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We hear about winning the hearts and minds of people as a prerequisite to their becoming convinced of the rightness of a cause. The evidence of success is however in the hearts and hands, as anyone who has ever started a charity knows. Donors and helpers must be in sympathy with the purpose but their expression must be more than money, it must include their sweat and effort.

Twice in the last few days I have seen first-hand evidence of how the heart is expressed by the hand. A long-term Mentee and I had dinner as we do from time to time. Tracy wanted to say thank you for the help I have tried to give her. She is good at saying thank you.

This time she had spent hours making a beautiful montage for me, bits of memorabilia about the work I do surrounding a picture of her Mentor. It was especially touching because she is a very busy, hard-working lady and this had taken precious time she could have spent enjoying herself.

In a quite separate event I have watched an old friend who has sold his business setting himself up for a new round of life in a company he has formed called “Helping People Win”. Paul built a successful business helping many people and companies, sold it and without pausing to draw breath has started this new venture.

Both Tracy and Paul are wonderful examples of what I call the Hearts and Hands of life. Neither is given to a lot of rhetoric about doing good. Both save the energy they would spend talking about it, actually doing it.

There are many people in the world like Paul and Tracy, unsung heroes of practicality who long ago learnt the NIKE phrase “Just do it” and applied it. They are not just retirees, or grown ups; youngsters also often have the patience and drive to help in a way that makes a real difference to another’s life.

How can we spread the urge to play a part in this movement?

Example is the only way. A powerful tool and a memorable teacher, example can come from all those we meet. In particular, the people in highly responsible jobs whose decisions affect the lives of billions can do more good by example of generosity of spirit and time than all the technicalities of regulation and control.

As we anxiously watch the world’s leaders bringing their brains to bear on seemingly intractable problems let us hope that they understand that what they will be remembered for are the Hearts and Hands they show in practice.

That will remain long after the rhetoric has been forgotten.