(Photo: Sanctuary Photography)
34. I’m turning a glorious 34 this year, right about now.
It’s going to be a great natal year–-I can already feel it. Perhaps it will be good luck for you, too: in this post, I’m giving away a round-trip ticket anywhere in the world.
But back to that strange birthday gift…
Much to the chagrin of my momma-san, I’ve become quite difficult to buy presents for. Some friends even think I’m impossible to find presents for.
It’s not entirely true. I love handwritten letters, home-made brownies (like Fred Wilson), girlfriends dressed in next to nothing, and–-most of all-–when people do something nice for others.
In lieu of gifts this year, my birthday wish is to help the poorest kids in the world learn to read. I believe literacy, and the self-determinism it allows, is fundamental to solving the problems of this world. Want an alternative to extremist terrorist schools, to have fewer welfare states, or to prosper with better economies? Teach people to read and help themselves…
On a personal level: can you imagine never having read a book? Never being able to satisfy your intellectual curiosity? That’s unacceptable.
Since I am turning 34 this year, if you feel so inclined, please help me build a library for children through Room to Read by donating $34 (or whatever you can) to my donation page (give it a minute to load). Readers on this blog have already changed the world in real, significant ways, like this school in Vietnam that you all built!
A stand-alone library costs just $20,000 and can provide the educational foundation for multiple generations of kids. Here are two additional kickers:
– If you all help raise $20,000, I will personally foot the bill for another $20,000 library.
– I will put the names of the top 20 donors (and one person below) on dedication plaques placed on each library, 10 people per library. These are real libraries that will be finished in 2013, which you can see with your own eyes. It’s an incredible feeling you’ll never forget.
If we don’t reach $20,000, the funds will still go to Room to Read directly for building schools. If we raise more than $20,000, all extra funds will go to building more schools.
Beyond the good karma, I’ll add another incentive to act now: a free round-trip ticket anywhere in the world that Star Alliance flies, which is just about everywhere. There is no expiration date on the trip, so no rush on deciding where or when to go. Here’s how it works:
No later than 11:59pm PST this Sunday, July 31st:
– Spread the word however you can. Send people to this post or to my library page.
– Leave a comment below telling me what you did (Facebook, Twitter, e-mail blast, add to your e-mail signature, encourage employees/friends to do the same, etc.). Measurement of any type gets huge bonus points.
– Lastly, answer the following question at the top of your comment: “What does education mean to you?”
I’ll pick the top five promoters, and you’ll all vote on the winner of the round-trip. Easy peazy. This winner will also get his or her name on one of the school plaques as a top donor. Pretty sweet, right? Perhaps that’s where you’ll globetrot with your free round-trip ticket?
But the best reason of all…
Beyond the bribes, you’ll feel awesome about yourself for doing real good for little ‘uns who have so little, perhaps no future without education. Trust me.
Superman is not coming to help these kids, nor is the government–will you pause for a moment and step up for even two minutes? It would mean the world to me. I’ll share pictures and updates from first construction to opening day.
Again, here is where to go to donate $34, $1, $1,000, or whatever you can.
Thank you for reading this post. You are all rock stars, and I continue to write on this blog purely because of you.
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
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Hey Tim,
Happy birthday.
To be honest, about 2 years ago, education meant nothing to me. I always looked at school as preparation for the next level and never thought of it as a wonderful way to acquire knowledge (the knowledge I am so keen on acquiring these days). I was 16-17 at the time and looking back now it seems as though I had wasted a lot of time. It was not until I read 3 books(The Selfish Gene, The 4-Hour Workweek and The Agony and the Ecstasy) that I started to develop ideas of my own and was pushed to think outside the box. Since then, all I have truly wanted is to learn. Whether it be how to open a bottle of wine, learning another language, discovering other cultures through travel or discovering how the human body functions, Education has lead me to find a job that I love (personal trainer) and probably the best part time job for any student. When I think of my future, education is an enormous part of what I imagine. Not only do I want to complete this huge book list that a started last year but I would also love to be in school for a long time because its not the job that I will get from all this schooling that will make me happy, it is the actually learning itself that has brought me so much pleasure recently and will continue to do so. I think of education as a way to make myself feel complete (this might sound cheesy but bear with me). No job and no sum of money could bring me the happiness that education and learning bring me. If your libraries could make even one child feel the way I do, then I think that is an amazing accomplishment. Thanks for giving us all the opportunity to learn more through this amazing offer.
I put this link as my facebook status and sent out a small email with the link to my family members, some co-workers and all my friends. I also told my dad about it and he attached a little tidbit about what your doing to his monthly letter that he sends to clients(he’s a lawyer).
Thank you
Happy birthday, Tim – you’re an inspiration!
Education means having the awareness to make choices. I’m promoting this wonderful cause on my Facebook page and by email. Thank you for the opportunity to practice generosity.
Jean
I believe that without education people become closed-minded and are left to believe that life will always be what life has always been. That’s not acceptable. The ability to read is something that we take for granted in the USA… a luxury that many in the world simply do not have access to. Reading opens a world of philosophies and possibilities to individuals and communities that otherwise are trapped in a world of simply repeating what they’ve always known.
I’ve posted the link to the Reading Room on Facebook and Twitter as well as let friends and colleagues know about the idea. I’d love to go there!
Donating now…
I can’t imagine life without a book close to hand, whether it be paper or electronic. So I donated a dollar for every year I’ve loved to read.
I’ve shaped my life around books, selling over a dozen to various publishers. I now am lucky enough to work as a freelance editor.
Quite simply put: Education is freedom, in more ways than I count. Though our bodies might be trammelled, our minds can soar, and an educated imagination can fly higher and travel farther.
Education teaches possibilities, and possibilities fuel desire, which is the impetus for action. Desire sparks invention, creates progress, seeds growth on every level.
To succeed: read.
I also spread the word through the various social media. Nothing special but I do believe in the cause. I also taught English (including reading) in China and have taught various workshops on writing, so I’ve definitely walked the talk 🙂
Done, done and doing 🙂
Amazing project Tim, thank you for lifting it to my attention.
“The person who can read but do not, holds no advantage over the person who can’t read.” and “From the neck down, we are all worth minimum vage, it’s what we do with our mind that pulls us higher.”
Realizing that made me start reading again wich in turn changed my life… funny part is I would never had known those quotes if someone hadn’t read them and told me, with this project we get to pay it forward. Thank you 🙂
(Posted on FB, the message now reaches 967 more)
Last but not least, thank you for writing your books to challenge the thinking of everything we learned in school… I am officially unemployable because of 4hww… and soon to be superhuman duw to 4hb 🙂
Best regards
Tim
Tim
Good morning! I posted a comment early this AM describing all I did to promote this but it looks like it wasn’t posted because I put links in the post to show you the video I made etc. Can you check it out and approve it? It says “Awaiting Moderation.” thanks!!
Hey Tim,
Happy 34th birthday Tim and thanks for your insight
which has been life changing
What Does Education Mean To Me?
Education to me is self growth to help me expand as
a person and which lets me help others expand.
What have I done:
1. I emailed directly 16,605 people to donate (many double opt in)
2. Facebook Wall (only 755 friends)
3. Donated
I want to reach $20,000 ($20,000 = 40,000, while $19, 900 = $19,900)
Cheers,
Mukul
This is awesome, Tim. And it’s great that all donations are accepted (even small ones, like mine 😉 ).
Education to me means being able to make your own choices and learn about almost anything you’re interested in. Want to learn to cook? Get a cookbook and read it (Jamie Oliver did this for me). Want to learn another language? Read about that too. I think this is a great cause.
I just posted to my Facebook page (~140 folks).
Looking forward to seeing you at 21st Century Education in Melbourne in October – I imagine you’d know people here here already, but if you need an extra tour guide, give me a shout.
Cheers and happy 34th.
Tristan.
Happy B-day Tim!
For me Education is more emotional then with most people due to my personal experiences, education is freedom. Freedom to learn. Freedom to explore the posibillities this world has to offer.
It`s not a right that should be given, It`s a right that shall never be taken from any individual!
I posted the following on facebook and google+ with a bit.ly link for tracking. My pitch is in the bottom of this post for anyone who think it`s a good one and want to re-use it.
I`m also posting on twitter, sending emails to my personal contacts and telling my friends I`ll meet today.
“Imagine a world in which every child learns to read.
Envision a world where every child has access to books.
Picture a world where all children realize their full potential.
Can we raise 20.000$ for giving Children the freedom to read before tomorrow? Just bounced 1400$ up in less than 5 minutes to the whopping amount of 11.278$
Give 1 dollar or 40 and share this with your Circles to make an impact.
This would mean the world to these children, be a superhero Today!
“
Awesome idea for your birthday Tim! To me, education is, as Aristotle said, the art of living well. Education opens doors. Education gives hope. Education is the level playing field for humanity. Society’s upper class has no more native capacity for learning than the poorest child. Education ignores status and initiates social reform. Education sparks ideas. Education ignites the soul. Once gained, education cannot be taken away. Education is humanity.
I love the idea you’ve put together to share, on your birthday, the gift of education to children around the world. I’ve added a link to your project and the room to read website on my facebook profile. I +1roomtoread on google + and shared it with my circles. I’m attending a big shindig this evening with some family and friends and I’ll be spreading the word there as well!
Thanks for all your work on this blog! Happy Birthday!!!
Justin
“Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.”
-Aristotle
TF= force multiplier for good 🙂
Happy B-day and great stuff Tim, just donated
-tom
To me an education means to truly help expand the imagination by example, and in turn help the recipient see all the possibilities of their own expansion and that they too can live a life without limitations.
This is a really fantastic opportunity you are helping to share – especially making it a part of your birthday wishes. That’s what makes you such a cutie pie 🙂
Hope you had a fantastic birthday Tim!
xo
Nancy
Hello Tim,
Happy Birthday. Sorry this is not hand written, but it *is *hand typed. No
mechanical interface here.
I used to think you were the smartest person in the entire world, if not the
universe. Not any more. Perhaps 34 years has made you senile.
What am a babbling on about you ask, as well you might.
You said, “I’ll pick the top five promoters. . . .” Don’t you know that
this will kill the incentive of at least 99% of readers to even participate
and thereby kill any chances of your building that library, at least with
co-op funds?
I would have promoted to my Facebook and Twitter lists, but I have only a
small number of friends/followers, so what’s the use?
Oh well!
Happy birthday Tim! You’re as old as me, and you did a whole to make a difference while I’ve done nothing :(.
I donated -not only for the trip- but, because I do consider necessary to help those in need.
The other day I found -almost by mistake- this Hoping Foundation http://www.hopingfoundation.org/ that I also like a lot.
Thank you for keeping the hard work!
Tim – happy birthday! And as always, awesome idea.
I just returned from a trip to Honduras and was struck by the lack of opportunity for girls/women if they don’t have an education. Access to a good school is critical and literacy is life-changing.
Spreading the word on FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, & my blog. After donating just now, I see you’re over halfway there – I’ll get a few more to chip in & help push it towards all the way!
Thank you for all your work and keep it up – you are an inspiration and I consider you a personal hero.
Best,
Jeff
Education is everything and everywhere – education means choices and taking control of your life. I am a teacher, so what can I say… I also worked to promote girls and women’s education in far away places such as Fiji or Timor-Leste and yes – education can change people’s life.
Tim – you won’t be dissapointed, this is the best present you can do to yourself for your birthday. I organized a big party with cotton candy and magicians in the refugee centre I was managing in Thailand for my 30’s birthday and the hugs and letters I got from the kids are the only present I can remember from all past birthdays!!!
I have been blessed so much for work that I won’t enter the contest.
Joyeux anniversaire!!
Reading means dreaming: dreaming of a new tool, dreaming of a better world, dreaming of our future profession, dreaming of something fantastic. It also means learning, I learned English through reading ( I started with archie, Betty and Veronica, hihi! ). Reading means knowledge of other cultures.
I adore this project Tim, because I think books are specially important for children. Kids are tomorrow’s leaders and they need to enjoy being kids and be able to dream and learn while holding a book in their hands.
I do not have followers on twitter nor am I rich. I’m staying home with a sick baby. But what I’ll do (because I believe every gesture counts, even the smallest ones) is I’ll commit to read one extra book to my kids this week end, give 10 of our books to the St-Vincent-Paul organisation, make a donation on your donation page and put it on m’y Facebook.
Happy birthday Tim, the winner of tour birthday gift will be very happy you turned 34!
What Education Means To Me (An Original Haiku by Dave)
========================
A thirsty mind drinks
Then builds a well for others
And the world prospers
How I Promoted (w/ Measurement)
=============
* CREATIVE call-to-action post on my facebook page with 99,552 fans. See the post here to check real-time Likes and Comments: http://www.facebook.com/BruisedNotBrokenRescue
Parabéns a você, Tim 🙂
-Dave
Education=Freedom
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Tim!
Education is empowerment. The power to lose 16 pounds of fat in a month thanks to the education I got from 4HB . Happy b-day Tim, one of the best presents I given to someone in a long time.
Happy birthday Tim. What a wonderful use of your marvelous talents. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in something so significant.
Riley
Hi Tim, just donated $34 and helped spread the word by posting to Twitter and Facebook.
Education to me means empowerment. I think poverty would be drastically decreased if more people were able to read and write. Without this foundation we’re really setting up the worlds children to struggle throughout the rest of their lives. Being able to read and write are easily the most essential skills one needs for success because they’ll open doors to anything imaginable.
Learning how to read and write shouldn’t be a luxury and it should be available to everybody around the world no matter your background. If I do happened to be picked for the free ticket I would like the money instead donated to Room to Read.
Happy Birthday!
Hi Tim,
For your birthday I wanted to help you raise the money. It would also be fun to see you kick in that 20K. You have been an inspiration to many. I sent an update to the 5400 people on http://www.Facebook.com/PhotographyContest they are some of the most generous and great people I have ever met. I am sure some of them will help you reach your goal. I also sent an update out to my 1500 twitter followers who are also amazing people. My hope is that the almost 7000 people that see the message will help you reach your goal.
As a Teacher in the US Public Education System I can tell you that learning to read is the one most important thing a student can learn. It is life changing for that person. It is hard to say that as an art teacher because I want to say its painting and drawing 🙂
Education to me is acquiring the skills you need to meet your needs. Those needs are different for different people. There are needs that must be met to survive like food, water, and shelter. However education can go further and provide you with experiences that you want in your life like learning to paint, or traveling to China. Learning to read is fundamental to learning almost everything else. That is what pushed me to make my donation.
Your birthday wish will change the lives of the children you reach. Good luck on your goal. Have a great birthday.
GREAT idea and one I (and i’m sure others) will “steal” for my own blog — so you are paying it forward even beyond this effort!!! Well done.
Education, and especially reading, has allowed me to experience other realities than my own and live more than one lifetime. As a child, I used books to escape bullying summer campers and unsupportive relatives. For the kids you are helping, the ability to see beyond their current circumstance, imagine, cream and create a new reality has got to be the biggest and most lasting gift possible.
I’ll be promoting this on FB and Twitter, and emailing all my friends and LinkedIn Groups (I’m in 50 and own two)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Education is the mirror in self realization. Without it we may never know who we really are.
Thank you Tim, for all you do and happy birthday!
I will spread the word.
Tim,
Good for you. Last year for my birthday, I went to Haiti and volunteered in three different orphanages. It is one of the most rewarding things you can do.
What I learned was, it does not take much (money, time, energy) to make a HUGE difference in these communities.
I love seeing people, like you, with a large platform, creating such great will in the world.
Happy Birthday!
To Your Vision~
Bonnie Bruderer
Education means security to me. The security to stand up for yourself and prove any point that you believe in. Education gives you the ammunition to stand strong with confidence and is the key to making proactive choices in our lives.
Tim, I love your birthday wish and I was sure to share it via Facebook (1700+ friends and colleagues who are quality folks!).
Wonderful birthday idea! I’ve shared this far and wide in hopes for several new libraries.
Coming from humble beginnings, the library meant summer days of adventure and entertainment. Later I realized it was exposure to the latest sci-fi as well as the classics. It led me to question things, explore, imagine possibilities outside of my backyard.
I hear our local libraries are also in jeopardy these days, so I’d like to acknoledge the need for local library support as well as this worthy cause.
Happy birthday Tim! Keep the exposure to new ideas and healthy bits coming!
Wonderful idea!
I donated “your age” and liked on FB, Tweeted, and will forward to friends.
Happy 34th B.Day! Great age to be …
Happy Birthday Young Boy… Ahhh 34 I remember well…??? Well… Actually no, don’t remember, but I think… Yes, of course it was a good year! (Is there a yummy nut to help with my memory loss?:)
I’m proud to support your cause blabla bloged about it on my blog/website, tweeted, emailed and FB’ed it to all my peeps.
Education, as a young woman in my early forties, represents FREEDOM. It is my foundation, what I have to fall back on, as I have found myself at a crossroad, standing alone, with a future that I don’t recognize. My education allows me to look to the future positively – full of possibilities. I have hope and courage, I know I am strong and I know that I will be ok. It gives me the power to stand up and BE the woman I am and the woman I want to BE. It is my wish for all girls who will BE women to have this and as a MAhaMAdou, a.k.a. MOM of two sweet boys it is my wish that they see me climb, be proud of me, see all women as an equal, beautiful source of light in their lives, and of course to know that all woman have gas – come on! Hehehe. Seriously… For me education offers freedom and endless opportunities as we walk in life alone and together and through it’s constant wondrous change. With education there is hope and there is light.
Diggin your book, your cause, F! Diggin you Tim – Good Luck!
Xo, tasha
Hi!
As a student at a competitive school, I am faced with the challenge of deciding whether to get an A or to learn- two different things. There is a difference between educating oneself and being a good student. By learning, one gains more confidence and reason in their actions. So, to me, education is a continuing process that lets people impact the world in their own way.
I read the post, and realized that I have had a great education. Why not use it? So, instead of just giving money to Room to Read, I am giving my my time and work to the same cause: I got five other friends together and started a new charity. We are submitting the articles of incorporation next week.
The charity is going to provide books to impoverished schools in the Guizhou province (China). The schools there receive the fewest yuan-per-pupil in all of China. We have friends from the top high school in Beijing who are helping us with it.
I’ve read the blog from afar, but never really taken an express interest. Thank you, now, for the inspiration and reason to put my education to good use.
Happy birthday!
Hi Tim,
This is an updated comment based on the rules. 🙂
Great idea – education is power! The ability to be educated, on any subject of interest, is reliant on literacy.
Plus – I get to honor my mother who recently passed away. She was a book lover; it is her fault I have a basement full of books.
I posted your program on my blog for teachers. I don’t have any sort of measurement data but I hope I reach a few educators for you.
Happy Birthday!
Jilly
Education is so important to me, and not only do I desire my own kids to receive great educations, but I also have a desire to help spread education and the ability to read and learn throughout the world. I believe that with a good education and by being empowered to learn on your own through reading and gaining a love of learning, doors will be open to you for the rest of your life. I don’t just mean doors to get a job but doors that will help you to enjoy life even more as you love learning and as you grow in knowledge. By growing in knowledge you can understand the world around you more. By getting a great education, you are able to allow you were creative ability and knowledge affect the world around you. By giving children and opportunity to learn to read and have a great education. We are preparing the next generation to influence the world in ways that we cannot imagine. I think that this program through room to read is an excellent opportunity to help open children’s eyes to the world around them and to influence the next generation throughout the world.
To Promote This Great Cause I Have Done the Following
1. Using HootSuite I pushed the message out to my social networks
2. I searched related Hashtags and trending topics and posted relevant messages as well ask asked influencers through DM or @replies to also share the message
3. I used OnlyWire to push the message to 40+ social sites
4. I published the message on Google+
5. I wrote a post on my blog, which has a large following.
6. I created a short promo video and uploaded it to YouTube. It’s called What if Every Child Could Read if you want to search for it
I used 1 URL so I can track it accurately and would be happy to share it with you
My username for all social accounts is bhensinger so you can search and see what I’ve done.
Education is being able to imagine so much more than what is directly in front of you.
Literacy is my #1 cause as well, the first thing I plan to contribute to significantly as soon as I have any amount of disposable income (i.e. my muse comes through for me). If my mother hadn’t taught me to read by the time I was 2, my life would have been so different, and I’m sure, so much worse. I can’t even put into words how unbelievably happy I am that you are doing something so huge for something so close to my heart.
As for advertising – I have made a donation request post on my blog – http://tweestappen.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/win-win/.
It gets on average 80-100 clicks per new post & gets publicized on my Facebook account. I have also put it on Google+ which is another probably 20 clicks.
It’s not as many people as some of the above commenters will reach, but it includes my very good friends who know the importance of this cause to me, as well as my friends in publishing, for whom it is equally important. So I hope it will be effective. I will track clickthroughs to your page and to the donation page and report back.
I apologize for the essay, but this topic grabbed my attention like a squirrel sighted by a dog ^0_0^.
To me, education(omg watch out cliche moment) is the untimate planting of a seed. Education also creates a balance in society, it can sometimes be a healthy form of rebellion, and it is an incredible tool for humans.
Education allows a balance to exist in our world because it establishes a level playing field for discussions, arguements, and power. If there are few educated people and many uneducated people, often we have seen humans act in disturbing ways. I believe education allows those extremes to potentially be eliminitated; reminding people that they are smart enough to say “no” to those in power and to also present a reasonable arguement.
This leads to me state that education is also a form of rebellion, a good rebellion. As we saw in the Egyptian protests, Mark Zuckerberg and Al Gore opened the magic doors for Egyptians to rebel, educate themselves, and realize that they held the power to do great things. Now I do sound like I am beginning to blur the word ‘education’ with ‘networking’ but that is the point. When we network, we educate each other, and with that, ideas are shared and innovated exponentially; All of which eventually lead to a more enjoyable and healthy state of living.
Best of all, education is a powerful tool. It allows us to stand on the shoulders of our ancestors and carry on where they left off. What we know today, would have made us geniuses 100 years ago. Unfortunately, right now we are considered geniuses to the third world; when in fact we are only blessed with being born in the right place, at the right time. So let us go out and educate those who are not at our level yet!
I applaud you Tim Ferriss and I would be honored to volunteer with, or volunteer at the school you are funding the construction of.
(Fundraiser Promotion Section)
I’ve started so far with my closest friends on Facebook. Rather than email blasting all I know, I’m going to try to personally sell the donations and see if I can multi-level market this within 24 hours. I’m a poor 22 yr old college student who only knows other poor college students, but I’ll give it my all!
Final Note:
If anyone disagrees with my essay, please share, I enjoy dialogue and don’t mean to sound like I think I know it all, just pure thoughts.
Education is the seed of blessing. It bears the fruit of wisdom, connection to humanity and history, and profound joy through spreading ideas and empowering people to fulfill their hearts.
I’m gunna tweet the hell out of this. Who knows just how much we can do. I’m gonna badger my family too 😉
Ed
This one was too easy for you, Tim. $ 15,000 in one two days ?
I bet you can rise $ 100,000 in a month.
This is a great cause. I am creating a Facebook group to spread the word and invite my friends and family to donate.
Education means opportunity for growth. However, learning should be viewed as a process rather than an achievement. Getting an education has helped me in many ways but I still have much to learn.
If anyone can give jobseeking advice to a recent University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate with a Communications (Radio, TV, Film) degree, I would greatly appreciate it! I am working two jobs to save up money so that one day I can go to California.
Hey Tim,
Awesome idea which not only inspired me, but also my friends who have never even heard of you to give a donation.
Hope you reach the 20,000 mark
Happy Birthday!
-K
P.S. Your question can easily be answered in one word, “Everything”
This is awesome idea Tim! Education is power! Education means opportunity for everyone. This idea really inspired me. This is a great cause. Well done!
Great idea Tim! Reading to me means freedom. Feedom to do whatever you want to do in life. If you can read, learn and figure things out for yourself then you don’t need to depend on anyone else. I hated reading as a kid and now I love it and have learned so much. Reading gives you the power and confidence to take on new challenges. I struggle getting my 9 year old son to read on his own but know it is the most important skill that he or any child can learn. Reading provides endless opportunities in life. I could go on and on but those are my main points. Keep up the great work. Making a donation as soon as I finish this note. I don’t have many avenues for spreading the word online but will do what I can. At the very least I can post on a family/friend blog, tweet and send out an email to friends and family. Great idea as usual. I have read and continue to benefit from reading 4HB…thanks for that. Lost about 20 pounds and feel great!
Best of luck with the schools.
Finding fun things for kids to read is creating an opportunity.
Comics, great stories and articles with pictures of interest in the bathroom got my daughter reading again. Good luck.
Education – the means by which skills and knowledge are imparted to those willing to learn them, so that they might have tools to build for themselves a brighter future and accomplish a more fulfilling life
Education is a not a privilege to be bought by those who receive it’s fruits. Helping to grant an education to those who can reap the fruits that grow from possessing an education, this is a right which is also a privilege.
————————————————-
Total Contribution Amount: $34.00
Such altruism.
Spread it on facebook.
– If you all help raise $20,000, I will personally foot the bill for another $20,000 library.
Strange and unexpected. Social cause with conditions. If you guys do and achieve then Tim will do else not.
Tim you were not like this. You are known as an INDEPENDENT initiator and now I see conditions in your own doings.
I love this quote,” I believe literacy, and the self-determinism it allows, is fundamental to solving the problems of this world.”
Every time I buy a book, and it must be in the thousands by now, I’m in awe that much of the knowledge of the world’s most brilliant minds are available for around $20. And even better in libraries for those not yet ready to buy them.
Great project that you can be proud of and will certainly will be fulfilling.
Tim,
Awesome request, Happy B-Day my man!
Will be donating to “Room to Read”
Your books “Rock”, thanks for being the guinea pig…LOL
a fan from the OC
Frank J
Education is the freedom to soar, even if it’s only within your own mind.
I donated and shared on facebook. Happy Birthday and thanks for giving these kids a chance.
Hey Tim! Wonderful idea – and one that really resonates – I’m a librarian! 😀
And in a truly 4HWW way I went to Malaysia on a 3 month expedition with Raleigh International in 2004 and actually BUILT a library serving an area of 100 square miles in Borneo as part of my work.
I’d love to share the adventure with anybody else interested in doing charity work abroad.
YOU CAN DO IT!
Off to donate… xox
Tim: tried to use your donation page and it crashes Firefox 3.6.19 on Mac OS X Lion. In Safari it pops up a scary window asking for permission for something called “Spice Rack” to send commands to my system. WTF?!?
What does education mean to me?
Education = Opportunity… There are very few things in this world that we can not learn or accomplish that can’t be found in a book. I’m sure most people would agree that life teaches us through our failures and successes, but books and education form the blueprints for us to follow.
Happy Birthday Tim!!!
I recently had a birthday on 7/27 and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to get since my wife kind of gave me the green light to get whatever I felt I wanted. I was stumped until I saw your post on Facebook and decided I would like my name on one of those libraries for my birthday. Hopefully, my donation to your cause will be sufficient for that to be achieved. If not, the satisfaction of knowing that I most likely helped shape a better future for several family trees is more than enough to show my gratitude to the universe for all that I have been given, or am able to receive.
Regarding promoting your idea, I’ve told several people about it, both through email and through word of mouth. I not only told them that I gave a gift instead of received one for my birthday, but I encouraged them to give or at least send the request on to someone they feel would share their generosity.
Also, thanks for sharing your ideas on paper with the rest of the world. I can only speak for myself, but your books have helped me create several new paradigms to live by.
Sincerely,
Ryan
“You can have everything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want” Zig Ziglar
Education = Freedom.
Awesome idea Tim! Well done
(This is a re-entry to clarify other things I’ve done.)
What does education mean to you?
Education, to me, is the opportunity for life to change for the better. It’s the one thing that can be consumed, but then reused forever. Once something is taught its with the student for the rest of their life. It’s a long tail benefit with an enormous impact for both current and future generations.
And here’s what I’ve done:
1. I have a YouTube channel with over 33,000 subscribers. In the two recent videos I’ve dedicated a significant amount of time talking about this charity drive. You can find the videos below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6OlN2vy3MI (Skip to 3:00 for the relevant bit)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF4vg3tAhhk (Skip to 2:58 for the relevant bit)
2. I also have a blog that receives upward of 20,000 visitors per day. I have done two blog posts where I mention this charity drive. At the moment, both of these are on the home page and probably will be for the next 24 hours.
You can find these blog posts here:
http://nintendo3dsblog.com/video-nintendo-loses-money-and-an-entirely-unrelated-call-to-action
http://nintendo3dsblog.com/video-street-fighter-atv-wild-ride-spyro
3. I have a Twitter account with just under 5000 followers. I’ve sent out two tweets asking for retweets. You can find them here:
http://twitter.com/#!/Nintendo3DSBlog/status/97159620669341697
http://twitter.com/#!/Nintendo3DSBlog/status/97618243363155968
I have also tracked the clicks from all of these sources, along with the retweets. You can find the details here: http://bit.ly/davidturnbull+ (make sure you include the + symbol at the end of the url).
🙂
@Josh I Don’t have a mac but it looks like your error is to do with an app called ‘Videobox’:
“There’s a scripting addition called SpiceShaker that comes from my installing Videobox” – Just google ‘Spice Rack Apple’
Hope this helps.
Education to me means the power to question, to be skeptical.
Tweeted and shared. Good luck, Tim, you’re almost to $19,000!
I’m really glad you do stuff like this. Makin’ a difference.
Ah, yes, I donated $34.00 as well 🙂
Education to me means empowering people with the awareness that just because they are not “clever” in the traditional sense of achieving academic grades that they too are clever in other ways such as creativity or application and that if the system had a way of catering more for this then there would be more children finishing school with the belief that they too could make a difference or achieve their aims.
I Facebooked the charity page link.
Appreciate the good work done here Tim.
I`ve just donated for room to read cause i think is a great idea.
The ability to read and the oportunity to have access to books is what gave me a chance to design my lifestyle, but here in Brazil not everyone get the same chance (especially in the NE region of the conutry), there are thousands of kids that don`t have access to schools and still can`t read. Some of them don`t have enough to eat, and even then they are soo creative that you won`t belive. In the future you could make a thing like this to benefit kids in Brazil, couldn`t you?
“When nothing is sure, everything is possible.”- Margareth Drabble”.
Just for the record: I`ve followed the 4HWW advices from your book and this month I`ve just started to live my lifestyle dream. Now I`m working half of the time I used to work and by the end of september I`ll be working just 5h/week. Althought I had to read the book 3 times to be abble to apply your ideas in my personal trainer business.
Cheers from Brazil!
„When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.“ Buddha
Education originally means leading and coaching people to bring out all their potential.
It enables us to face new situations in life and raise our confidence, so we may improve our lives and those of others.
Contributing to education thus means making the world a less threatening and a more joyous place. What a precious birthday gift! Have a wonderful day!
Tim, ready to donate through paypal but you only have credit card donations, anyway to open it up to paypal donors?
Books and education means life for me.
Posted on FB and will send to my email crew. Education’s meant everything to me and my family. My pops always said, “Work with your mind, not your hands” and that was enough inspiration for my brother and I. Could have never made it with out some great teachers and a place to learn.
Hey – Great challenge with a great outcome. I just read about your challenge this morning so I haven’t had the opportunity (yet) to go out and spread the good news. I will however commit to the following:
– share the info on my FB page (I know – not a big stretch there…but helps nonetheless)
– get my daughter involved. My daughter is an 11 year old budding entrepreneur (as I imagine you were at that age) and has found rather creative ways to raise money — from your run of the mill lemonade stand to selling jewelry, admission to her own written and directed play in our garage, to her own garage sales. I am going to talk to her about how she could get involved in helping other kids across the world.
– PTSO (same as PTA). As a working mother of four who also commits to helping out at two schools – I am going to see about getting our PTSO to team with our school to raise awareness. We have our next meeting in early August and I will discuss how we can have a program that teams up our school with this project.
It is necessary that our privileged children see what life is like for millions of children across the world and learn that giving is better than receiving. Let’s see what we can do to change life for not only schools in Asia and Africa but in the minds and hearts of school children here in the US.
What education means to me? Education brings freedom – freedom from poverty, freedom from oppression, freedom to think big and act big. Education allows people to see outside of their own box, cell, or captivity. Education opens the mind and a world of possibilities that allows people to step outside of their limited life – often defined by others.
Thank you for raising awareness and thank you for your contribution to the world. I just started listening/reading 4 Hour Workweek and am setting in action a new life for me and my family!
EDUCATION IS OUR TOOL TO WORK ON OUR DREAMS
If you can read, you have access to the knowledge of this worlds in your hand. You are also able to leave your knowledge as well for others to gain from it. Everybody should have the chance to acquire this important skill.
Hi Tim,
happy birthday to you and thank you so much for the using your publicity to giving back to those in need.
1000 to go… I am sure this won´t hinder you chipping in 😉
Take care,
Chris
Tim,
I shared your donation drive by recording a special Shibuya edition dance instruction video, with Japan relief co-cause (since your drive ends shortly)!
Your education question actually triggered me to finish a half-finished article I had in storage based on my recent experiences in Myanmar a few weeks back. With most people living on less than $1/day, and primary school education starting at $100/year, most children don’t finish primary school. Basic education is something we take for granted, but is a privilege that opens up so many opportunites for us.
Here’s the full article just released on risingbean.com: http://bit.ly/oSTROM
Metrics: Youtube subscribers (7809), Facebook fan page (641), Twitter (434), Feedburner (~2000)
Also shared on pickupdance.com: http://bit.ly/pdQw7t
Thanks for doing something great!
Ki’une
I replied to “What is education” in my previous comment, and just decided that even though there’s not much time left and I have a smaller audience than many of the other contributers, I would tell the silly little fearful part of myself who said my idea was stupid and that it wouldn’t make a difference to kindly SHUT UP. 🙂
1. Created a new card in my muse shop dedicated to Room to Read & this fundraiser. http://etsy.me/q7zS1o
2. Uploaded photos of it on flickr with a description & link to the donation page (57,790 views on my account)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissarachelblack/5993502241/in/photostream
3. Initiated a store-wide sale and will donate 50% of all income to Room to Read before 11:59 PST
http://www.etsy.com/shop/melissarachelblack
4. Shared a link to your donation page on my muse’s fanpage (92 fans)
http://www.facebook.com/YeOldeGangster
5. Shared a link to your donation page on my facebook (874 friends)
http://www.facebook.com/meltr0n
6. Tweeted a link to your donation page on twitter (96 followers)
http://twitter.com/milkandcooties
7. Shared a link to your donation page on google+ (In 20 circles)
https://plus.google.com/106136978045494527771/posts
8. Shared a link to this blog post in our 4-Hour-Workweek Berlin meetup group (61 people)
http://www.facebook.com/groups/146524318752855/?ap=1
9. Sent a link to your donation page in my muse business’ newsletter (88 people)
For measurability:
Donation page: https://bitly.com/oQYQoM+
This blog post: https://bitly.com/nZpofR+
Viel Erfolg!
Hey Tim:
First of all, happy birthday, and thanks for being an inspiring figure in my life. I’m about to be rather critical of this birthday post and I don’t for a second want you to think that this personal, as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and absorbed a lot of the material put out and I keep a close eye on this blog for further inspiration.
That having been said, I think I’ve earned the right to say this with the experience and education I’ve gathered and I’m going to say it.
I think this post and it’s impassioned plea for literacy is hackneyed, lacks nearly all of the analytical fervour I’ve come to respect and expect from you, and evinces a superficial understanding of the problem. Frankly, I think it’s wrong for you to introduce this organisation as inherently contributing to the cause of literacy in a constructive way without any discussion if it’s methods, it’s metrics for success, it’s relations with local governments, or it’s day-to-day operations. I think it’s unethical for you to solicit donations for an organisation you’ve provided no evidence to suggest is having any impact while tugging on the heartstrings of the well-intenioned. This should be interpreted as no slight to Room to Read, as I can not personally vouch for them either way, but from experience as a US Peace Corps Volunteer, a former consultant in US Agency for International Developent programs, and current graduate student of international development, I can say with experience that the developing world is littered with foreign NGOs that are doing more harm than good.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, even countries that double expenditure on line items like education or health are rarely given credit for tr commitment. Most government ministers in these countries spend the vast majority of their workdays in meetings with foreign NGOs and development agencies who will at these meetings laud the government’s commitment to development problems and immediately after chide them for corruption or ineffectiveness behind closed doors, or worse, in the Western media. It’s obnboxious and insulting to broadly connect your readers’ goodwill with donating to an amorphous organisation and cause you shown know peronsal understanding of, commitment to, or cultural sensitiivity towards.
The world’s development challenges are real, but they require active involvement, cooperation, and evaluation to solve. These kids deserve a much more meaningful awareness on your part than you have afforded them. You note the “good karma” awaiting your readers who donate, but as Buddhism is about awareness and focus, it’s ironic to promise good karma with no effort on your part to cultivate this level of awareness of this issue in yourself or others.
I know you to be a passionate angel investor and business mind, but what organisation would you give money to who gave you the evidence you cited above for Room to Read? Given your success with your endeavours, I would venture none. I’ve read your books closely, and I know you have traveled extensively, but while there are many a reference to discount massages, cheap chartered flights, and designer medical care you’ve enjoyed in the developing world, I don’t get the sense you’ve had much personal experience with it’s day to day problems. This comment is not meant to be a rebuke of your desire to get involved in these problems, but rather a call to arms to give it the same energy and analysis your readers (myself included) have come to expect. There has been more than one time one of your ideas or methods has made me pine for your level of commitment to results and efficiency in development, but I see none of those qualities here.
This isn’t 1988, and you’re not Sally Struthers, so quite with the bleeding heart routine. If you truly want to get involved in this space, then give it the attention to detail and method you’ve given to languages, body building, investing, publishing, etc.
What you’re doing here is a delicate thing. When you claim to be solving others’s problems in enlisting support, you owe them at least the level of attention you would five your own, and the honour and dignity to maintain that attention.
We need you, Tim, bur nothing short of your full measure of devotion.
Hi Nicholas,
Thank you for the thoughtful comment about a topic you are clearly passionate about.
I agree that I need to apply the same analytical framework to any non-profit, cause-driven work I do, particularly when I’m asking others to be involved.
That’s why I’ve read the financials of Room to Read, built schools with them in the past, visited schools in other countries, met with government officials in those places (and yes, I agree that I should temper my “government” quote and will remove), gotten to know the executive team and CEO, visited their offices in SF, and much more.
I respect your strong stance and will always to do my best to earn the trust of readers who are so kind as to spend time with me.
That said, I don’t think the insulting tone — example below by name — is necessary to get your point across. Still, I understand your sentiment.
All the best,
Tim
From your comment:
“This isn’t 1988, and you’re not Sally Struthers, so quite with the bleeding heart routine.” This type of backhanded comment is a good way to get people like me to just opt out of helping to avoid the headache. That, I think you’d agree, wouldn’t help fix any problems. Even if I were misguided, and you never know, I don’t think I’m doing more harm than good.
Tim,
I’m sure it goes without saying that we all have critics, especially you with your books and all. I believe most people would agree that your noble efforts to help make things better in our world, far out-way anyone’s criticism for how you’re accomplishing it. I have found in life that it is much easier for the armchair critics to stand on the sidelines and complain about another persons methods for reaching a goal, verses stepping outside the herd and plowing their own path. Failure is scary, especially when it happens around the complainers. I’m guessing that’s why so many people are just watchers and not doers.
I am not intending this reply to start a debate with anyone, I just wanted to give you props one more time. If everyone did even 100th of what you have already done so far at 34, we would live in a very different world.
I am excited to hear about your next endeavor and I am glad that you take the time to find good uses for the donations. It’s almost hard to imagine how donating a small sum of money, combined, creates such a wonderful opportunity for a wealth of knowledge. Without your idea to build and stock libraries for your birthday gift, those kids would not get to share in something that most Americans take for granted. Heck, they may not have even learned how to read without the help of You and everyone who donated. Thanks!!!
I hope that the folks who follow your blogs spread the word and continue to help you help the less fortunate create a better world.
Happy birthday again!
Ryan
Education = Freedom. People my age that grew up in America remember the Reading is Fundamental commercials and campaigns. Corny but very true. Reading is the key to education. Education is the key to knowledge. And Knowledge is the key to Freedom. Personal Freedom comes from knowing who you are and want you want to be, from not accepting the limits imposed on you buy others.
And you gain that freedom because through reading and education you gain knowledge of all that’s possible. You learn there are no limits to what you can achieve, no restrictions to who you can be.
I truly believe all freedom boils down to having the ability to explore and learn about other peoples, cultures, lifestyles, and possibilities.
Education = Freedom
Thanks for the post Tim. Donation given, this page linked to my personal and company FB page, retweeted through both also. That 20k should be a cinch.
Education = opportunity to turn your dreams into a reality
You’re almost at $20,000, Tim! Yay!
Forgot to mention–if I win the round-the-world ticket, I’m going to Australia, Fiji, & New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, and more with one of my best friends, and we’re going to continue the Room to Read mission… we will make a book!
She (from Britain) and I (from USA) will co-create a book called EATSRALIAN! with the help of local chefs & creatives to celebrate & examine the different food cultures of the big 3 English-speaking countries. We will organize food parties with local eateries and include their recipes, and invite designers, photographers, and illustrators we meet along the way to contribute imagery.
Food, art, friends, reading, and travel… an epic adventure. Nothing finer in my book.
And even if I don’t win, I’m glad to have participated in any small way. Thanks & happy birthday.
Education means freedom and the opportunity to be the change you want to see in yourself and the world.
Happy 34th Birthday, Tim Ferris! I wish you the best of luck in getting all your birthday wishes, especially the goal of raising $20,000 from your friends and fans to build a library or two or MORE for children through Room to Read! I donated in honor of your birthday and I will tweet, Facebook, and Google+ to encourage others to do so as well!
Thanks for all you do to help us all be superhuman ;).
Happy Birthday Tim! Leos Rock! =) My own birthday is coming up in a couple of days, and you and I share the same birthday wish list (except for the girlfriend thing, haha)!
For my family, education has been the pathway to a better life. My parents came from very humble beginnings. They both came from large families (my father was one of seven, my mother one of sixteen) in the Philippines — there was no money for school. Through hard work and determination, they were able to earn a college degree. My beloved dad (who passed away last year) left home at a young age to pursue his education. My siblings and our children have benefited from their many sacrifices. Education is the reason our family is blessed with what we have today.
I’ve posted on my book club message boards (http://www.meetup.com/literary-lounge/messages/boards/thread/14319931, http://www.meetup.com/The-Traveling-Women-Books-and-Tea-Club/messages/boards/thread/14320011, and two more groups that are not-public), and plan to promote through email and facebook.
Congratulations on meeting your goal! In the time it took me to write up the posts and this comment — you’ve reached your $20k. Woohoo!
Contest? Yes, please!
What does education mean for me?
Well, first of all, I want to be a university instructor for media/communication theory and research, I am currently working on that, but still a few years away from reaching my goal, even if I get accepted for the program I want to get into for my Ph.D.
The main thing about education is for me to inspire others… and to get inspired by them. No matter whether you teach at kindergarten, high school or university. It’s not just about transmitting knowledge and passing exams. It’s more about the intellectual (or practical!) exchange of creativity, thoughts, knowledge and tools you can use to extend your intellectual horizon. No matter how much you think you know about a certain topic, there is always a book you haven’t read yet or an opinion of which you weren’t aware so far that will partly or completely change your knowledge.
Education and learning are life-long processes. Formal education is a very important part of it, but what’s more important is that people are willing to learn themselves: by themselves, by reading, by “learning-by-doing” and “do-it-yourself”, by talking to others, by having access to intellectual and pracital tools they can use to learn.
One of the topics of my Master’s thesis is how cyberculture redefines autodidacticism and self-learning, how it gives us new possibilities to learn more and to learn whatever we want. To find the books we might want to read in order to learn certain things, or to find forums and websites where we can exchange our thoughts with others.
Inspiring others and getting inspired. Supporting formal and self-motivated learning. Offering tools for learning. That’s what education means for me.
Donation – check.
Facebook promotion – check.
Google+ promotion – check.
Twitter promotion – check.
Sending the link to all book-lovers and education supporters among my friends – check.
THANK YOU ALL!!!!
$20,000 is now past (I mean $40,000 to build 2 library)
Cheers,
Mukul
PS – Keep donating, this is no reason to still not help a great cause 🙂
Inspiring others to dream through education is the best gift we can give others. Thank you for supporting and promoting such a great organization! I’ve made my donation and posted the link through Facebook and Twitter, hopefully together we can make a great impact.
Tim,
Education to me is the only thing nobody can ever take away from you. I wasn’t a particularly good student in high school, but one of my former baseball coaches told me a story, and I’ve realized the importance of education, learning other languages, etc. ever since. I’ll share it with the group now, and then I have 1 more that showed me the other side of the coin.
My coach told me about a Palestinian engineer (nameless for obvious reasons) who came to the United States to go to college in Illinois. He learned English while here in the US, but after marrying and having his first child moved to Kuwait in the Mid 1980s. He lived there happily and amassed solid wealth. However, in 1990, he and his family were on vacation in San Diego, where their first son was born, when Iraq invaded Kuwait and destroyed their home and all of their possessions. His bank account- swept clean. Left with nothing but the luggage they brought with them, AND importantly their EDUCATIONS, they were forced to stay in the United States and make their living. They did, and now that I see that most of this story is on Wikipedia, the man is the father of Gibran Hamdan, the first of Pakisani descent to play in the NFL. His brother Bush, who I played baseball against growing up, played football at Boise State and helped design and call the famous play they used to beat Oklahoma whenever that was. I had the opportunity to do some work while in college for their father, and although very humble, he thanks education for saving his life.
I hate to try to tell another story following that one, but 1 other is especially relevant. In college, our Spanish department, and professor, encouraged (required) us to participate in a program called “Project Bridge,” where we were paired with a Hispanic worker at the college who wanted to improve his or her English skills. I was fortunate enough to be paired with a man named Luis from Peru. The first time I met him, we started talking, and he started explaining Peru, drawing pictures because his English was very weak. He then told me a story, and I had no idea what and how to believe it because I had just met him and it sounded straight out of a movie.
He told me (half in English and half Spanish) about how while in Peru he was an internal auditor (I didn’t know what that was) for a beer company (I knew what beer was), and so he would go around to the different factories and check their books, typically driving by car. Peru is basically split into 3 parts: beach, mountains, and then jungle, from east to west.
One particular time, Luis had just came through las montanas and was getting ready to enter the jungle, when he noticed a line of cars stopped up ahead. Suddenly, a group of men with machine guns surrounded his car and he had a gun in his face. Next thing he knew, Luis was scrambling to show his papers and was led into the Jungle by El Sendero Luminoso (Look them up). Luis was held by these guys for 3 days. They demanded the names of all of the factory owners or $1 million, otherwise he would be killed. Finally, he convinced “The Luminous Path” to let him go (or they still thought they could extort him). So he went back to his home, family, and job, where he told his boss he refused to travel anywhere.
Later, after working for a few weeks, they kidnapped his wife and told her to let him know that if he did not produce the $1 million or the list of names that they would kill his wife and children. The next day, Luis quit his job, grabbed his family and a few belongings, and moved to Baltimore, MD, eventually landing in Orlando, FL and Rollins College, where I met him.
Though he has an exciting story of survival, and is thankful to be safe in the United States, Luis works in facility management because his English is weak and he has trouble communicating here. He had a CPA in Peru, and is a brilliant man, but because he lacks English language education he is not able to use his skills and mind the way he should.
Those 2 stories represent education for me. Tim, keep up the good work with everything. This is my first post but I love what you do.
I’m 24 and quit my first job last month after working for 2 years. I own a company teaching kids 8-18 baseball lessons called Round Trip Baseball, and quit to pursue it full time. You can learn about that here:http://rockville.patch.com/art?icles/career-path-leads-to-bas?e-paths-for-wootton-alumnus
So, for your birthday I posted to the Round Trip Baseball facebook page, my own page, and twitter feed.
I also am going to give $34 for every lesson booked between July 31 and August 14th to my own Room to Read page located here: http://roomtoread.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=319894&supid=332962973
I also donated to my page as well as yours, which looks like it has now made it over the incredible $20,000 mark. Congratulations, very impressive. I hope this was interesting to anyone reading it, I don’t make a habit of spending my Sundays writing blog posts, but really enjoyed doing so this weekend.
Happy birthday weekend,
Marty
Education is the crossroads where the sum of one’s experiences meets the boundless resources utilized to shape what lies ahead.
*i’d like to believe that my retweet and facebook posting may have helped reach the +20,000$ mark. I can’t believe that by the time I got to an actual computer vs. my phone, my donation brought the total to $21,500. Happy Birthday and then some.
>>- If you all help raise $20,000, I will personally foot the bill for another $20,000 library.
>>Strange and unexpected. Social cause with conditions. If you guys do and achieve then Tim will do else not.
Yes I read some study somewhere that said this is a mistake. People are much more willing to give if the promoter of the initiative (usually a corporation) has already put his money where his mouth is.
Tim – RU still interested in improving/changing public schools? We could have a provocative talk – have done lots of thinking on this.W. Lou, Ph.D. – scholarly pursuits curriculum & instruction, neuro-education, human development. Will B in SF Aug. Interested? email please.
“What does education mean to you?”
Education is the prising open of the lid of your ideas.
Every action starts with the idea: “I can”
With every conceptual limitation broken, with every new perspective experienced, with every new possibility understood, we move from “I can’t” to “I can” and that is the soul of education.
I’ve linked this page on my facebook and made a donation. I love education and anything that makes us free.
Education is the never-ending pursuit of understanding one’s self and the capacity to contribute to the world in a positive way. It’s not simply a means to an end with a monetary goal in mind. It’s the possibility to transform ourselves and others. It’s the realization that education is the best tool we have for adapting our minds, relationships and environment into an unpredictable future. It’s the spark that ignites the creativity inside of us, without the fear of hesitation. I was fortunate enough to discover what education meant at an early age and this is my story.
During the summer after grade 11, I was eager to earn some extra cash but my parents encouraged me to teach English, math and science to refugees from Afghanistan in our community in Calgary. Many of these refugees had just arrived from areas stricken with war, death and poverty. They shared deeply emotional stories about how they lost their parents, brothers, sisters and friends. Now, with a new life in Canada, they had a grand sense of hope and wonder for the future. Over the next two months I taught some of the most hardworking and persistent students. They knew that the one thing that could shape their futures in the most meaningful and positive way was education. I recall during one tutoring session I was sitting with a student named Kaleel who was older than me at the time. We had spent weeks learning grade seven mathematics. We endured many struggles due a language barrier and sharing ideas was often difficult. However, as the sessions progressed he was making significant breakthroughs. During his last few lessons he had finally conquered the course and with a confident smile said “If I can do this, I can do anything.” He was ambitious to start transforming his life in a positive way. That’s the power of education.
Everyone in the pictures on my blog has donated to the cause. Also, I’ve asked everyone who donates to post in the comment section of my blog. I’ve used Twitter, Facebook and a social networking site called Pokerspace.com (I am a part owner) for my social media campaign.
The story, photos and social media information are posted on my blog at Jellymind. http://www.jellymind.com.
Thanks for the opportunity Tim and Happy Birthday!
Latif Nanji
Tim,
Didn’t have time to spread the word in my circles but made a nice donation to help. Hope it all goes well…
I plan to do something similar for my birthday in a few months…be sure to pass the word when I do.
Many happy returns..
Ciao,
Wes
Congrats Tim and happy birthday. Donation made! What does education mean to me? Simple. Freedom of choice. With an education you have so many more choices. Without it, it’s really limited. Anyway, this is out to my FB friends and going out on Twitter. BTW you may want to consider building libraries in Toronto. We have a mayor who is proud of his ignorance thinking of closing libraries as a budget cutting measure.
Hey Tim,
Just reading your book and I have to say that it has really helped me refocus and get really excited about my future again ….
Regarding reading …. I couldn’t agree with you more …. I support a group in Nicaragua and every year am able to put hundreds of children to school for the year because it only costs about $5 CDN to put a child in Nicaragua in school for the year.
The group is called w w w dot school box dot c a … they do great stuff.
I look forward to following you …
Awesome stuff ….
Cheers.
Since literacy begins with the ABC’s…
Education means:
Altitude
Brain growing Books
Creativity sparkler
Dynamism
Escape
Freedom
Growth
Happiness
Inspiration
Joy in Journaling
Keeping abreast of what’s up in the world
Love Letters
Mental Massage
New things
Opportunity
Page turning
Quelling the thirst for knowledge
Reading
Self-respect
Titillating
Understanding
Verbose Vacation
Words
Xenogamy of your thoughts with others
Younker’s learning
Zazzy vocabulary
………………………
That was fun! I FB posted, tweeted, and emailed. I just started your book and this is my first day on your blog. It was just my b-day too – your present is cooler than mine! 😉 This is great. All my best, jP
…just went kayaking with your Mom on gorgeous Accabonac Creek. I mentioned that my 21 year old daughter was working with CIEE at Khan Kaen University in Northern Thailand. She told me about your birthday project to promote literacy in rural Asia. I went home immediately to your website and ‘skyped’ Larissa in Thailand. Your mom is so proud of you and I feel so lucky to have met your parents today. I can’t wait to read your books, now that I saw the youtube trailers and read the interview transcripts and website blogs. BTW Happy Birthday!! What a wonderful tribute…
Sincerely,
Barbara Gaias
What is education to me?
Knowledge is power… and you gain knowledge through education. With education and knowledge walls crumble, worlds collated, love flourishes and shit gets done. We are all one in the same and should all equally have access to education. Nuff said…
I love what you are up to in the world.
I’ve posted on Facebook, hit the “like” button, tweeted it, sent an email to my co-workers, friends and clients, and posted it on my blog and my blog page on Facebook.
Keep it up… much love.
Hy appy Birthday Tim!
What does education mean to me?
As I celebrate my 46th year on this earth, I think about the different attitudes I’ve had towards education. There’s always a time in your life where you ‘hate school’ and ‘don’t see the point’. Education used to be ‘school’. Now, education means to me, helping my 17 year old decide what’s important in life, helping him decide how he wants to spend his days after high school. Education is working in my little toy store and helping families find the best toys for their kids. Toys that foster their imagination and teach them wonderful skills. Education is taking everyday opportunities to learn something new. Education is listening. Education is continuing to read, learn & grow every day.
I posted your campaign on all 3 of my facebook pages. I offered my customers a gift certificate worth 10% of any donation they make. If I won the ticket, I would give it to my son, so he could continue his education.
Thank you,
Paula B.
Hi Tim:
Five minutes into the audio…4 hour week, and I was hooked.
Have been listening to several audio books…I am a very late bloomer when it comes to action. Jim Rohn, Napoleon Hill, and others have attempted to steer me into the right path. All are good and all have great suggestions and advice. The only problem is that I was not turned on to any sort of self-improvement until I was well into being 40, laid off, and not knowing what tomorrow may bring.
I have gotten stronger and better than I was before.
This is not a success story. This is a work in progress. By “this”, I mean “me”.
Just wanted to say “thanks”.
Cheers,
Fred
Tim,
Thanks for inspiring me- great cause- donated for your birthday and set up a recurring one in memory of my Mom, who was an amazing teacher.
Happy Birthday and thanks for using your influence in a way I respect.
TC
Grattis på födelsedagen, Tim! (happy bday in my native Swedish).
As the Third Culture Kid of overseas nonprofit worker parents that invested over a decade of their lives to working on public health, education and medical projects in Africa and Asia, you definitely caught my attention with the Room to Read library building project.
I want to make a positive, international, sustainable and SMART impact for education in developing countries using today’s tools so your ephilanthropy ideas are like music to my ears. I officially work in health care philanthropy and I can say that you are miles ahead of most of the sector’s stateside fundraising professionals.
Here’s my stab at supporting your project (I share numbers/measurement backup sheepishly as I am only starting out in my quest to do good online and you and several of your readers are clearly already demigods in the arena):
1) I made an online donation
2) I tweeted from different angles about the project to my (wait for it:)) 345 followers
3) I posted to both my personal page (with a very international and well-traveled 1135 friends) and my blog fan page on Facebook 317 fans)
4) I wrote a blog post focusing on the importance of doing what REALLY matters and including multiple links for people to give to your project. (I am working hard on expanding the blog and currently it has a worldwide Alexa world wide ranking of #678,322 and stateside #54,940. It ranks as “relatively popular” (#140) in the Chico-Redding, CA area where I live and in San Francisco (#20,403). Alexa estimates the positive 3-month increase in global reach for the blog at 960%. I am trying to employ MED rules to keep this momentum going while avoiding burnout)
5) Emailed my blog subscribers (AWebber results show a 50% + opening average on the emails I send to them)
6) Posted two links (one directly to the cause page and one to my post) to my other accounts: (Google Buzz, Gtalk Status, MySpace, LinkedIn, Identi.ca, FriendFeed, Flickr)
7) Sold my wife on the cause and the donation:)
Alright, that about covers it. I am drawing inspiration from the following 4WW passage about the Princeton undergrads that you urged to compete for the RT trip ticket to anywhere in the world:
“It was a difficult challenge, perhaps impossible, and the other students would outdo them. Since all of them overestimated the competition, none of them showed up.”
So this is me showing up. But regardless of the outcome, Happy Birthday again and thanks for using your platform in a uniquely meaningful way. You’ve convinced me of what CAN be done:)
Hi Tim,
as always you’ve inspired me to copycat you! Keep your eyes peeled for my birthday on February 1st my friend. You’ll see what I have in store 😉
As per yours: I’ve contributed to your great cause. Love your work.
Spread the word. Spread the love.
Happy Birthday T.
Ahem… after reviewing your contest rules it looks like my book-length comment left out one of they key criteria:
“Lastly, answer the following question at the top of your comment: “What does education mean to you?””
Education to me is quite simply the leverage that allows individuals and societies to improve and grow. It is absolutely critical and I truly believe that the lack of it lies at the root of the majority of global problems. I ABSOLUTELY support Room to Read’s efforts to promote literacy and education.
What does education mean to me? Education can be found in everything we do from our experiences to a typical class room setting. Education is the assimilation of information in order to be utilized for our own purposes. Education means the antithesis of ignorance.
I fully admire what you have done philanthropically and what you continue to do. I support you in your effort. I already posted this to two twitter accounts (personal and corporate), two facebook accounts and my G+ account with a link back to this page. Good luck with your effort.
Tim, ready to donate through paypal but you only have credit card donations, anyway to open it up to paypal donors?
Education means life for me.
This is an awesome cause to donate to. Rachel told me about it and I was all for it. As a teacher, there is nothing more important to me than supporting the education, especially for those that need it most..!
I think this is a great cause because it is vital for kids to have a decent childhood and educational background to create a stable basis for the rest of their life. You’re really making a different by reaching out to the children with the education they deserve!
Education lets you innovate, lets you take chances and explore places people are afraid to go. Education gives you knowledge and confidence to act on that knowledge. it also means you can do really cool shit that blows people’s minds. Or so I hear.
That being said, I posted to my Twitter, asked a couple celebs I follow to retweet, posted on Facebook, all of which yielded one click (at least according to my bit.ly tracking).
On the other hand, I also setup a Google ad campaign pointing to the site, and got 110 clicks. I probably could have gotten more, but i didn’t have much of a budget 🙂
Not that great, i’ll admit, but I’m still learning. thanks for the challenge, Tim, and happy birthday.
thanks to rachel found out about this great donate for library. For this iam forever greatful to her.
What you are doing is awesome. I appereciate you. You are so cool man that you are helping the children to read. Really there are people around the globe who needs to be taken care of. I will do my best from my side to help you. Hope this campaign will be a great success.
I just came across this quote in Yoga Journal, referring to Yoga Sutra 1.17, that really resonates with me about education.
“…before you can know something, you first have to learn it.”
I think reading sparks our imagination, and then our actions and experiences educate us. Self discovery is the ultimate form of education.
I donated and spread the word through facebook!
Tim, I heard about your books from my friend Eric Morrow (scroll way up in the comments!!) and was completely inspired from Four Hour Workweek and just finished 4 Hour Body in two days. I’m fascinated by your ideas, passion, and action.
Happy Birthday!
“What does education mean to me?”
Hey Tim,
I have just read this blog post and doing everything I can with the short time I have…
I have donated US$2,000 to your Room to Read page.
I figured that trying to explain what I will do to promote this opportunity and just how much the education of our children means to me would be best done by video…
http://www.youtube.com/ScienceofStillness
Enjoy
Tom
I just learned about this site and how this charity works. This is so wonderful to be able to help those in need. Thanks for allowing this to happen.