Sandbox

Alexandru Ragalie lives in Vienna and believes that everyone wants to create a positive contribution in the world, but most of us do not know how and feel that one’s efforts are too insignificant in “the big picture”. That is why he is creating global social businesses that offer everyone the opportunity to do small things, constantly, adding up to very big things solely by the power of large numbers. Alexandru spends his free time practicing  for his other great passion: triathlons. Alexandru on Twitter and Facebook.

Tell us the story of your latest project.

Last year i was attending a seminar on the state of the Earth’s environment. At one point the speaker was talking about how we need to connect the economical system with the environmental system in order to create true change. For some reason his point stayed with me.

During a break, while talking with a friend, I kept thinking:

what do people constantly crave for? money

what do they do when they really want to make money fast? play the lottery

And so, in a fraction of a second, it all made sense! I should use a proven business model and direct its profits to matters that affect us all. This is how the idea to create a global lottery dedicated to sustainability appeared.

What are you doing and how did you get there?

I  am working on setting up Win the Planet- the first online not-for-profit global lottery dedicated to sustainability. The point of doing this is to use my skills and abilities as well as my passion for global issues to create a positive impact in the world.

Tell us about the biggest successes and failures in your life. What worked, what didn’t, and what did youlearn?

My biggest success so far was the understanding of what makes me happy and what really drives me forward in life. I have had many failures and i appreciate each and every one of them for the lessons i received. I also believe that failures contribute much more to my development than successes, so i try to have as many of them as possible  Having a positive and constructive attitude, persevering through hardship and believing in myself are a few of the teachings my failures offered and for which i am very grateful.

What do you want to achieve in he next week, the next year, the next 10 years?

In the next week i plan to fully recover from the long run i did yesterday, and also finish the business plan for Win the Planet.

Next year I plan to have Win the Planet up and running and selling its first tickets.

In the next 10 years my ambition is to become the first Romanian that qualifies for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii and finishes in the top 10%.

Also Win the Planet will have become the largest lottery in the world and the biggest global fund investing in sustainability.

What was your most inspring moment during the last two weeks?

It happened yesterday when i spent 4 hours and a half running the longest distance since breaking my leg (last year in December). The inspiring part was remembering how persevering and taking things one step at a time can help one push through all obstacles.

How could other Sandboxers and the outside world support you and why would that be exciting for them?

By spreading the word about Win the Planet and helping us finance the start-up costs. It would be exciting for everyone because we will implement a game-changing concept that will radically transform the gambling industry by redirecting all its profit back to society. It will eliminate the (currently) destructive “for-profit” approach prove that even “bad” habits can have very positive effects.

Alexandru’s favorites:

- book : The Black Swan- Nassim Taleb

- movie: Peaceful Warrior

- place on earth: Vienna, Austria

- travel destination during last year: Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße (highest highway in Austria)

- food: Panna Cotta

- drink: Caipirinha

- quote: “Age wrinkles the body, quitting wrinkles the soul”- Douglas Mc Arthur