The Golden Camera

It goes to show that any one of us has the opportunity to make an impact in another person’s life if we slow down and take an opportunity to engage and listen to them. 

If you haven’t seen the Ted Williams (homeless guy with the golden voice) video yet, take a look here. If you have, it’s hard not to be blown away by this guys talent, his story and his deep desire to give some credit back to God for the sudden turn of events. He wants to turn his life around and we all hope he can. 

This post however isn’t about Ted Williams, it’s about the Columbus Dispatch videographer, Doral Chenoweth III. It was Doral that chose to stop and pay attention to the homeless guy on the exit ramp asking for help. Sure, Doral’s career choice influenced his decision to stop at this guy in particular, but he still had to pay attention long enough to read his sign. 

I was struck by the fact Doral made an effort to give Ted a chance before anyone else as I drove to work this morning. Had Doral not stopped to talk to Ted or not taken a video of his talent, we wouldn’t be going crazy over this story. I do hope that Doral receives adequate praise for making a difference in a guy’s life from his friends, family and employer. 

We all have tremendous influence and power to make things happen around us. The question always seems to revolve around how to use it. I hope this story inspires you as much as it did me to use that influence for someone else’s behalf more than my own.