I recently wrote about marketing through networking in your community, and touched on charity involvement. I want to clarify that while I certainly benefit from networking in charity organizations, I also do it with a bigger purpose.
That bigger purpose is the benefit to the community or specific benefactor of my charity efforts. In other words, driven from the heart. I have always thought of participating as a hands-on, roll up your sleeves and work together environment. I enjoy working with other people as a team.
During a conversation with my Father-in-law over dinner, he mentioned that he had given blood earlier in the day and had achieved the “three gallon club” membership. I thought about how many times you must have to give blood to reach that mark. Being deftly afraid of needles, I could not imagine why anyone would want to put themselves through such pain and anguish. The question begged! Finally, I asked, why?
He seemed stunned. “Why not”? he asked. I told him of my fear of needles. He told me that most people who have a needle inserted for an IV or to draw blood only feel the initial poke of the needle and nothing after that. Unlike most, he said that for him, it was excruciating pain for him from beginning to end. Even more, I wondered, why?
He explained that as an introvert, he did not enjoy contributing to the community in a group setting such as myself. He realized that donating blood was something that he could do as a charitable cause that was private, discreet, and low-profile but being beneficial to our community as well. A noble thought I would say.
It hit me square in the eye. Everyone can find some type of charitable cause they can contribute to that they would feel satisfaction over while making their community a better place to live through. It's about the efforts of everyone working together both in front of and behind the scenes.
Print | posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:50 AM