Where the ripple effect started:
Five years ago, I founded a nonprofit in my home country. The organization’s motto was and still is “to make a difference by doing what we can, where we are, now that we can”. Over the years, I have come to believe the truth that I may not be able to change the entire world at once but I most certainly can change a person’s perspective of the world, one day at a time. Having one person’s life changed by changing their perspective, I can influence others to do the same - It’s a ripple effect. The world can be influenced by my single act of kindness. That consciousness has made me do little things with great attention and care, knowing that the world is watching.
On moving to the United States, I first encountered the contribution button on the Google Maps (now transformed into the Local Guides Program) as I had the privilege of visiting many places, meeting new people and trying out new things. On the journey, I had a stopover in Turkey, where I tried new cuisines and thought to document my adventure (actively using the app to keep track of the places I have been to and the number of miles I have traveled).
What started as a simple adventure journal gradually became a means to help people make better choices:
Every time I needed to make a decision on what ice-cream to try, what cinema or mall to visit, what pizza to order, what apartment to rent, or what church I should visit, I always found myself checking for google reviewers. The reviews and pictures that were posted by fellow Local Guides helped me make the right decision, even though sometimes, I had a different experience. I quickly came to the realization that "the same way I rely on other reviewers (Local Guides), was definitely the same way others relied on my opinions and experiences. My opinions count and it’s making a difference, all thanks to the Local Guides Program.
I now see clearly the things I would have otherwise overlooked:
Before the Local Guides Program, I never used to be such an observant person, looking out for the features in the environment and the experience from the goods and services I receive. Becoming more active on the platform has brought out the photographer and videographer in me I never knew was there, because I knew I would get more points for videos and numerous pictures. I have also been able to see more clearly the things I would have otherwise overlooked, thereby sharpening my observation ability which is a necessary skill for human survival.
Scapegoat vs Signpost
The main parameter for measuring success in every business or organization is the amount of buying customers they receive every day, which forms a means to measure monthly and annual progress. Local businesses are constantly in competition with their multinational counterparts. However, what it takes for small businesses to thrive is for local guides like me to visit their location, try out their product or service and leave our reviews. If the service is excellent, then I will simply leave an excellent review. On the other hand, if the experience was terrible, I will be kind enough to give them an honest review in order to avoid innocent citizens from experiencing the pain I had to go through. The local guides program gives me the opportunity to become the ‘scapegoat’ for others when the experience is bad and a positive ‘signpost’ for the business when the experience is good.
…such a cool program
The privilege of suggesting edits to the map and trying out new features on the app before they are released to the public is one of the major highlights that makes the Local Guides Program such a cool program for me. I had encountered some closed stores that needed to be reported or some lane number adjustments I was able to report. On the other hand, it was humbling to be able to try those new features on Google Maps and report my experience.
In conclusion, I may not be a medical doctor fighting some disease - saving lives, I may not be in the military - protecting lives. I am sure proud to be a local guide, making a difference by "doing what I can, where I am, one step at a time - one review at a time. In a world where everyone is striving to do big things, it’s amazing how answering questions, posting pictures and reviews can help the next person. And that makes the Google Guides Program worth it all.