How I Raised $700 Million: Charity: Water Founder

Jun 20, 2022 1h 16m 17 insights
Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of Charity Water and NYT bestseller, shares his transformative journey from a self-destructive nightlife promoter to a humanitarian. He discusses the personal crisis that led him to dedicate his life to providing clean water globally, emphasizing the power of service and a unique transparent giving model.
Actionable Insights

1. Embrace Radical Life Change

When deeply dissatisfied, recognize if a fundamental, 180-degree life change is needed rather than minor adjustments, especially if your current identity is tied to destructive patterns.

2. Prioritize Service for Fulfillment

Recognize that service and generosity are central to a truly fulfilled life; actively seek opportunities to use your time, talents, and resources to alleviate suffering.

3. Uphold Integrity at All Costs

Maintain your core promises and integrity without compromise, even when facing severe financial pressure, as it forms the unshakeable foundation of your mission and brand.

4. Seek Solitude for Clarity

Physically distance yourself from destructive environments and relationships, and seek periods of solitude and disconnection from technology for deep reflection and personal reset.

5. Harness Anger for Good

Channel negative emotions like anger or discontent with the status quo into constructive action to fight for change and make things the way they should be.

6. Leverage Past Skills Unconventionally

Repurpose skills developed in previous, even seemingly unrelated or negative, careers for new, purposeful endeavors (e.g., promoting parties to promoting humanitarian work).

7. Implement Hyper-Transparency

To build trust, especially in charitable giving, implement a hyper-transparent model where 100% of public donations directly fund the cause, with overhead covered by separate patrons.

8. Cultivate a Culture of Pure Giving

Foster a culture of pure giving, reframing it as a joy and privilege rather than ‘giving back’ (which implies prior taking), to encourage genuine generosity.

9. Exercise Generosity Regularly

Actively exercise your ‘generosity muscle’ by giving time, talent, or resources to various causes; the more you give, the more natural and joyful it becomes.

10. Challenge Small Thinking

Challenge your own perceived limitations and ’think bigger’ when seeking support or setting goals, as there may be more generosity and goodwill available than you initially imagine.

11. Recognize Life’s Seasons

Instead of striving for constant ‘work-life balance,’ recognize that life has different seasons requiring varying levels of emphasis on work or personal life, adapting as needed.

12. Prepare for Intense Early Work

Be prepared for intense, demanding periods of work (e.g., 100-hour weeks) in the early stages of building a company or non-profit, as this foundational effort is often critical for survival and growth.

13. Use Health Scares as Catalysts

Use health scares or moments of existential reflection as a powerful catalyst to re-evaluate life’s purpose and make significant changes towards a more meaningful existence.

14. Conduct Regular Self-Assessment

Periodically conduct a deep self-assessment of your contributions to others and your personal integrity to ensure your life aligns with your values and desired legacy.

15. Identify Core Objections

When creating a new product or service, identify and directly address the core objections or trust issues your audience has with existing solutions.

16. Simplify Your Mission

Frame your mission or cause in the simplest, most inarguable terms to make it universally appealing and easy to promote.

17. Be Aware of Overcompensation

Recognize how past deprivations can lead to overcompensation in current life choices, such as over-indexing on fun, and consider the potential adverse impacts.