Holiday gifting is good for the soul and for business
Don't overlook the gift of your own knowledge or assistance to organizations. In addition to the usual stereotype of holiday volunteering at the soup kitchen or homeless shelter, there are plenty of nonprofit associations out there that may need your expert assistance.
DENVER — December 16, 2005 — I'm often asked by people what I enjoy most about being an entrepreneur. Many would respond that they value the autonomy of being their own boss, the increased income they gain from being self-employed or maybe the flexibility they, as a business owner, might enjoy.
While all of these attributes are among the many reasons I enjoy being an entrepreneur, the primary reason I got into this business was the opportunity to give back to the community, and that is the reason I continue to operate with so much enthusiasm today.
I started my business when I was only 16 years old. After the initial enthusiasm of being able to drive my car anywhere I pleased wore off, I started analyzing the part-time career opportunities available to me while I finished high school. While the low pay certainly was a negative factor, I wanted to do something where I was truly adding value to my community.
I decided to start my own IT consulting firm. Right from the beginning, I placed an importance on sharing a portion of my unusually high salary (for my age, that is) with a charitable organization. While most of my classmates were saving for new cars, senior trips and other high school desires, I used the network of contacts I had developed within my client base to raise money and supplies for a computer lab for a new youth center in town that served at-risk children.
Between the donations and support I acquired from my clients and the money I was able to chip in, I built a few computers and accessories for the center that were used for many years. Hopefully at least one of the children learned something from using the computers that helped them in their educational or career choices later in life.
The main reason for recalling this story is that I learned from a very young age, in both my life and the development of my business, that the blessings businesses receive from their customers should be shared back with the community.
I certainly wasn't going to receive any leads for new businesses by giving the children some computer equipment. However, the experience allowed me to take pride in my company's ability to provide such a charitable donation and also strengthened the relationship with my current clients, all of which are still working with me.
Throughout the past 10 years, I've made charity involvement a top priority. Some years that involves making monetary donations. Other years I find myself donating my time and service to the organization. Both can be extremely valuable for the giver and the receiver.
As the business year winds down, many businesses look to make charitable donations before the tax benefit expires on Dec. 31. I encourage you to make such a donation, or if you're an employee, to find out about your employer's matching donation program to make your dollar go even further.
However, don't overlook the gift of your own knowledge or assistance to organizations. In addition to the usual stereotype of holiday volunteering at the soup kitchen or homeless shelter, there are plenty of nonprofit associations out there that may need your expert assistance.
A professional lawyer could prove a valuable resource to a new charity considering 501(c) status. An accountant could help a nonprofit better organize its tax filings. An IT professional such as myself could not only donate a new computer to an organization in need, but could provide invaluable assistance in helping them set up their system, as well as train them on how to use the new computer.
Often others are interested in getting involved but simply don't know how to best help. Ask your clients or peers at work if they'd like to partner up and sponsor a charity, provide comprehensive volunteer work or simply each pitch in a small amount of money that adds up to a very large donation.
You will not only gain the satisfaction of assisting others in need, but will build a stronger relationship with your clients or peers.
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Published December 16, 2005, Denver Business Journal
Copyright 2005, Denver Business Journal.
All Rights Reserved
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About Cephas Innovation
Cephas Innovation is a management and information technology consulting firm that combines Fortune 1000, enterprise-level experience and resources with an entrepreneurial delivery style to generate exceptional results for its clients. Founded in 1995, Cephas Innovation has worked with some of the fastest growing and most successful organizations in the world, including Avaya, Knova Software, LabOne, Qwest Communications, Research in Motion (Blackberry), SaskTel, Standard & Poor's, QLogic, and the US Golf Association. For more information about Cephas Innovation, visit www.cephasinnovation.com.
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