Many people think that in order to make the world a better place, their job has to directly address a social problem. Now, don’t get me wrong, jobs like that are important, but it’s critical that we recognize that everyone has the potential to make the world a better place regardless of the industry they work in.

My grandpa was an English teacher. In his life, he didn’t hold political office, start a company or really have any formal power, but when I go back to the small town where he lived, without fail people come up to me and say, “You’re Roger’s grandson, right? He made me feel like a million bucks.” By touching the lives of others, he changed the world.

Clay Christensen, a renowned Harvard professor, used to teach his students, “The only metrics that will truly matter to my life are the individuals whom I have been able to help, one by one, to become better people.”

So what can be done to ensure everyone has the opportunity to improve their communities?

First, cultivate a personal sense of responsibility. This means actively seeking out opportunities to help others. You might consider donating to a local nonprofit, helping with a food drive or volunteering at your local church. If these suggestions seem beyond your bandwidth, recognize you can change the world in the interactions you’re already having each day. Take time to mentor a younger co-worker, open the door for a stranger, care for your child or send a text to a friend you haven’t heard from since high school. These small and simple actions often mean the most to people. Cultivating a sense of responsibility involves embracing a mindset that values the well-being of others as one’s self.

Second, encourage others to join you on the journey. Most people possess a genuine desire to help others, improve their communities and make the world a better place. Anne Frank wrote, “I … believe that people are really good at heart.” Often, people lack guidance on how to channel this desire into meaningful actions. By inviting others to join you, you can spark a social movement of do-gooders. When my company invited people to make sandwiches for the homeless, people immediately stepped up. Often, all people need is an invitation.

Individually and collectively, we have the power to make the world a better place. It’s our responsibility to go after it.

Adam Johnson is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Utah’s 2023 Truman Scholar. He currently works as a consultant for Cicero Group focusing on social impact and strengthening public-private partnerships.