In the savvy women interview series Jo Bassett, creator of the Living Savvy lifestyle program, shares the stories of women living savvy in their own ordinary, yet extraordinary, way.

I met Juliette Wright at a birthday party of little girl turning six. In those brief moments that parents have to talk at a children’s birthday party Juliette told me that only a few months earlier she created a virtual place for giving called GIVIT.

Her energy, enthusiasm and passion was captivating, as it was a few weeks later when she blasted into the café where we had agreed to meet to talk more about GIVIT. She was smiling, warm and generous – and she was absolutely lit up by the joy of making her dreams a reality with GIVIT.

What is GIVIT?

GIVIT, quite simply, is about connecting those who want to give, to the people who are in need right now.

It’s an online donation portal through which charities and organisations working with people in need can request specific items, goods or services – and we ask you to donate it! We are looking for quality goods and pro-bono services to pass on to members of the community who are marginalised, vulnerable and disadvantaged.

How does GIVIT work?

We have close relationships with 70 Queensland charities, foundations and non-government organisations such as crisis accommodation facilities, community mental health agencies and other groups that provide services to underprivileged people in Queensland.

Because they (through our site) are requesting items and services that are needed right now, it’s very targeted giving. We don’t collect or deliver the goods ourselves (at present), we’re simply a centralised online portal that connects the people in need with people like you who are wanting to help.

Also, goods given to underprivileged people are often inferior quality. It’s very important to us that the people we are helping are given quality items that they need.

That’s why we request quality new or as-new (non-cash) products and services for individuals and families.

How did you come up with the idea for GIVIT?

I was having a massage, and feeling full of gratitude for what my life holds, when my mind started to wander. I thought about the bags of baby clothes I had at home (many of which had never been worn) and decided that I wanted to donate them personally to people in need, rather than just leaving them at a clothing bin.

I contacted a homeless shelter and they let me know they didn’t need baby clothes but they were in desperate need for tampons an women’s underwear. I thought, ‘Yes, I can get those for you.’ I contacted friends and family and a few weeks later arrived at the shelter to deliver tampons, underwear and bras.

That was the seed of the idea and, as the song goes, ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’!

What did it take to turn that idea into reality?

Well, I’ve had some wild ideas in the past and some of the people closest to me thought that GIVIT would end up in the same place – sitting on the shelf.

But I believe in the power of wild dreaming. My process was (and still is) ‘think it, wish it, and then be it’. I dream the idea, imagine what the end result will look like, and then work backwards to figure out if it’s doable and how to make it happen.

As for getting through the actual day-to-day work… I’m a woman who is up early, moves fast and is over enthusiastic! I’ve got wonderful friends who have donated their expertise in creating the site and everything else that goes along with setting up an organisation like GIVIT. And, of course, it’s ultimately the generosity of the community that has made GIVIT so successful in such a short period of time.

How quickly has GIVIT grown?

Since the launch about 650 items and services have been given including:

* International phone cards for immigrant women being abused by their husbands who use isolation as a form of power

* Floor rugs for young, previously homeless, mothers to cover cold floors for their babies

* New shoes for homeless men

* Closed toe work boots so fathers can apply for work on the roads

A good week is when we have about 30 items donated but two weeks ago we had 65 items donated in one week!

One of our living savvy questions is: What are you creating? How are you creating the life you want and how does GIVIT fit within that?

Good question!

Just a short time ago my main focus was being a stay-at-home mother to my two young children Sarah (3 years) and Hudson (18 months). I’m still creating a life where I am connected to my children which is why I built GIVIT as an online portal – it means I can work from home and spend time with my children.

Still, it is a challenge to balance my family time with working on this project and managing a farm! I recently realised, when my husband ran out of clean underwear, that I need some more help. I keep Fridays for myself and my family, and I embrace the flexibility and mobility that technology – like my iPhone – gives me.

Juliette has certainly demonstrated courage, commitment and an incredible work ethic in making her ‘wild dream’ a reality. And she’s also managed to stay connected to what is most important to her – her family.

Dreaming big means accepting the risk that those dreams may not always work out. However, I’m always more impressed by someone who is willing to go after what they want, and possibly fail, rather than someone who ‘plays it safe’. It’s the action, not the outcome, that’s most important. This is what impressed me about Juliette, and, of course, the fact that she’s created a wonderful organisation that helps us give to those in need.

Go to the GIVIT list now to find out what’s needed.

Bio: Jo Bassett is an executive / life coach and founder of Living Savvy – a lifestyle program for personal development and evolution. At www.livingsavvy.com.au you can watch online as real women learn to live savvy with life coaching, join the free online community of women fine tuning their lives to live extraordinary, and get practical advice from expert coaches