What you've got to do is be honest. Say what you believe. Give it to them straight. Just don't wuss out.

Most people won't have opportunity to do full-time service, but those lucky enough to have monetary wealth or some spare time really can make an enormous difference. As someone who's now in the public sector, and is seeing up-close-and-personal the real impact of what we do and what we give, I can tell you: every dollar and every volunteer help, in more ways than you can count.

America is built around this premise that you can do it, and there are an awful lot of people who are unlikely to have done it who did.

Our climate is changing. And while the increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it may be - given the devastation it is wreaking - should be enough to compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.

What has changed is that people have stopped working together.

After hard work, the biggest determinant is being in the right place at the right time.

Partisanship may be King in Washington - but the rest of us don't have to pay tribute.