The Busy Person’s Guide to Fitting in Contribution

  I would always hear people speak about finding a cause to get involved with and I’d say to myself, “Oh, I’ll do that when I’m making $XXX.” Or I’d say, “Oh, I don’t have time for that but when I’m a CEO and I have more time, I’ll be able to get involved in something!” Yeah right!! I learned very quickly … there is no such thing as finding or getting more time. And the more money you make the more money you spend … unless you have great habits already in place. Here are 6 steps that will help you with making contribution a consistent part of your life whether you’re just getting started or you’re already running a successful business.

1. You’re already good enough. It’s easy to think we need more credibility, experience, money, or whatever to be worthy of someone learning from us. But remember, there is someone else who has less than you and there is something you can offer.
2. Pick one of the 3 ways you can give. Money is only one way to give. There is also time. And expertise. Write down which one makes the most sense for you to contribute right now.
3. Let your cause be your passion. My wife and I love concerts, theater, and being adventurous. So, we found a charity that aligns with our values.  We also love speaking and training so we donate some of our time and expertise every year to organizations whose mission we believe in.
4. Make it fun. Find friends, co-workers or family who also want to give back. Find a common cause, and go for that. We hosted our own mini concert at an assisted living home in our area. We turned our 4th of July BBQ into a lip sync battle and used dollars to vote for winners which we donated to charity.
5. Make a plan. Just like a business project needs a plan, so does a contribution project. Otherwise it’s another great idea collecting dust. Check out tips on finding more time and increasing savings for more help in those areas.
6. Take action. Find your cause, engaged your community and made a plan. Now, there’s only one thing left to do. ACT. You can sit around and wait for something or someone to come to you, or you can pick up the phone and make something happen yourself. The latter is always the fastest way to get something done.

The rippled effect of giving back is immense. I love to imagine how much better the world and the people in it would be if we all got intentional about contributing just a little bit of our time, resources and / or expertise a consistent part of our lives. How do you plan to level up your contribution in your life? Share in the comments below and share this post with someone who needs it!