Brenden's Topple

Gee, it's seems like it's been forever since I blogged.  And, it feels great to be doing it!

A loyal reader sent me a link to this story a few weeks ago.  When I watched the video I was amazed at how well it captures the core concepts of domino theory. 

Branden Foster is 11 years old and dying of leukemia.  From the story on ABC News:

"I was coming back from one of my clinic appointments and I saw this big thing of homeless people and then I thought I should just get them something," Foster said.

Instead of asking for an expensive toy or a fancy vacation, he decided to focus all his remaining energy on feeding the homeless.

"They're probably starving, so give them a chance," he said.

He was too weak to do it himself, but his determination caught on near his home in Seattle, where neighbors and residents launched a food drive.

"We're going to get together tonight with about 15 people and make 200 sandwiches and then bring them downtown tomorrow," said Jennifer Morrison, one of the volunteers.

It was just the beginning. His story touched people so deeply that it spread, inspiring food drives from Los Angeles to Pensacola, Fla., to a school in Ohio -- all in this past week alone.

I encourage you to go to the ABC News site and watch the video.  It will certainly make you stop and think.

One reason I write the blog is to inspire people to take action and do things like Branden.  But also, I search for recurring themes that "power the topple."  This story reinforces a few:

1. Topples usually start at a point of high inspiration.  That feeling of, "I should do something."  Most of us then over analyze it.  Topplers go for it.
2. A "powerful purpose" helps the topple spread.  Why did Brenden's topple reach Ohio?  Because the story behind it is so powerful.  If you want to set a topple in motion, make sure you can articulate VERY clearly what you are feeling in your heart.  Also, the beneficiary of the topple is important (in this case the homeless, in other cases society in general, etc).
3. Little dominos can knock over big dominos.  Brenden tipped a domino, which eventually tipped into a bigger domino (a person with more potential impact energy), who tipped another, which lead to someone at ABC News taking notice, and then the huge domino of "the media" fell and lots of little dominos all around the US again starting falling. 
4. Topples fork.  Did Brenden inspire another topple we don' know about?  I willing to bet yes.

Brenden's topple was one that started quickly without a lot of planning.  Other topples are planned out.  Either way, the way the topple moves is the same.  And it all starts with the belief that sometimes the best way to impact the world is through a simple flick of a domino...