Life is a giant pot – sometimes we put in and sometimes we take out. Rarely do we take from the same people we give to.

The simplest example is a compliment from a perfect stranger. The compliment sometimes just comes at the perfect moment.

The stranger who provides the compliment may never get anything equal in return from you.

But, the stranger will get a something back from a third person.

Giving Back means making the world a better place.

There are many different rewards for Giving Back. The stories below will help you learn how people have reached some success by giving back.

I am very grateful for the people who have shared the many ways to give back. And each person became successful in a different way from giving back.

Warning – my understanding of giving back is sometimes considered controversial.

I strongly believe that the most effective way of giving back is that it must be a self-centred act. This means that before, during, and after the act, the person giving back must be doing it for themselves. The giving back act will ultimately be more useful and and effective.

I have seen people start their volunteerism with great enthusiasm but disappear just as quickly. Its been my observation that what is common with these kinds of people is their desire to do good wanes quickly if there is no reward.

But people are different and each and every person’s rewards are different.

Giving back is part of a successful life. I can’t emphasize enough that many struggles people have in their life is because they don’t find a way to giving back.

Here are some of the different rewards that giving back can help.

Personal Growth

The Personal Growth reward helps a person grow and is the most common. Some of the things a person learns includes:

• Working in a team
• Learning to lead
• Seeing a project conceived, executed, and finished
• Making new friends
• Unexpected new skills

Financial Stability

The Financial Stability reward is usually for people doing Pro-bono work. While this kind of Giving Back is difficult for some people to understand, it can actually be quite effective.

• Establishes reputation
• Creates opportunity – you may be right in front of somebody needing your skills today
• Grows one’s business based network
• Learn about your industry

The challenge to this method is “Why do something for free when you can be paid for it?”  Here are some responses

1. Depending on the scenario – its actually true
2. The money spent on your services could be used to help others
3. The time as a marketing cost
4. Charge full rates and then rebate a significant amount back as a contribution. This is sometimes effective because their time and contribution is treated with the respect its due.

Leveraging

Leveraging is giving back to the community in a way that helps you accomplish a personal goal at the same time. This is my preferred method.For example, I teach running clinics since it helps a) motivate me, b) schedule me to my personal runs, and c) helps me become  a better teacher. I teach at the YMCA Business Centre because it helps me create and validate the content for Success Through Balance.

The Stories

Here are some amazing stories from my LinkedIn contacts. The stories have been edited somewhat and not all the stories have been included.

The question and the answers can be found here on LinkedIn.

One of the greatest business decisions I made was to express what I call my “creative good.” I have accomplished this by selecting one non-profit organization per year to give my professional time on a pro-bono basis.

This year, I have had the pleasure of working with The Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research (www.imbcr.org). I have leveraged my background in marketing, pr and health awareness campaigns to create unique patient advocacy programs, creating both volunteer and revenue streams. As an executive recruiter, I have assisted them in seeking candidates for a current c-level development opening. All in all, I saved them thousands of dollars over the last year – and knowing that money is going directly to Cancer Research is very fulfilling.

My other clients, friends and associates are all very aware of the organization and I feel this has motivated them to pursue more philanthropic avenues to express their “creative good”.

I separately chair the IAB UK and the IAB Europe search task force – the IAB is Internet Advertising Bureau. It is a trade organization that I used to attend (for years) and one day the leader asked if anyone wanted to take over – to lighten their load and to hand over to an expert. I volunteered.

A few weeks later the same thing happened in the UK – I volunteered. In both cases everyone seemed to welcome my appointment, as I am a specialist in search it seemed very appropriate.

In both cases I have benefited from an increased involvement within the industry by expanding my network of friends. I think that the industry benefits by having someone that is solely focused on search running the task force and as a result we have been able to agree on some best practice activities that is to the benefit of the industry both now and in the long term.

I have been in the field of open source from the age of around 14, and since then I have learned a lot through internet and free sites, and in return I have worked on various projects kept increasing my awareness about open source at various levels,

My current progress is all due to following this give back tradition.

In February 2006 I took a career break in Thailand. After a couple of months holidaying around, I decided to devote some of my free time to voluntary work.

Because English is not that common in Thailand, online volunteering was the best option for me. After much research on the internet, I found the United Nations Online Volunteering website and my attention was caught by a Nabuur advert seeking online community facilitators. I checked the organization website and decided it was something I could contribute to.

Initially I joined Nabuur as a village facilitator which is a role similar to that of project manager. In this position I was at the junction between online volunteers and the representative of a local community in Uganda which has asked Nabuur for help.

Nabuur helped me realize that the Internet can be a helpful and powerful tool for solving people’s problem. Except for its role as a knowledge base and information source, I used to think that the Internet was a big waste of time and space where people were endlessly arguing on meaningless issue in futile forum. But the Nabuur concept demonstrates that it is possible to organize constructive actions when people of good will are brought together. I was lucky to be in a position where I can give a lot of time to online volunteering.

In return, even if I put an end to my contribution to Nabuur after a year (because of management issues), I did learn a lot, discovered new opportunities and broaden my horizon. It probably sounds a bit cliché, but despite living in a global village, bad or poor communication is still the main obstacle to peace and prosperity.

Volunteering online gave me a little bit more hope that one day we will be able to really and sincerely help each another, even if we come from different backgrounds and have very different stories because all these differences are invisible online and therefore are not an obstacle to working together.

This year at INSEAD as an MBA partner, I have off-ramped slightly from my career path, as I got involved into a number of volunteer projects:

1. INSEAD Art Club – president

2. INSEAD Alumni Reunions – active volunteer

3. Société des Amis et Mécènes du Château de Fontainebleau – sponsor-in-time

4. Recruiters on campus – student marketer

5. Language Conversation Club – teacher of progressive Russian

This does, in fact, keep me entertained, and not to be wrongly perceived, these are not the primary activities in focus. I also have 2 well-paying free-lance jobs and enjoy a more or less free life.

What contributes to my success is the rhythm, the structure, and sufficient level of impressions.

My three recommendations for happiness.

When our son was born with a serious heart defect and DiGeorge system my husband and I were devastated.

We had to live away from home and other children for three months while our newborn underwent life saving heart surgery. We were at MUSC in Charleston and were so impressed with everything we witnessed. We were completely humbled by the miracles that transpired there everyday. We prayed that they would not run out of miracles because we needed one of our own.

Anyway, long story, short…Our son is doing well. His heart is almost perfect. When we left Charleston, we knew that we had to do something to give back. We wanted to make life a little easier for other families that would experience similar things with their sick babies.

We started The Cade Wangler Foundation to provide financial assistance to families that had to be out of work due to a hospitalized child. It feels so good to give!

I am a true believer in “what comes around goes around” and I wish I could tell you in words just how much we have truly been blessed!

I served in northern Iraq as an Intelligence Advisor to two Iraqi Army battalions from March 2006 to March 2007. I was able to interact with people in villages and towns; this gave me an interesting perspective on the current situation dominating that country.

The benefits gained from my service there had nothing to do with monetary means. I was rewarded with a broader appreciation for life and personal freedoms. It further increased my desire to see people all around our world live their lives how they want to. Granted, nothing is perfect in life, but we must choose to put forward our own peaceful hands to benefit all life.

I am currently helping multiple translators gain immigration status to the US. This is something that I can devote many hours to and not blink. My acts are merely a drop in the bucket compared to the sacrifice and courage they expressed that enabled me to participate in the growth of Iraq and the Iraqi people.

Overall, when you sacrifice time, money or effort for others, you should be doing it out of love. When you are able to express that love to others and see positive results achieved for their benefit, no amount of success can overcome or substitute the joy you feel. I believe that appreciation of your works is best expressed through a smile, a hug or a tear.

After using other people’s blogs for information for years, I began giving back to the IT community by starting my own Blog and sharing things that I found useful.

Whilst looking for a new career move, it was my blog that helped secure a prompt interview with DisplayLink.

I operate a small business in Summit, New Jersey. I support local charitable causes in the immediate community. We have a special “Charity Tag” on our website advertising our charitable commitment to the world.

I have been a Rotarian for about 8 years or so. During that time, I have made some sales to other Rotarians, but, I would doubt that the gross profit from those sales has covered 8 years worth of dues. At this point, because of my community activity, I would say that I am somewhat known within the community, and that undoubtedly, my business has benefited. It is not, however, a revenue driver.

I have seen numerous people join Rotary, with the express objective of gaining business from the Rotary ranks. These people, unfortunately do not last long, if they do not at some later moment, embrace rotary’s concept of “Service Above Self”

I derive great personal satisfaction from my Rotary clubs local community based projects, and, further from my limited participation in the Rotary Foundations global out reach. My fellow Rotarian friends, share this personal fulfillment, and together, we make a difference. As you know, Rotary is one of the older networking groups, where Rotarians come together for camaraderie and community service.

In terms of my businesses other monetary charitable contributions, which have been relatively minor; they are made with no expectation of reward. Having said that, I can directly trace a handful of sales to this activity, but, as I said earlier, it is definitely not an income generator.

Some friends, who are on the board of the local Police Athletic league, have become customers. Their decision to make their purchases, may have been flavored by my generosity, I don’t know. What I do know is that my next contribution was somewhat more generous. (Lol )

As a Rotarian member of Rotary International, I become involved in the local community, and by extension, through the Rotary Foundation, in a more global solution.

While the amounts of money that my company can afford to contribute are not large, my sincerest hope is that by example, other small businesses might be inspired to become more philanthropic: Then, of course, the world might change!

It’s amazing how successful the “other interests” part of a CV can be in promoting yourself.

Back in the mid 1990s I organized some humanitarian aid trips to Croatia and Bosnia during the Yugoslav war, driving rented trucks from the UK, having raised many tonnes of aid and all the finance needed to make the trips work. All this was working under the auspices of a UK based Christian charity Novi Most International, of which I became a trustee for a number of years.

Every job interview I have had since has raised this point and asked me to elaborate on it, and I like to think it has helped me in gaining jobs – as well as increasing my role in regular reviews with employers.

Personal development was helped by various scenarios on these trips including

· negotiating with armed border police in a language I did not know

· being faced with a different set of border requirements (eg. for import of food or medical equipment) on each trip – they seemed to make up new ruels each day just for a laugh!

· bribing an import agent to use his typewriter for an hour to make up my own paperwork to keep the border police happy

· being taken right into a war zone and being told “stay walking on this road, the field on that side is mined” having the faith to take uninsured trucks into a war zone and not sustaining any damage to them!

When I was working in industry, I actively reached out to college students in the local area as a mentor. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life, and worth doing for its own sake.

That said, it ended up coming back to me in two ways:

1) One of the people I helped found a job in my industry, and I later ended up getting some contract work on one of his projects.

2) The experience of working with college students almost certainly helped me land a job as a professor.

I was hired in February 2007 by the Centre Francophone de Toronto to develop and implement their new mentoring program (Host Program for Professional Newcomers).

Without the volunteering experience I had with this organization three years ago, I wouldn’t be asked to apply for this position. And it happened exactly at the right moment for me: I was looking for a transitional position from engineering to life coaching, to help me with the career change I prepared last year. I was ready to embark in the career I’m passionate about! First position I’ve applied, I’ve got it. Looks simple, doesn’t it?!

After a while I wanted to have my own experience, so I became a mentor in another mentoring program. Mentoring is another way of volunteering, but it’s as rewarding for you as it’s useful for the mentee (a newcomer in my case).

By mentoring somebody else I became more aware of my strengths and weaknesses, of attitudes that help us moving forward or not, of the gaps between different cultures. The feedback provided by other mentors in our program is similar; they do enjoy all its benefits (including networking). Great experience that I recommend to everybody!

How other volunteering experiences helped me succeed? Sharing information about job offers brought me (indirectly) my first job in Canada. Organizing ski trips to Blue Mountain helped me meet new people, get new friends and enjoy a wonderful ski season.

Offering free coaching sessions to interested people helps not only growing my coaching business, but also getting more coaching experience on different topics and with different types of personality.

Volunteering with a non-profit organization offers more visibility to my business.

Volunteering is a mindset that always brings more than we give. The beauty is: we don’t have to think about its results (they will show up anyway in one form or the other). All we have to do is offer, give and love!

My wife and I have what you might call a homeless ministry on steroids. We don’t work at a soup kitchen. We go to the camps. We have homeless people live in our home for weeks, even months. We visit them in hospitals, in jail and even attend their funerals.

We have seen them reunited with family after 23 years. We have seen them get jobs and houses. And we have seen them fall back into cycles of addiction and violence.

Yesterday I held a homeless man as he went through convulsions trying to get off alcohol cold turkey. Today we learned that a neighborhood we have been frequenting was raided and 17 M-13 gang members were deported. Yet we have never been harmed in any way in years of this kind of service.

The experience hasn’t made us successful in any worldly sense. It has redefined the meaning of success.

A Tale of Tails

May 18th 2001 is an extraordinary day that changed my life for the better. An orange tabby and his feral grey sidekick were the catalyst.

Not one to turn away an empty belly, I adopted Rusty and Crystal. Crystal as we discovered was diabetic and not able to continue in her life’s journey.

As the days passed, Rusty proved to be no ordinary cat. Only 1 year in age as the vet determined, it was apparent that Rusty was destined for more than a cat tree, laser tag and cat nip. Intrigued by his strength of character, his fearless curiosity with all who approached and his affectionate demeanor I decided to get Rusty tested to become a Pet Visitation Therapy Pal.

So you’re thinking, a THERAPY CAT? That’s crazy!!! Therapy dog YES, but a CAT???

With Rusty in tow and my newly acquired dog Buddy, we entered the doors of the local SPCA who sponsor Pet Therapy in the greater Orlando area. With great anticipation, Rusty maintained courage and a calm demeanor as he was handled with heavy hands (similar to those of an elderly person or ill child w/loss of motor control). He breezed through the wheelchair test and didn’t even flinch when a clipboard was dropped on the tile floor. The program manager was elated to see such an extraordinary cat. Rusty in fact was much more in control of himself than my dog Buddy.

As I left the facility with the two newest members of the Pet Visitation Program, I knew my life would change for the better.

It’s been over 5 years since Rusty, Buddy and our newest addition Ginger (canine) have been visiting hospitals, nursing homes, Give Kids the World, promotional events, reading programs for illiteracy and much more!!!! Each pet has a standing schedule on weekends with patients to bring hope, peace and fond farewells.

Through the unconditional love and affection that I’ve been fortunate to experience at the side of my pets and their patients, I’ve achieved a level of internal success that spills over into everything that I do.

My pet visitations have grounded and centered me in a way that words cannot describe.

Ultimately, it is through my volunteer work that I’ve become a better employee, leader, colleague, family member and friend. By investing time with my pets and seeing the joy that they bring to those who suffer, I have come to realize that success is about what I can do for others who need that extra push, smile, applause, shoulder to cry on, tough love and even a kick in the pants!! Success is being able to be strong for those who can’t speak and in many cases cannot see.

So when pressure is upon me whether at work or at home, I sit back, refocus and think of my pets, their patients and am quick to realize the importance of life. This puts everything into perspective. I’ve picked up calm from Rusty, spirited from Buddy and creatively strategic from Ginger. It is from the patients that I’ve gained humility.

My motto in life “It’s not about me”

When I was teaching at Queens College, I volunteered for one-day-a-week with a computers-in-education project, Logo in the Schools. I spent the day with students and teachers in schools in the West Bronx in NYC.

I taught a graphical computer programming language, LOGO, and helped students with projects. I did it because I loved making a difference and believed in the power of the educational vision of this research.

As a result of doing this work, I was hired by the start-up company that was commercializing this research-based software. I developed a very successful presentation for educators. Apple Computer decided to co-label Apple Logo and I was a requested presenter for Apple at computers in education conferences.

One thing led to another and I was hired by Apple Computer, Inc. to direct the Apple Education Foundation. This was the beginning of an amazing 10 year career with Apple.

Best the best decision I’ve ever made was to become a member of Rotary International. The organization is based on the concept of successful professionals giving back to the community, locally and globally. My time in Rotary International was a time that allowed me to incubate my leadership skills for the modern work place.

When I joined I was considered a successful person within my generation. Yet it was clear to me I was reaching my first pause in my career advancement, that only time would change.

But after I joined the Organization I was working, contributing, sharing and learning from Professionals that were much older than I and whom have/had very successful careers. I suddenly had 20-30 mentors that I shared a meal with on a weekly basis. I got to hear their challenges, successes, and failures, and benefit from their combined experiences.

So I became president of my Club. I learned to lead a volunteer workforce, which is lead by the preverbal carrot, and not the stick. As more and more employees become Information Workers, that skill becomes the primary leadership approach. I learned to lead men and women that were much older than me.

Within the US, the Baby Boomers are staying in the workforce longer than past generations, so being able to interact and lead that generation is a very important skill. As president of the Club, I had to manage the small Charity Fund to maximize the total charitable impact to the community. Based on specific KPI’s the Club is evaluated at the District level against other Clubs. Because the Members of the Club have been members for a long time, there was an intense sense of pride and expectation that the Club will be a top Performer.

I had to select projects that would maximize the ROI of the most good for the most people. Thus I was exposed for the first time to the concept of Strategic Project Prioritization.

I would strongly recommend that every Professional become a standing member of a long term Charitable Activity.

http://www.rotary.org/
http://www.rotary.org/foundation/

I have done rather trailblazing work helping to change provincial laws concerning industrial pollution and the rights of child victims of parental abuse.

I think that the formula for sustainable success is timeless: Create value for others and you will prosper and also achieve greater meaning, purpose, fulfillment and happiness.

Any, and all ventures that allow one to give back create a life experience that not only reaches out and helps others, but also helps oneself. I have volunteered working with terminally ill children, mentoring and coaching entrepreneurs, setting up the first mentorship program in Canada, fundraising for major business, cultural and social institutions.

I think that volunteering our time, expressing our ability to share, care and give back helps us develop the qualities that drive professional success, leadership, communication-relationship building as well as filling a much needed sense of greater meaning that is so important.

I volunteer with the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals, an organization that coordinates efforts of local animal shelters and promotes adoption, and important issues that affect animal welfare like microchipping and spaying/neutering.

Of course, it isn’t hard to volunteer at events where you get to pet cute animals all day, but through this experience I have been exposed to other organizations and opportunities. For example, I have trained as an animal coordinator with the ASPCA, through a program with the Office of Emergency Management, to help coordinate evacuees with pets in the event of a hurricane.

This kind of work is fulfilling, helps me develop new skills and improve my strengths, and just helps make me a more well-rounded individual, which contributes to my overall success in life.

The key is to find something you enjoy, not something you think will have the greatest impact on the “other interests” bullet of your resume – volunteer for a cause you are passionate about!

Giving back is much akin to paying forward. My activities for both include my participation here and locally to mentor high school students to understand that college is not optional. I gain so much from the folks here to pass along to them, it is beyond measure!

I also volunteer in the Light The Night effort for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Among other things, I am a Team Captain for this effort. We walk with survivors and families who have survived loved ones one night a year. Our balloons actually light up!

We’re walking in honor of my brave son, Danny and all the warriors who are battling blood cancer. Our site is linked below.

In addition, the skills I learned while fighting for the life of my own son are being used as Patient Cancer Care Advocate for others who are new to the process. It is a difficult road to travel, emotional and very complex, I am the navigator ensuring they get everything they need to be as successful in their battle as possible.

Success to me means being vital, I feel both of these activities exceed my expectations. I feel very fortunate to be able to give back in so may ways!

One of the greatest decision I had taken in my life is to Volunteer for a Social Organisation , Project WHY at Slums of New Delhi,India.

I want to share my achievements in form of a story.

Through Linkedin, I was able to meet a British Management guru, Peter Hunter. Peter introduced me to his philosophy; Breaking the Mould or Creating sustained performance improvement. His philosophy is based on the culture of ownership (i.e., a core belief that all employees want to do as good a job as owners). His philosophy focuses on finding obstacles that restrict us in maximizing our potential.

I started networking with Indian Corporate and academic institutions so as to associate with professional clients in India where we could implement this methodology. While in the process, I met great thought leaders who advised and mentored me for my endeavor. I learnt an important lesson while interacting with one of my professional network i.e.” Management is the art that can be learnt by practicing and not just by stating it as a fact.”

I have experience this important lesson and core values of this methodology in my professional and personal life as well.

On Personal front, I am a professional with Human touch.

Again through LinkedIn, I have experienced this personally while volunteering for “Project Why”, which works for the development of underprivileged children. The appreciation and satisfaction that came with organizing a successful fund raising event and mentoring children from slums reinforce that the path chosen by me is right. I was able to create an environment within the slum community where local staff and students can share their ideas, perspectives, and experience culture of ownership while supporting and organizing social events within the community. Working for a social cause gives me unparallel gratification.

My Efforts were appreciated at personal level. I would appreciate if you can spend some time on the following link.

See the post by founder of Project why when I organized a Campaign for AIDS for underprivileged kids.

http://projectwhy.blogspot.com/2006/04/special-gift.html

LinkedIn helped me explore more about myself, my interest on platforms wherein I was able to interact with people having common attributes, traits and vision. Not only this, Linkedin helped me to organize a talk (Fund raising Campaign for Project Why) while overcoming the cross-cultural barriers with Global Futurist Rohit Talwar to raise funds for noble cause.

I suppose such accolades as the one mentioned in the below link that someone write about your deeds would define your true self. Today, I am really proud to be a true Indian by heart. Kindly spare some more time to visit this link too.

http://projectwhy.blogspot.com/2006/08/moment-in-india-of-my-dreams.html

I also believe in larger side of picture that god had created for all of us but fortunately we cannot see that picture .. i.e. Never regret about your past or what you were not able to achieve, everything happens for the reason and I am sure there must be a reason why I am sharing my life experiences with all of you.

I started working as a volunteer for a NGO in october 2003. I still do volunteer work for this organization: LEADERS Romania.

I work mainly in Fundraising, Project Management and Trainings.

This work is by far, one of the most important contributors to the development of my professional experience and expertise. It helped me develop a self motivating attitude that has generated for me many many opportunities (the list would be way too long to be included here) both in my professional life and in my personal life.

Of course, being an influence in the lives of others is quite a reward, and no other activity is better at giving this reward than volunteer work.

Although I cannot specifically give you an indication of the ROI you will have on your time investment, I do strongly recommend to anybody to try working as a volunteer at least once in their life time.

An example of a volunteer work related lesson:

Have you ever asked yourself the question “Can I be a leader? or Am I a leader?”

The simplest way to answer the question ” Am I a leader?” is to check if anybody is following you.

I found the answer to both questions when working as a volunteer, when 24 people followed my decisions and actions without having any material rewards what so ever attached to their loyalty!

Good to know one can be a leader, isn’t it?

Remember what Einstein said “Not everything that can be evaluated is valuable and not everything that is valuable cand be evaluated”

While I was working as an entertainment editor, I helped a few struggling musicians with some photography work. In some cases, the band went somewhere, in other cases they didn’t. I never charged them for it, knowing they had no money themselves.

Today I am no longer in that industry, even though I am currently out of work and looking for something stable. What I did earn from giving away my services are some really good friends who have some great memories of their time being “rock stars” and the pictures to show their kids.

In some cases, they are helping me look for work because they have moved on to “real jobs.”

I have always believed that my overall success is based on my ability to grow and positively effect others.

Every year, I have been trying to compete in physical challenges, which will make me train, grow and focus on goals. In 2006, I competed in a 1/2 Ironman. In 2007, I am competing in the NY Marathon.

Training for these events takes a lot of time and commitment. During my training for the 1/2 Ironman, I realized that I needed added motivation. I decided to raise money for the John Wayne Cancer Institute.

During the race, it was the idea of my family and friends donating in my name, which allowed me to complete this grueling race.
This year, I am running the NY Marathon for Team Labrecque. I believe that the added motivation helps me push through the pain and become a better person.

I did a few seminars for the bar association on starting and building your law practice with other attorneys and I made great long term friends/contacts from the experience.

I was out promoting an educational program for Toastmasters and as a result was asked to give a graduation speech. I was later hired to teach at the school.

Volunteering has been great in a lot of other ways as well, but these are a couple of concrete benefits I have received.

Let me respond to this from a Corporate perspective.

As head of CSR in a giant financial service corporate of India, one of my objectives is to bring in employee volunteerism. As a company we do believe that by sensitizing our employees we are able to build in a world class work culture and at the same time give back to society.

The question was – which activity should we zero in to set the ball rolling?

Which was that one activity that could act as the ombudsman for CSR and also at the same time contribute to society and again, spread the fire of employee volunteerism.

And we chose – Blood Donation.

We began with the idea of just 5 or may be 10 donations…but the drive and its success took everyone by surprise, including me!

By the end of the single day drive, we had clocked in 282 units of blood, the highest ever by any Corporate!

The enthusiasm that the drive generated was palpable.

And could be felt across the whole Corporate.

This led us to believe that employee volunteerism is a great way to make the employees bond with their organization. We now have put in place policies for the same and are looking forward to increasing this to include time spent with NGOs, as a way of giving back to society.

Almost two years ago, I started working for the LaLuz foundation (www.stichtinglaluz.nl) in my spare time.

LaLuz is a Dutch Amsterdam based organization set up in 2004 by young professionals (yp’s) that matches yp’s with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and charities, so these yp’s can donate their expertise to the ngo’s and charities.

This means a lawyer can help the Red Cross with a legal issue, or a marketer can develop a marketing plan for Warchild etc. The yp’s, including those that run LaLuz, do this in their spare time and pro bono.

I organize events to bring yp’s and ngo’s together, give communication advice to LaLuz and think along with the board on several organizational matters. It is such a stimulating environment, all these yp’s that are prepared to give up valuable free time to work with passion for this organization, so charities and ngo’s can get the expertise they so desperately need, but is often so hard to find or to expensive (especially for the smaller ones).

It is a clear trend, that career-minded young people are searching for more fulfillment, more meaning, more use; they find it within LaLuz, by using their expertise for a good cause. It is often the combination that works for them: on the one hand the corporate environment of their company that pays the bills and where they can build a career, on the other hand the completely different environment of a charity, where they can do good and provide help, but also get a priceless experience that will help them grow further, professionally and personally. It is hard to keep up with all the demand we get from charities and ngo’s. Our database of charities/ngo’s and yp’s is growing like crazy.

For me, this is a way of giving back, other than donating money. I can actually help, with my talents.

Seeing the utter enthusiasm with both charities and yp’s feels simply great.

How all this makes me more successful? It gives me endless energy, makes me see more of the world, gives me new experiences and connects me to a lot of new people. And the fact that we have helped out so many charities this way, is a success to me on its own.

For me, as with most people the addition of children to your life can have a profound effect on you. As I watch them grow, I have become sadly more aware of the issues that face children. I have chosen to volunteer my time and expertise on an ongoing basis to organizations that focus on helping children.

The first, Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center (Byrnes HEC) is dedicated to teaching children to live healthy lifestyles, from nutrition and fitness to substance abuse education. This center employs several educators who, through a hand on classroom style, teach children how to make smart choices. In an effort to reach even more children, they have recently launched a new site http://www.learntobehealthy.org. In an effort to unencumbered themselves from their physical classrooms, they have launched an e-learning site to reach children and teachers across the country and the world.

The second is the Children’s Home of York. The Children’s’ Home of York (CHOY), is the oldest existing child and family centered social service agency in York County, Pennsylvania (York, PA). Since its inception in 1865, the Children’s Home of York has grown from an orphanage dedicated to caring for children left without families following the Civil War, to a comprehensive human service agency providing many valuable programs that benefit all ages. Children’s Home of York provides comprehensive, accredited, community-based services to stabilize and strengthen children and families in need. CHOY doesn’t have bad kids; they help kids who have had bad things happen to them, from physical abuse to neglect.

And last, but not least, Olivia’s House is a grief and loss center for children. Olivia’s House is the first grief and loss center for children in York, Pennsylvania. As such, they are dedicated to becoming the region’s primary resource for children’s grief education. Through their “Hearts Can Heal” program, they create a safe place where young people and their families find support and share experiences while learning to cope with death. Olivia’s house is one of only 10 grief centers in the country that is stand alone. Olivia’s House is not part of a large health care provider agency. They are funded 100% through the generous support of their sponsors and private donations. Olivia’s House offers no cost services for children and young adults whose family member, close friend, or even pet has died.

Every little bit that you can give back to your community helps to make it a better place for everyone. The success of each of these organizations provides personal satisfaction that carries over to my professional life.

I once dated an altruistic, left-leaning young lady. The relationship was more coincidence than fate. We met at the bank. I was making a deposit, she a withdraw. That should have been my first clue to avoid a merger. But as the line lingered on, and on, we struck up a conversation, which led to coffee at McDonald’s followed by a night at the movies. All in all, a pleasing way to spend a Friday evening.

But the Friday evening turned into a weekend, which turned into a week, and so on. Before I could say, “turkey,” Thanksgiving was waiting for me in a taxi outside my house.

Unlike most normal, patriotic American consumers who go home to give thanks for the overflowing abundance that is America, not to mention one-upping the relatives in the race to the top, the coffee girl – as I’ve recently begun to call her – tricked me into spending my Thanksgiving at a homeless shelter dishing out shards of turkey, stuffing – the usual T-Day fare – to ex-consumers. I’m not opposed, at least not in a stand-on-the-soapbox-with-a-bullhorn kinda way, to helping those consumers that have fallen on hard times. Around Christmas, for instance, I empty my pockets of change into the Salvation Army soup tubs located conveniently next to most ATMs. But I do resent spending Thanksgiving with strangers, and much to my chagrin, the coffee girl resented that I resented that.

Estranged now, and for good reason, I consider the coffee girl relationship a super success.

Had love permanently blinded me, I’d be looking at spending the approaching November 22nd in the company of a herd of strangers, more strange, even, than the family of strangers I’m oddly looking forward to spending a few others with.

[ ZT - I found this story somewhat challenging at first and wasn’t going to include it. However, after some thought I realized a valuable lesson in – giving back helps you appreciate the blessings you have in your own life.]

I give back to my local community in variety of ways, but my favorite by far is volunteering. When you spend your time helping others it changes your life.

You start to see things from a different perspective. You learn from people who have lived very different lives from your own. You see amazing strength, love, and generosity where you least expect it. You start to see where communities and business can do better.

If you leave the country, such as on a Habitat for Humanity Global Village build trip, you experience a totally different culture which teaches you about yourself and about possibilities you never considered before. Some of my very best friends have been made while volunteering.

Volunteering is a great equalizer. You’re working with other volunteers that range from high school students to CEO’s. You’re working with agencies and clients from a variety of backgrounds. Each person you meet has something to teach you if you’re open to it.

I have had the opportunity to be a volunteer for many years as a soccer coach in my community. I have learned plenty and made many friendships over the years, and today it has help me secure a paying coaching position, which is something I’ve always envisioned.

The best part is the long lasting friendships with other coaches, parents and players I had the opportunity to teach and coach. Those relationships are essential to my growth in my current aspirations and a great asset to have for future business contact, ventures, and so on.

The most satisfying feeling of all, is to have a parent, coach or player come up to me and say “Thanks for your time ……” and then to hear how I was part of their success.

One of the best sayings I’ve heard and I still reflect upon is

“.. To have a servant heart, and a servant mentality” by following this rule the possibilities of returns are immeasurable, and sometimes when you least expect it someone does something nice for you without you knowing why, but it feels good.

So I encourage everyone to do something for someone, or volunteer your time for a cause you believe in, and your life will be filled with joy and returns unimaginable to you.

The True Role of a Leader (Leadership, Vol. 1)
Booklet by Paul J Meyer