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Hi. This is Ralph Zuranski and I am on the phone with Debra Berg who is an author, researcher
and public speaker. She holds both a B.A. in Political Science and Economics and an
M.P.A., a Public Administration degree, from the University of Illinois. As an undergrad
she staffed the Watergate hearings in Washington, D.C. Post-college Debra was one of the first
women to serve on the staffs of the Illinois, Kentucky and Minnesota state legislatures.
How are you doing today? I'm doing great, Ralph. Thank you.
That's pretty impressive. I was just looking at your bio. I was wondering if you could
just share with everybody the stuff that you have done and a little bit about your unique
book, The Power of One: The Unsung Everyday Heroes Rescuing America's Cities. It sounds
almost like my In Search of Heroes program. Yes, yes. Well, that's how I found you. I
was searching on the web for heroes and I found you.
I've had a kind of interesting career. It has led me to what I do today. I've been an
entrepreneur; I've worked for, as you mentioned, the legislature, I've worked in corporate
America and so I understand all the different industries in this country.
As I was a business owner I ran into a very interesting couple from Romania who had helped
overthrow Nicolae Ceausescu and we became good friends.
They ran across a Harvard study called Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital
and they were demoralized by it because it maintained that people were no longer interested
in their communities. My friends came to learn about democracy here and to take those insights
home and teach their grassroots leaders. Their reaction to the study bothered me.
So that ten years of working for the legislature and doing studies on social policies caught
up with me and I just couldn't believe that people weren't interested in helping others
and in helping their communities. So I went on my own personal quest to find out what
was really going on out there. I came across an amazing new trend. I call
it the New Civic America. It's about people, everyday Americans, women and men from all
walks of life, who are sacrificing big incomes, personal lives.
One man has even sacrificed an NFL pension to go and create a solution to major social
problems like poverty, at-risk youth or crime. That's what I do. What I do is I get out there
and I talk to people about what is going on and I encourage others to do the same.
Wow, that's really amazing. That sounds like a wonderful work.
It's really fascinating and it's so humbling to talk to these heroes. They are very altruistic,
not in it for personal gain at all. They are out there to make a change, to make a difference
in the world. Their ideas are so good that they are now
replicating across the country and in some cases all over the world.
You know, that's funny. I just found an article in the newspaper about young people that came
up to the one gentleman, Mr. Strickland. I think you are going to be speaking with him
at a seminar for Mark Lewis down in Dallas? Yes.
He basically had people, especially young people, come up to him and tell him how grateful
they were to have the opportunity to work with him and do something that mattered and
that helped other people. Yes. And these people have drawn in lots of
volunteers, lots of youth, and they have set a fabulous example, especially for the youth.
And the stories and spin-offs from what they have encountered with these heroes and what
they have ended up doing with their lives is also very inspiring.
I can imagine that it is. I'd like to go ahead and ask you a couple of the Heroes questions.
What do you want out of life, in ten words or less?
Health, wealth, a successful marriage, and a network of friends helping others.
What is the dream or vision that sets the course of your life?
My vision is to create a broad awareness of America's civic entrepreneurs and what they
contribute. These people are altruistic, innovative citizens who have sacrificed much to create
successful solutions to major social problems. My ultimate goal is to create an American
Institute for Civic Entrepreneurs where these people can share their knowledge with their
counterparts in other cities who are working on the same social issues. It will also be
a place where they can acquire additional fundraising and promotional skills for their
ideas. How important is it to stay focused on your
primary goal? It's a critical but very challenging skill.
It's so easy to get off on tangents and to think, "Who am I that I think I can actually
achieve this huge goal?" Do you follow your hunches and intuition?
I usually do because the hunches are almost always right. It's the "noise" of other's
opinions or multi-tasking life priorities that sometimes gets in the way of listening
to yourself...some might call it intuition. But the older I get, the more I heed it and
it's served me well. Sometimes it's also a matter of one door closing and another opening.
What specific philosophy or philosophies guide your life and decisions?
I am a Christian and was raised that way. My goal is to put God and others first before
any selfish interests. Interestingly enough, when I do, I'm more balanced and focused on
my personal mission. It also helps me to remember that I can't control everything. God has his
timing and ways for things to happen. Instead of getting uptight over my personal agenda,
I've learned to relax. What is your perspective on goodness, ethics,
and moral behavior? All of these are critical for a successful
working society. Without the greater majority of citizens taking values and ethics seriously,
our society would crumble. We're in danger of this happening without people, like yourself,
making a statement about their importance. What place does the power of prayer have in
your life? Prayer is a regular part of my day and is
not set aside for just one part of the day or day of the week. I prioritize some meditation
and quiet time, even if it's only for a few minutes at a time at my desk or wherever I
am. It makes me more productive and easier to be around.
What principles are you willing to sacrifice your life for?
Both my faith and the safety and health of my family are the things that I'm willing
to sacrifice for. Are your goals consistent with your belief?
As I achieve goals, I set new ones, but I work to keep them consistent with my beliefs.
If they're not, I get too focused on the wrong things. So I make adjustments. Otherwise,
I simply don't have the energy to fuel a successful outcome.
Are your actions consistent with your beliefs? I believe they are most of the time. I know
when they're not, because I struggle to find the motivation to keep going.
Is it valuable to have highly charge emotions about achieving your goals?
I think it's critical otherwise, it's too easy to lose focus. If I didn't have a strong
desire to do what I'm doing, I wouldn't have invested 8 years of my own money and time
pursuing dozens of interviews with civic entrepreneurs across America. And I wouldn't have quit my
job to write the book The Power of One either. I think a person must have a strong desire
to overcome personal inconvenience, which would otherwise block their success.
Is it useful to take a positive view of setbacks, misfortunes, and mistakes?
No one likes to think that they can make a mistake, even the most humble of us. It's
easy to get your ego tied up in whether you're right or why something failed. What I make
a point of doing is to remind myself that I'm a spiritual being have a human experience
and that I can't always make perfect decisions. I work to forgive myself first, then others,
and then make any necessary course corrections before going on.
Is optimism valuable? It's crucial. In all the years I trained entrepreneurs,
the one thing I found that kept people from persevering despite obstacles was their own
negativity. How they'd read the situation made all the difference in whether they were
willing to get out there and keep going. If they couldn't generate a good level of optimism
...see things from a positive perspective, there wasn't anything I could teach them that
would help them succeed. Do you maintain your sense of humor in the
face of serious problems? I have to say that I struggle with this from
time to time myself. It's one reason I married Paul. No matter what's happening, or how bad
it looks, he has a funny take on it and it makes me smile. Then I put the problem in
perspective. And if anyone I know has a difficult time pulling themselves out a funk, I suggest
a couple of distractions. One is funny movies. The other thing I do as humor-therapy is play
with my dog or take him for a walk. He's so much fun, it makes me pull back and look at
a situation in a better light. Do you invest time into daydreaming about
what your life will be like when you attain your goals?
Yes, quite a bit. It's almost like a movie in my head. I call it "truth in advance."
I used to think I was strange because I daydreamed so much. Now I embrace it as a necessary exercise.
Do you feel it is important to make positive statements about yourself... the type of person
you are and your goals? I do it in my head mostly, very little around
others. Most people aren't tuned into affirmations. And often it's considered bragging. So if
I ever do affirmations out loud, I do them privately. I also use it to counter a negative
self-talk episode. Do you take time out of your day to feed your
subconscious positive thoughts about you, your goals, and dreams?
I do this through prayer off and on throughout the day. Some people may perceive this as
telling God what to do, but I don't see any harm in asking. I believe worry is prayer
for something I don't want, and affirmations are a prayer for what I do want.
Do you have the courage to pursue new ideas? Yes. I'm a sponge. If there's an idea that's
new that might help, I give it serious consideration. Occasionally, I go too far the other way assessing
more new ideas than I have time for. But I'd rather error on the side of too much information
than miss an option that might make my goal come about faster.
Were you willing to experience discomfort in the pursuit of your dream?
Success is seldom easy or convenient for most people. In my case, I gave up large amounts
of personal time and, in the pursuit of the interviews I did for the book, found myself
in a couple of scary situations. In one case, I was in LA at night and had a flat tire just
at the time a gang came through the parking lot. Were it not for a helpful stranger (I
often refer to as "the angel"), I'm not sure what might have happened. I also left my job
to write the book for a year and I invested considerable resources out of my retirement
fund to make the research and book a reality. Is it beneficial to make decisions quickly?
Yes. Otherwise opportunity can walk right on by.
Are you slow to revise or reverse an important decision?
Usually, unless I see good reason to change it and a quick response is needed.
How were you able to overcome your doubts and fears?
I still work at this. Mostly, I overcome them with action. Long ago I learned the adage
"action cures fear." Whenever I feel paralyzed by something, I take some type of action.
It may not be the best action, but any action is better than doing nothing and fretting
over something you have little control over. Do you readily forgive those who upset, offend,
and oppose you? I try to. It's not always easy, but if I don't
forgive, I find that I waste too much time fretting over the situation. Replaying offenses
takes away from the energy I need to do important things.
Do you experience service to others as a source of joy?
Yes. I think people fundamentally enjoy feeling needed and that's a good feeling. Even when
people don't appreciate the help, I try and remember the bigger picture of why I'm doing
it. When was the lowest point in your life and
how did you change your life path to one of victory over the obstacles you were facing
at that time? The ending of my first marriage of 17 years
was my lowest point. At the time, I was running a business with lots of responsibility to
others. And I was a role model to a number of people. It was hard not letting my personal
life and struggles get in the way of being there for them. I learned from the experience
and went on to acquire a whole new career, which involved a steep learning curve in the
computer industry. If I had not learned those skills, I would not have been able to produce
my book the way I did nor earn a good income in the software industry. While I was single
for 10 years, I had the time to do the research for my book and to take care of an ailing
parent. I also met my new husband. Was there anyone who helped give you the willpower
to change things in your life for the better? My new husband, my mother, and my extended family were all very supportive.
I know I couldn't have marched as quickly toward my goals without their encouragement.
How important was it to believe your financial dreams would eventually become reality?
It's very important to keep focused but it's probably the hardest thing to do. Learning
job skills in the work place is one thing. But for an entrepreneur, the most essential
skill is to stay focused, never letting negatives or others distract you from what's important
today. The word "no" from clients or potential partners has to be interpreted as "not yet."
Why is it valuable to know exactly how much money you want to have in your bank account
and when? It's part of the goal-setting process. If
you are not specific about what you want, your brain doesn't know what it should strive
for. Your subconscious mind is very powerful, and once it knows what it should target, it
works day and night to help you achieve it. What is your definition of heroism?
Doing what most people won't do to help others because of difficult decisions that need to
be made or obstacles that have to be overcome. Did you ever create a secret hero in your
mind that helped you deal with life's difficulties? My mother is probably the best role model
or hero anyone could have had. I didn't need to create a hero because she was right in
front of me most of my life. What were the qualities and attributes of
your secret hero or your real life heroes when you were growing up?
Mom surmounted incredible odds and obstacles to become successful, and mostly she did it
while she was a single parent raising me. She was a secretary to generals and college
deans. She also headed up a large organization that helped thousands of women achieve a better
financial situation. Perseverance was her battle cry. Now, whenever obstacles come up
for me, I just remember her example. Who are the Heroes in your life now?
The people I consider heroes today are those I've written about in The Power of One. I'm
in awe of their sacrifices, generosity, persistence, lack of fear, and concern for others.
How important is it to have trusted friends or a mastermind group to bounce your ideas
off? It's very important.
How do they make a positive difference in your life?
I believe we go through many transitions in our life, and it's critical to have like-minded
friends and mentors who can help keep you steered in the right direction. The members
of the Mastermind group may change over time and should be chosen carefully. Sometimes
they're there for a reality check. Many times you need them to help you out in a creative
way. Still other times, you need them to help you think on a completely different level
from your usual way of looking at things. Who do you feel are the real heroes in our
society today that are not getting the recognition and rewards they deserve?
Debra Berg:I really believe they are the civic entrepreneurs I've written about. The reason
being that the social ills of poverty, at-risk youth, neighborhood decay, housing shortages
and a host of others were escalating and not being addressed in an effective way by our
large institutions. Otherwise, these problems would have been solved long ago. The civic
entrepreneur in our society is having much greater success at solving these tough issues
at a fraction of the cost of government programs. They're doing it in such a way that is more
compassionate, inclusive, and engaging of people in the community (to become volunteers
and donors). Why are heroes so important in the lives of
young people? Without good role models in society, children
have no vantage point for how to respond to others or to be good citizens.
What are the things parents can do that will help their children realize they too can be
heroes and make a positive impact on the lives of others?
Parents can introduce their children to good role models and support them in the pursuit
of activities that build their character. Your In Search of Heroes program is a great
venue for this. How do people become heroes?
I believe people become heroes when their character qualities intersect with an unexpected
opportunity to act or to make an important decision that will save or improve the lives
of others. How does it feel to be recognized as an Internet
hero? It's humbling anytime someone refers to me
as a hero. Why do you think you were selected for this
unique honor? Perhaps because I've made some difficult decisions
in my life that others might not have made which ultimately resulted in helping others.
How will being recognized as an Internet hero change your life?
I'm not sure, but I hope it will encourage young people, especially young girls and women,
to take action toward their dreams. How are you making the world a better place?
Right now, I'm taking on the roles of a stepmother, wife, and researcher/writer about America's
civic heroes. I hope I'm adding value and encouragement to all existing and future civic
entrepreneurs. There's an adage by Edith Wharton that goes, "There are two ways of spreading
light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." I view myself as a mirror, reflecting
these incredible solutions. Many of the kids in your program may become civic entrepreneurs
one day if they have these role models to follow. And if they have the financial resources,
a network of friends, and the desire to help others, they could help reverse a major social
problem in our society. I also see myself as the front and center cheerleader for all
of these inventors, now and in the future! Do you have any good solutions to the problems
YES! That's exactly what The Power of One: The Unsung Everyday Heroes Rescuing America's
Cities is all about. The solutions to all of these issues, and more are in its chapters.
Civic entrepreneur heroes of all ages have invented these solutions. And most of them
are still involved in cities nationwide. They need our support, both financial and emotional.
If you had three wishes for your life and world that would instantly come true, what
would they be? Debra Berg:
#1. For the Power of One to be a New York Times and Amazon bestseller so that the word
can spread. #2. For my stepdaughters and husband to have
greater success in their chosen professions. #3. For the Center for Civic Entrepreneurs
to be established. And to network thousands of CE's nationwide so as to share techniques
that solve a wide range of social problems. What do you think about the In Search of Heroes
program and its impact on youth, parents, and business people?
I think your program is a valuable concept because it brings together the hero role models
of parents and community leaders with kids who are our future. Through role models they
learn important life and vocational skills. Many kids are missing both good heroes and
the skills. The result is that they end up floundering throughout the rest of their lives.
It's tough enough out in the real world, even with the best training. Many schools are lacking
what the In Search of Heroes program offers. You know, Debra, after talking with you I
am so impressed with what you are doing and the heroes that you have found and that you
have interviewed. I was wondering if you would be open to maybe asking them the same questions
that I have asked? It has occurred to me and I am excited about
that possibility and I am sure they would be very willing to help.
Maybe after we get off the phone we could talk about that.
Yes. It's not often that you find people that really
are making a big difference in society and helping to inspire others to do more in their
lives than they ever imagined possible. Especially not just focusing on wealth but actually focusing
on helping others and making the world a better place.
And my goal, like I said earlier, is really to be the cheerleader and to bring what they
are doing out into the open and bring it into conversation in mainstream America so that
people realize just how valuable it is and the kinds of things they are doing.
That's really great. I real1y appreciate your time. Thank you very much for the interview.
You are very welcome. I have enjoyed it and thank you for considering me a hero and wanting
to interview me. I've enjoyed it. I appreciate the good work that you are doing
and I hope that we can work together. Great. I would enjoy that, too!