A simple, 10-minute way to honor the teacher, coach, or school hero who made you who you are.
Who believed in you before you believed in yourself?
Take a second and think back.
Maybe it was a teacher who stayed late because you didn’t get the homework, and were too shy to ask. Maybe a coach who put you in the game right when your confidence was gone. Maybe a bus driver, a librarian, or a lunch worker who knew your name every single morning of a year when nothing else felt steady.
Most of us can picture that person. And most of us never told them what they meant.
Small acts. Big impact.
Here’s the amazing part: these people almost never ask for credit. They just keep showing up. They open the door early. They buy supplies with their own money. They notice the kid who went quiet. They say “I think you can do this” before anyone else does.
That kind of impact doesn’t stop at graduation. It follows you into your work, your family, and the way you treat the next person who needs someone in their corner. One caring adult can change a whole family for generations.
Quiet impact is still impact. It just doesn’t gets noticed the way that it should.
You can change that in a few minutes
There’s a national program made for this exact moment.
LifeChanger of the Year, sponsored by National Life Group, honors K–12 teachers and school staff across the country who make a real difference in students’ lives. It started in 2011. Since then, it has recognized nearly 10,000 school employees and given close to $1 million in awards to nominees and their schools.
Nominate your LifeChanger here →
A few things worth knowing:
• Anyone can nominate. You don’t have to be a student, parent, or coworker. If someone made a difference, you can tell their story.
• It’s not just for teachers. Coaches, counselors, aides, principals, lunch staff, custodians, and bus drivers can all be nominated.
• It’s quick. Just share how your LifeChanger made an impact. You can send a written note or a short video.
• Everyone gets recognized. Each nominee gets a profile on the program’s website, a certificate, and local news recognition. Supporters can leave comments, too.
• There’s real support attached. Cash prizes from the National Life Group Foundation are split between the winner and their school. The grand prize is $20,000, divided equally between the two.
• Winners get surprised at school. A committee of past winners and educators picks the winners, who are surprised at their schools in the spring.
Not sure what to write?
This is where most people freeze. They think their story isn’t big enough, or that they’re not “good writers.”
Don’t overthink it. The best nominations aren’t fancy essays. They’re specific memories.
Instead of “she was a great teacher,” write about the afternoon she stayed late to help fix your college essay. Or the drawer of snacks she kept for kids who came to school hungry. One real detail says more than a page of praise.
Stuck? Try these:
• What did they do that no one asked them to do?
• What did they say that you still tell yourself today?
• How would your life be different if you’d never met them?
• Who else did they show up for?
Honor them while they can hear it
There’s a version of this where you think about that person warmly for years… and never say a word. That’s the version that happens on its own.
The other version takes about ten minutes.
Share their story and nominate them →
Someone came to mind while you were reading this. Go tell the world about them. 💜
One more thought — business owner to business owner
The people who shaped us leave a legacy. Quiet. Lasting. Passed down to the next person. As you build your own business, it’s worth asking a simple question: what legacy are you building, and how are you protecting it?
That’s the kind of thing I help solo business owners and freelancers think through — no pressure, no confusing jargon. If you’d ever like to talk it out, I’m happy to listen.
But first?