Last week, I watched the FOX Premiere of “A Secret Millionaire.” The premise of the reality series is that a multi-millionaire lives in some of the worst poverty-stricken communities in the United States, and often for the first time, interacts with the poorest individuals under the conception that they are working on a documentary on poverty (and they, too, are poor). After a week living “undercover,” they admit that they have been lying about who they are, reveal their true selves, and give money — $25,000 to $100,000 — to those who need it most.
During their journeys, these millionaires were living like poor people in roach-infested homes with broken mattresses and holes in the walls. Yet they woke up every morning with the goal to help someone else. And along the way, they not only realized that they were helping others but they, too, were being helped. In the first of two episodes that aired Wednesday night, one of the millionaire men acknowledged that the poor individuals were some of the nicest people they met and that they were good people. They had been invited out to meal after meal, made friend after friend, and in all the aired segments, they generally had a good time.
Of course, on day 6, their facade would be shed when they admitted their “wrongdoings” as they conveyed to these poverty-stricken individuals that they were living a far more fortunate life. At the same time, though, they’d whip out the check for that substantial amount of money and say that they are happy to be helping another person in need.
Watching this two-hour segment on Wednesday was like watching an emotional rollercoaster in action. It was tear-jerking: sad and beautiful all at the same time.
But it also proved something else to me, and something that we all can apply in our creative endeavors.
There are no boundaries for doing something beautiful. Whether you’re financially capable — or even not — your creative juices should not feel restricted. Sometimes, you may need to leave your natural habitat for that special something to come to mind. (Sometimes, you may have to have FOX Networks contact you.) But doing something special for yourself or for someone else is not hard to do, nor does it need to be a long term commitment.
I feel a little more empowered now than I did before I watched that episode. I’ll feel stronger the next time it airs, and then again the following week. Doing something completely different — something good — is a wonderful thing, and sometimes leaving your natural habitat will inspire you to do more than just one good deed; it can motivate you to do more.
If you feel restrained, do something that you do not normally do and see if it triggers an emotional or intellectual response that will provoke you to implement those ideas in your daily routine. Get out of your comfort zone and aim to do something completely different. Rinse and repeat.
Chances are, there’s something out there for you, and it can inspire you. Possibly to change the world.
Watch a preview for The Secret Millionaire here.
About the Author: Tamar Weinberg is Lateral Action’s Associate Editor. Tamar is a former contributor to Lifehacker and displays her skills as a social media maven at her blog Techipedia.
Applause, Applause! Thank you, Tamar, for sharing this story with us, and especially for pointing out how it made you feel.
You make a second important point in your article, and that is to change your routine in order to shake out the creative wrinkles. As I wrote in “Little Shifts,” any small change will change the entire trajectory. The tiniest deliberate shift in our daily lives gives our brains a new place to travel, and is essential in generating creativity. Our routines are the deadliest part of our lives, as lovely as they may be, they stop us from creating new brain areas where we develop empathy, innovate solutions, and connect to the rest of the world.
I’m glad I did something different this morning and checked on my RSS feeds. I’m already writing feverishly and totally inspired.
Kudos to you all,
Suzanna Stinnett
You should also mention somewhere in your article that they completely misrepresented one of the cities and flat out fabricated statistics to make the show/story look better.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081208-9999-1n8secret.html
Brant, thanks for the clarification, but it’s not relevant to the article nor is it relevant to creativity in general.
I understand. Just trying to stick up for the city. I enjoyed your article. Keep up the good work.
My thought reading this article was whether any of the people about to hand out a check wanted to *not* do so, because after living with these people, it seems such a hypocritical act.
“I live in luxury. I’m going to pretend to know what your life is like in such a short time. Oh! And cash!”
In a way, to me, it seems like using people. I would feel guilty as hell writing that cheque and walking away. Changed? Yes, I’d be changed. A good experience? Absolutely. Was good done for others? Definitely.
But I think I would feel damned guilty just the same.
My two cents.
I’ve been hoping that the millionaires are not just ending the relationship after the fact — if I personally am moved that much by someone, I’m not going to sever ties just because the camera isn’t focused on me anymore. Hopefully, those individuals did the same. In reality, though, they probably didn’t.
But still, I find that it was still incredibly moving to watch. And it has inspired me to give more of myself in general and not just for the holiday season.
@ Tamar – True. If even one person changes mindset because of an experience, well that’s one more person in the world understanding how lucky we all are.
In that, I understand why you want to spread the message, and I do think you did well.
This show was launched in the UK over 2 years ago so I’m surprised it’s just hitting the US now.
There are no boundaries for doing something beautiful.
So true, I would love to be able to have the funds to give back to people like this as well, definitely a great program.
Stumbled!
Cheers,
Glen
Hello there
Thank you for sharing this blog – and kudos to all. I had to share here the first time I thought about creativity as a force rather than something I had to use.
I was in Brazil nearly 20 years ago and I visited a market.
Now I love markets and visit them no matter where I am in the world, but I realised how narrow my creative thinking had become when for the first time I saw jewellery made out of women’s magazines!
Here were these wonderful pieces of creativity and beauty made out of last weeks gossip!
I was fascinated by the dexterity of thought – the lateral thought – required to come up with this. Not only did the raw material cost nothing at all as the jeweller used discarded magazines, she had taught her children how to make them as well and created her own cottage industry of beauty nd sustainability.
The power of need is a strong stimulus and can create great beauty – surely that is a win win situation brought about by lateral thinking?
Cheers
Melody
Hey Glen, I actually think that the US launch of the show was inspired by the UK show’s success. Or at least that’s what I’ve read. 😉
Melody, that sounds REALLY cool. I know it’s been a really long time (20 years), but at the same time, I’d love to see the jewelry!
very cool show. my wife and I were watching the first episode. right after it was over we contacted our local neighborhood house and were able to find a family to sponsor for Christmas. the simple concept for the show is brilliant and I doubt that we were the only ones inspired by the show to go out and do something nice for other people. despite any negative feedback on the show, the fact that it inspires other people to go out and do good stuff makes it a win in my book.
The technical veracity of the project is unimportant in the creation of works of art. The length of the experience is relatively unimportant as it included at least a ‘few’ days, rather than a few hours. Whether a bond of lasting friendship, which requires more than a momentary kindness, heartfelt thanks, and shared respite from drudgery in levity and camaraderie, is also unimportant.
What is important is that people joined forces to create something that is being used to galvanize an audience wider than themselves with the shared goal of improving the lot of fellow human beings. And they began with opening their own wallets.
I see no need for guilt. Luck plays a part in all our lives. Some of us are born with more assets than others. Some achieve more with the assets we have than others. But one cannot give if one has no assets. The folks who fed these intrepid cameramen has SOMETHING to share. And the cameramen had something to share with their benefactors in their time of (albeit self-induced and very temporary) need. Each gave what they could.
And, as I see it, that’s the way the world should be. Thanks, Tamar for sharing this! It made my day joyful.