A podcaster recently asked why I founded the Force for Good Project. Good question. Thought you might be curious too, so here’s the backstory.

I had the pleasure and privilege of attending TED in Vancouver in February, 2025. Curator Chris Anderson announced they’d be hosting a Town Hall on the final day, and invited attendees to submit a 90 second insight they thought might add value.

You can imagine how thrilled I was to be selected from the 1200 people there. Here’s what I shared from “The Big Red Dot.”

“Good morning. I am Sam Horn. Our speakers this week have shown there are two stories going on, all around us, every day.

There’s the bad news. And there’s the good news.

The question is, ‘Which story will we feed? Which story will we lead?

Will we rant, rail, and rage about what is wrong?

Or will we create, collaborate with, and contribute to what’s right?

What is ours to do?

Pablo Picasso said, “The meaning of life is to find our gifts, the purpose is to give them away.”

I believe, when things go wrong, we don’t have to go with them.

We can use our clarity, agency, and meliority to be a force for good.

The good news is, we are the good news.

All we have to do is to ask ourselves on a daily basis,

‘What is mine to do? Which story will I feed? Which story will I lead?

How will I use my gifts to be a force for good — today and every day?”

I was inspired to write this after watching the first two days of talks. Half of the speakers shared dire warnings of cataclysmic trends that are going to get worse. 

The other half showcased inspiring artists, inventors, problem solvers, and visionaries (of all ages) who are stepping up to solve the challenges facing us and our planet.

It was clear to me… we have a choice.

We can focus on what we can’t control — or on what we can control.

Which hurts? Which helps?

Jose Ortega y Gasset said, “Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are.”

To what will we give our Time, Attention, and Talents?

Why not pour our T.A.T. into who/what matters, now and in the long run?

Based on that moment of clarity, I founded The Force for Good Project.

This is not my first rodeo. (Smile).

I founded The Tongue Fu! Training 25 years ago to teach individuals and organizations how to give and get respect so we can turn conflicts into collaboration.

I founded The Intrigue Agency 15 years ago to help individuals and organizations craft clear, compelling messages to scale their impact — for good.

I launched my Year by the Water 10 years ago and traveled the world, asking people “Are you happy? If so, why? If not, why not?” and published SOMEDAY is Not a Day in the Week with their stories and insights.

One of my biggest life lessons is that if we see a problem and think, “Someone should do something about that…”

… we’re as much a someone as anyone, we ought to do something about that.

So it is, I’ve launched The Force for Good Project.

Our goal is to showcase individuals and organizations who are being a force for good. Who are acting in integrity. Adding value. Making a difference.

As Founder, I interview people who are a force for good and share their inspiring stories in keynotes, media interviews, podcasts, and in our newsletters and social media posts.

I’m tracking trends and best-practices and will be sharing tangible ways we can be a force for good — at work, at home, and in our communities.

And yes (smile) a book is coming out later this year — along with a daily quote subscription on how to lead a life that matters, now not someday.

Will you join us? Subscribe here to receive our weekly newsletter featuring good news that will be a rising-tide influence and source of proactive positivity in your life.

P.S. In case you’re not familiar with the word meliority, it means “the quality or state of becoming better.” The belief that each of us has the power to make things better is at the heart of The Force for Good Project. I’ll be sharing two favorite examples of meliority in my next post.