Saturday, June 20, 2026

The Difference You Make

Be the person you want to work with and help turn everyday work into something greater for all

By André van Heerden

I was recently talking with someone about previous work experiences and realized that my best, funniest, and most impactful memories focused not on what I was doing, but on whom I was doing it with. Whether it was cleaning washrooms in a public park, doing news research, or directing a movie, the moments that stood out all involved people.

Sometimes, unfortunately, the stories were about people who made work difficult. Other times, they were about people who helped make challenging situations better. Some were simply about how the daily work was handled or how people treated one another. But all of them brought back memories of my coworkers.

Actress Amy Poehler advises, “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” Author Emily Kimbrough adds, “Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand.”

As a soccer coach, I’ve seen how important it is to work well with others around you. The biggest impact on a team’s success isn’t always the strongest players, but often the weakest. At younger ages, strong players can dominate a game. But as players get older, success depends on exploiting another team’s weaknesses while covering your own.

I’m often pleasantly surprised when it’s not a star player but a role player who makes a key play. Those are the moments when I feel we’ve taken a step forward, both for that player and for the team. It’s even more meaningful when teammates recognize and celebrate that effort.

Basketball coach Phil Jackson said, “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” Mother Teresa similarly observed, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

While you may immediately think of someone who has made your work life better, can you say the same about yourself? Have you improved your workplace for those around you in small but meaningful ways? Are you motivated only by what you get from your job, or do you find satisfaction in how you help others?

In the film Cliffhanger, the antagonist says, “I never doubt the value of loyalty when it comes naturally. Not like the kind that has to be paid for.” Notably, his team is shown to be motivated only by self-interest.

Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll wrote that “one of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.”

CLAC’s Everyday Champions program encourages members to recognize those who improve their workplace. The more people are recognized for helping or inspiring others, the more we may all be encouraged to do the same and contribute in our own ways.

Famous Marvel comic book creator Stan Lee said, “When you work with people whom you like and admire because they’re so good at what they do, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s like you’re playing.”

The next time you’re working, think about how you’d like to be remembered by those around you and the difference you’re making each day.

The Difference You Make

You might be interested in