One often sees and is impressed by the display of peoples’ academic and professional credentials. It is important that individuals performing duties or services for others be properly qualified. One does want, for example, the doctor who treats one to be an M.D. with proper training, or a corporate executive whose company products or stocks one purchases, to be adequately credentialed.

While we tip out hats to those who’ve attained the requisite designations and qualifications, we must remember that, other than for the qualified individual, these are of value primarily to clients/customers and peers.

In the larger scheme of things, in the world at large, everyone – highly credentialed or not – has an awesome opportunity to make their corner of the planet a better and more enjoyable experience for as many as one comes into contact with.

By our actions, behavior, interactions with others, the impact we leave can have far-reaching effects that mean a whole lot more to more people than the possession of a string of degrees, awards, trophies, licenses, and titles.

Each day we wake up and step out into the world, we make a difference to many – neighbor, co-worker, friend, associate, cashier, fellow passenger, mailman, delivery guy, shopkeeper, doorman, guard, customer…and a host of others.

When the smoke clears and the dust settles, the little things we do each day, the courtesies we show, the kind words we say, the smile we give, the helping hand we extend – all these and many more – will do much more to make life more enjoyable, to make the world a better place, to fulfill us more, than a long list of credentials from the best institutions can ever accomplish.

We all have that power individually, whether poor or rich, humble or well to do, highly educated or not, to reach out and leave circles of brilliance and positivity that can ricochet and expand infinitely beyond our immediate radius