3 Simple Steps to Live Your Social Impact Initiative Every Day

The Miss America Social Impact Initiative (SII) is each titleholder’s unique way of connecting to a broader audience during her year of service. How one effectively makes an impact is another matter. Each Initiative has different messages and goals so there is not one easy formula for all! However, there is a level of dedication to the cause you chose to advocate for that will make all the difference in the world. Simply stated, to have a impactful SII, you should live it every day and make it a part of your life.

​3 Simple Steps to Live Your Social Impact Initiative Every Day

~ by Kathryn Kueppers

The best way I have found to live your Initiative every day, is to simply do that: do one thing every day. Most titleholders hope to have made an impact by the time their 366th day rolls around, so let’s get started. Here are three steps to help you do ONE thing every day:

​1. Day One: Define your impact, either internally or in a written statement somewhere
Make sure YOU know what you are setting out to do. Ask yourself what the purpose of your impact is.
 
2. Day Two: Define what you can tangibly do to make your impact
Consider real things you can do. Can you raise money for this cause? How? Can you speak about it in schools? Can you organize an event for it?  Can you blog about it?  Can you become a spokesperson for an organization?
 

3. Every day thereafter: Do one thing, big or small, every day for that impact.
One day you could develop a 20 minute speech on your initiative. This will help you articulate it throughout your year. One day you could make plans to run a social media campaign. One day you could spend an hour researching your initiative; contact an organization to have you speak; have a good conversation with someone, even a friend, about your impact and what they can do to be a part of it. How about starting a blog? Another day you could create a logo for your initiative. Even posting photos that show you in the community with your impact can make a difference! The possibilities are endless.

​If you do just one thing every day, in one year you will have done 365 things for your SII. You CAN do more than ‘one thing’ every day. You are not limited to ‘one thing!' But you do need to begin somewhere to start making a difference.
 
So, what is the one thing you will do today?

​~ Kathryn