For this to make sense, please read “What is 48by48?” and “Why 48by48? pt.1”.

Why should others care about 48by48?

Three main reasons:

1. To learn.

   B-O-R-I-N-G...right? Not at all! Education doesn't always mean sitting in a stuffy classroom, memorizing a bunch of facts, all for the purpose of regurgitating them on to a piece of paper. Don't hear me wrong, formal education is important, but there is a huge need for the informal side of it as well. Informal education could also be called spontaneous education where the student learns from their surroundings and experiences. Whether you are enticed by one style more than the other, it really doesn't matter since 48by48 will have both elements to it. I will also be encouraging people to come along and join me on this adventure. This will give individuals or groups the ability to use me and my journey as an avenue to exercise the “service to others” lifestyle.

2. To enjoy.

   FYI: I plan on having a lot of fun while doing this. My hope is that you will too.

3. To do.

   Thinking without doing and doing without thinking seem to have disastrous results throughout history. But when people think ideas through and then act on those principles, incredible things can happen. One of my goals is to motivate people to go out and do something great in the realm of service to others. If I can encourage, captivate, or inspire a group of people to go out and help others, then this world will have already become a better place. Ben Franklin once said, “Money begets money.” I believe that formula is true in other matters of life too. Kindness begets kindness. Service begets service. Love begets love.

Why does the world need 48by48?

Most people could answer this question with the a simple four-year-old's answer...“duh!” But that seems a little rough. I know I've mentioned this a few times already, but 48by48 is meant to be more than just a year-long trek that canvases the U.S. of A., showcasing its beauty and wonder. It is meant to be the start of a movement. To see people raise their hands and say, “I'll help out.” Just imagine if the spirit of serving others was the norm in America. Think of what could be accomplished. Closer communities, better public services, lower crime rates, superior educational systems, and the list would go on and on! It's an exciting world to imagine, but until those dreams are put into action, everything remains the same. I do not know about you, but I want a better world. That is why I'm going to try and make it that way by serving others.

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I've also been asked a few other “why” questions since letting the cat out of the bag. Here are the most common of those inquiries.

Why forty-eight states and not all fifty?

Trust me, I would love to call this 50by50. Even though it is definitely doable, I have a couple of reasons why 48by48 is the best fit.

1. I want to spend the majority of my time helping others. I don't want to spend my time worrying about getting plane tickets and rental cars.

2. The need to have four weeks of flexible time seems crucial to having this succeed. This flexible time makes room for family emergencies, quarterly reviews, and the dreaded tax week.

Why only five days or twenty-five hours a week?

The numbers here are the bare minimum for me to claim 48by48 a success. Just knowing the way I am wired, I have a feeling I could have put 50 hours a week down. But over the years, I have learned the importance of taking time for good rest. Especially when pouring yourself into others, taking the time to step back reaps more benefits in the long run which enables you to serve more.

Even though serving others / volunteering will be the weight of this project, there is a lot of other work that goes into making this be successful. Blogging, accounting, speaking to groups, administrative work, fund raising, writing resources, and even traveling take lots of time and energy. Because of all the extras, I figured five days or twenty-five hours a week would be a good starting point and was at peace with using those numbers. This isn't going to be a walk in the park, which is why I'm prepping for it to be the most challenging thing I've ever done, and with it, the most rewarding thing too.

Why not spend your energy on one community instead of traveling all over the place?

1. As stated in the “what” article, I really enjoy traveling.

2. Sometimes it is necessary to do something big and a little bit crazy to gain attention for a cause.

3. Doing the 48by48 will help promote the “service to others” lifestyle to many instead of a few.

4. I'm planning on collecting a mountain of data which can be used to help people and groups get the most out of short-term service trips.

5. It will help me better assess the needs in my own community by comparing them with others.

Why now?

I say why NOT now? To me, I feel like there is enough in life to put off until later. Why not make life about going after what you desire? Why not do the things you love and let everything else revolve around that? I know that is a simple answer, but it's the best I have.

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I will be posting the “how” article within the next two days. This section of the overall plan for 48by48 will be the nitty-gritty details in what it will all look like. Please make it a point to read all the articles and to leave any comments or questions you might have.

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