The unexpected way I learned to lead and empower others

In the most unlikely places, I learned some of my most profound life and leadership lessons.

Through volunteering, I learned you have to change yourself first before you can step up — whether it’s as a financial advisor, family member or citizen — and better assist others.

For example, when I first volunteered for The Hunger Project, which works to end hunger and poverty through sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies, I did it to help others. It ended up, however, changing how I approached my clients in my financial services practice and how I viewed life.

Expanding perspectives

Through The Hunger Project, which is the MDRT Foundation’s charity partner at both the 2019 Annual Meeting and Global Conference, I learned it’s truly not worth sweating the small stuff. Know the battles worth fighting and the ones to leave. There are also never too many times you can tell your family and friends you love them.

Learn how, through the MDRT Foundation, you can support organizations like The Hunger Project.

Furthermore, I know I can assist my clients to make better financial decisions based on what I learned through my volunteer experiences. Thanks to The Hunger Project’s workshops, I learned to make sure my clients define their vision, understand the commitment needed and take the necessary actions to realize it.

Finding time

I almost didn’t get involved with The Hunger Project, though, because I didn’t think I had the time. After all, I have a financial services practice to run, and our profession is going through a tsunami of changes in my country of Australia.

I thought I especially wouldn’t have time to take a small team to view projects in third-world countries struggling with chronic, persistent hunger. I made a lot of excuses about why I couldn’t do it. It meant fundraising $10,000 prior to each trip (daunting to someone who has never fundraised) and taking almost two weeks out of my business to go on the program. How would I have time for all this and keep my business going?

After consulting my team at work and with their support, I took a leap of faith. Since then, I’ve participated in three trips to Uganda, Malawi and India for The Hunger Project. It was during these visits I witnessed transformational leadership at its finest.

Changing mindsets

Amanda Cassar on a visit for The Hunger Project

The Hunger Project, which offers a hand up instead of a hand out, tackles mindset before offering practical solutions for those living in poverty. Having lived through civil wars and generations of strife and poverty, it would be very easy to believe that “This is just how things are and there’s nothing that I can do to change them.” Following the workshops, those we worked with came to believe that something could be done, and they were the key to rising above their current lot.

I’ve met villagers who became entrepreneurs. I’ve seen women in the foothills of the Himalayas who take on elected roles in local government and volunteer their time to help others in their communities to also embrace change and rise above their circumstances.

It became clear, for this to happen, the first mindset shift is, “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” There’s no time to wait for aid agencies, governments or village elders to effect long-term change. They’ve had years to help. The shift came when they realized, “I have to step up and do this. For me, my family, my community.”

When visiting the poorest countries on earth to learn from the humblest of people, I could only walk away inspired and ask, “If they can do it, what’s holding me back? And, in turn, who will I choose to inspire today?”

Amanda Cassar, MFP, AFP, is a Top of the Table qualifier and an MDRT member since 2013. She’s the director of Wealth Planning Partners in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia. Watch her 2018 Annual Meeting presentation, “Leadership lessons from unlikely leaders.” 

For more about leadership and mindsets

• Watch and read “The mind of a winner”
• Watch “Salesman to leadership”  (Top of the Table qualifiers only)
• Watch “Let go and lead”