Volunteer: A person who performs a service willingly and without pay. Someone who raises their hand without hearing the question and is told they just offered to serve on a board for the next five years!
Little did I know when I was enlisted to be on a committee with our local industry association, that I’d just signed up for 10 years of non-stop volunteering. From that local committee, I went on to be elected to a variety of positions culminating in my election to the prestigious board of the promotional products national trade association, PPAI.
Was it worth the hundreds of unpaid hours I spent working to better the industry? Absolutely! I learned so much about the challenges of serving on boards, developing new skills, mentoring, creative problem solving, and most of all, making a positive impact. I also made lifelong friends who shared my passion of keeping our industry relevant in changing times.
Hustlers often fill their days so completely they don’t believe they have the time, or energy, to volunteer. But here’s the thing, stepping up to help others is not only good for you as a human, but it can have a myriad of positive impacts on your business.
It sets you and your company apart: Hustlers are always looking for ways to find new clients, strengthen their brand and generate buzz. Volunteering can help with all three of these. By getting out in your local community and giving back, people will begin to see you as a local asset, not just a company out to make a buck. You’ll meet other like-minded professionals, community leaders, and potential clients in an environment where everyone is giving back. Building a positive reputation and personal brand by volunteering will bring untold benefits for you and your business.
It’s good for your employees: Volunteering gives employees the chance to work alongside their peers in a non-office environment. This can benefit employees in multiple ways including team building, improved morale, and a sense of accomplishment. It can also give remote employees the chance to feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves. Some companies even offer a day or two of paid time off specifically for volunteer work. A 2017 study by United Health Care revealed volunteering enhances mental health, reduces stress, increases self-esteem, and positively affects overall health.
Gives you a different perspective: Over the years I’ve volunteered to feed the homeless, helped collect clothes for families with limited resources, cleaned up public parks and streams, collected money during an annual Careathon for a local children’s hospital, and worked on industry committees. Each of these experiences has changed my perspective and helped me be more innovative and creative when new challenges arise. You see things differently and that opens up new opportunities and new ways of doing things. Volunteer in areas where you have to step out of your comfort zone and do things you might never have done before. By exposing yourself to new experiences, you spark your imagination and creativity, and this will help you to strategize new ideas to bring to your business.
Networking opportunities: Volunteering opens you up to new people, perhaps new cultures, and the diversity in your community. It’s a great way to meet new friends, find prospects, and strengthen relationships you may already have. You may find your next employee, meet someone you want to mentor or be mentored by, be introduced to other leaders in the community and open doors to possibilities you never even dreamed of. As a hustler, it’s imperative you engage in your community and show your willingness to give back. Volunteers like to help others who also volunteer to succeed.
Refresh and Recharge: Hustlers tend to work…a lot! The pressures of running a company, strategizing, generating sales, marketing, and schmoozing will wear you down. While volunteering may still be work, it’s a time to refresh, recharge, and look at life from a different perspective. Working with charities and non-profits opens you up to new experiences and skills that might be transferable to your business. By taking time away from the day-to-day rigors in your life, you return to work energized with new ideas and a sense of purpose.
As a side benefit, if you have children, get them involved with you in your volunteer activities. Kids benefit immensely from being part of something bigger than themselves. It helps them develop empathy and compassion and to realize there is a world much different than their own they will one day face.
In addition to all these benefits of giving your time to communities in need, one of the biggest just might be a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for all we’re blessed with in our lives and for the chance to help others and truly make a difference. Making a positive impact has a transformative effect that grounds us and helps us realize it’s not about how much we have, but how much we give back.
Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi said of volunteering, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Stop telling yourself you’re just too busy to volunteer and instead, find opportunities that fit your schedule. Websites like VolunteerMatch can help hook you up with local organizations that need your help.
Go ahead…take the leap and volunteer. See how your efforts will enrich the lives of others and yourself. You’ll be surprised how much you get back when you give.