It may be grim, but I’ve always considered myself sort of a visionless person. I’m what Ted Talk speaker, Emilie Wapnick would call a “multipotenitalite”. After college, I used my hard-earned degree to test out a lot of unsatisfying jobs. I’m still working them (haha). It often takes a measure of loyalty to a company or organization before opinions or input have any sort of credibility - an opportunity that I’ve been afforded, and rightfully so, only a few times. The desire to give constructive input is something we all crave. I think it a part of the fabric of a good citizen and a healthy community.
To “share”, might not be instinctual, but it is helpful. It’s helpful to communities, to businesses and to the person sharing. In my experience, it can even be healing. Google Local Guides affords the opportunity for every-day-people like me to share my opinions, experiences and photos in order to help others make decisions. What I’ve said has mattered… In fact, its mattered over 100,000 times now. It is quite an empowering feeling to be a helpful person. It’s not everyday that someone hands you a voice to be able to guide others with. We’re not paid, but we deal in influence and that’s quite and honor if you ask me! To all my local guides out there, keep guiding, you’re helping!
-Austin