It is called the snowball effect.  The snowball effect is a situation in which something increases in size or importance at a faster and faster rate.  The more successful you become, the more publicity you get and the publicity generates interest and in some instances sales.

I am wondering how much it takes to influence a snowball effect?  The other week we held a morning tea at my work to raise awareness on kidney disease.  My very close friend at work organized it as a way of showing support for me personally.   But she also recognized that there is a very important message about kidney disease that we need to get out there as one in three Australians are now impacted by a kidney related illness.  Our morning tea was successful on the day for reaching our goals of raising money for kidney disease research and building awareness within our organization but it now seems there was an unexpected knock on effect.

A facilities management organization hold annual quiz night charity events and they invite their local contractors to participate.  The contractors pay for the tickets to attend the quiz and they also donate prizes for raffles, door prizes, quiz answers etc.  It is apparently quite a large annual event.   Through their interactions with South32 (my organization)  they have become aware of the morning tea that we held for kidney disease and have decided that they would like to choose Kidney Australia as their charity of choice for this year’s quiz.  They would also like me to be involved and share my story on the night.

I feel honored that they have thought of me and my story to promote the charitable gene in their organization.  I am obviously passionate about kidney research as I need a kidney and believe that our current life saving options can be improved with technology.

I know that this is only one small step in promoting kidney awareness but surely every conversation helps.  Every quiz night helps.  And at the risk of sounding selfish is this my balance?  Would this also help me?  Currently my purpose is work.  Work is giving me the motivation to get up and out of bed in the mornings.  Work is giving me the interactions that I crave and need to keep me focused on fighting this disease.  But work has now become my main focus and outlet.   So would sharing my story at charitable events be my balance?  Would this give me more than just one dimension in my life?

I hope this is the start of a snowball….