Rachael Somerville shares her discussion with author C.C. Chapman, revealing his keys to saving the world.
C.C. Chapman is an author, speaker, businessman, family man, and a ONE Advocate. We interviewed him via Google+ Hangouts last week, which you can watch in the player below, about his new book, “Amazing Things Will Happen,” and how his trip to Ghana with ONE inspired him to create the Cleon Foundation and save the world, even if he doesn’t quite know what that means yet.
C.C. has been a devoted ONE activist, and traveled with us to Ghana last April. His trip inspired him to create the Cleon Foundation and add a “Giving and Gratitude” chapter to “Amazing Things Will Happen.” His passion for ONE’s work is evident in his blog, where he posts about the importance of international aid, vaccine access and eradicating energy poverty. In our interview, he told me that ONE’s advocacy is unique and effective and shows the world that great things are actually happening.
C.C. Chapman and The Cleon Foundation. Photo Credit: Kris Krug - http://staticphotography.com/
The Cleon Foundation compels companies to consider the social good they could be doing. C.C. says it was the people he met in Ghana that inspired its creation. One example is Mercy, a little girl who was the same age as his son, who was suffering from horrible malnutrition and has since sadly passed away. But she held his fingers and wouldn’t let go, a moment that left a lasting impression. Moments with Mercy and interactions with empowered college students showed C.C. that he had to do something beyond his trip. Ghana compelled him to consider how his marketing expertise could be applied to ONE’s mission. C.C. decided, “I can’t use my skills just to sell a product anymore. I have to help save the world”.
“Amazing Things Will Happen“ is a step in that direction. It is a direct guidebook on how a person can live a happier life, giving readers the secrets to a fulfilling life through hard work and kindness. C.C. uses anecdotes from his life, giving the words personal flavor while being broad enough to engage a wide audience, from parents to professionals to college students like me.
Amazing Things Will Happen by C.C. Chapman. Photo Credit: geofflivingston.com
C.C.’s book echoes ONE’s belief that the voices of everyday citizens make a real difference in the world. C.C. said, “I see people every day who think they’re not entitled to do what they really want to do. And it’s not the easiest thing in the world, it’s not going to be handed to you, it’s a lot of work. But once you choose the path that you want to walk . . . you figure out a way to make it work”.
His comment reminded me of the hundreds of passionate, committed volunteers at our Power Summit last week and the drive of all the ONE employees that fill the office. We’ve chosen our path, and it is a lot of work. But C.C., as always, sums it up perfectly: “We’re going to change the world, somehow.”
