous with your time. It might be as simple as answering questions over email or at a coffee shop, or it might be a more formal program with a nonprofit organization. Those mentoring relationships can change someone’s journey. That’s what I strive to do through my work, both in Salesforce and through FounderKids.
And how did Carissa Moore do in the Olympic debut of surfing? She took home one of those fleeting gold medals.