Service is the Heart of Business

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Pen Pal

Many of my older friends, who are retired, retiring or contemplating this life change wonder what their less structured days may hold.  Though I am still happily, productively employed, and very actively engaged in community volunteering,  I've recently, accidentally discovered, a meaningful and flexible way to make a difference, as a pen pal.

My new pen pal is a former colleague's adult child, who I initially met as a Special Olympics athlete. There are so many folks, young and old, whose lives can be brightened by occasional letters from those outside their immediate circles.  And, as fate would have it, our lives are brightened equally or greater.

Pennies from Heaven

Whether we consider them lucky pennies or pennies from heaven, found pennies should be day brighteners.  They are unexpected tiny bits of good fortune.  I've always relished finding pennies, and never more than since Edgar died.  I'd asked him to send me pennies from heaven and in the months since he died, I've found more pennies than I remember finding in the past several combined years. The beautiful, comforting thing about many of these finds, is that they often appear when I'm having a tough time.  Just yesterday, a confirming penny appeared, providing me reassurance on the day that my beloved uncle died.

When we expect and accept good cheer, regardless of how small the increment, we are often rewarded exponentially.  Small kindnesses, smiles, greetings, praise, thanks and gestures are other tiny treasures that we can as easily overlook generously giving and gratefully receiving, as the penny waiting to be retrieved.

We can all make a big difference when we continually seize small opportunities to be day brighteners.

Power of 1+

It is amazing to realize how far-reaching each connection we make might be.  When I joined LinkedIn, years ago, before this powerful network was adding new members every second, I had no idea how far-reaching my potential network might become.  From a trusting start of one connection at a time, my first degree connections now provide access to over 14 million potential friends, colleagues, clients, neighbors, volunteers, etc.

We all make a difference is so many seen and unseen ways!

Make a Day

My day started with a 7:00 a.m. conference call  At my second meeting, a stranger complimented my attire, and late in the day, colleagues I rarely see mentioned how put together I always am.  Though I make it a point to find positive comments for family, friends and colleagues; as the recipient of these unexpected positive observations, when I didn't think I was necessarily at my best, I fully realized that a little positive and sincere attention to others can really make a day.

Easy and Priceless Impact

There's no stated cash value, yet potential priceless impact for blood donations. Each whole blood donation has the potential to save 3 lives. Yesterday, was my 63rd blood donation to the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.  In 8 weeks, I'll reach a personal 8 gallon milestone.

If you are healthy and have an hour to commit to saving lives, please consider making a potentially priceless (and practically painless) donation with no out-of-pocket impact.

Each of us can make a difference in so many ways - this is one important one!

Encourage One

Sometimes goals that are too lofty discourage well intended progress.  Three times this week I've had the opportunity to remember that encouraging one person can have positive ripple impacts.

One of my friends is an amazing golfer.  When we were visiting at the end of 2012 or beginning of 2013, I shared my 400 mile running goal for the year and we talked about a golf game per week goal for him.  Not only did he adopt it; he motivated another golfer friend to embrace it.

And, at a Comerica Bank and Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce event this week, one of the inspiring comments was, every attendee could, at a minimum, encourage one more person to help reduce negative portrayals of women in the media..

Then, a blown glass starfish was the party favor at an event this week, and included the story of the child who is walking the beach throwing each starfish she finds back into the ocean.  When challenged by an adult about the impact she was having, given the enormous number of beached starfish, she continued her quest with the assurance that she was making a difference to each starfish she assisted.

These three vivid examples made me realize that when I make a difference for anyone, it is a difference that matters.

Highlighting Impact

Last week we sent simple personalized notes to our 2012 blood donors with a Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center highlighter pen, thanking them for their donations and highlighting  their impact.  There are so many quick, easy and inexpensive ways to say thank you - you make a difference.

Tell Others What They Mean to You

Too few people know the difference they make to others.  We all have the opportunity each day to tell loved ones, friends and acquaintances how they've positively impacted our lives.  We're sometimes hesitant to share compliments because we don't know how they'll be received or true feelings because they may not be returned. 

When we say what we mean, with our only objective being encouraging another, it will generally be well received.  Usually, it's only when it's manipulative, false or self-serving do we get a negative reaction.

Life Speaks

Today I attended a lovely memorial service for a dear friend's husband.  His well-lived life was evident through every aspect of the service:

• the full house during a holiday weekend
• beautiful music
• articulate, adoring grown children beautifully eulogizing their father
• many instances of his servant leadership
• giving of his talents to numerous nonprofits
• a minister who knew well and respected this special man

It was obvious, as the minister mentioned, that his life consistently spoke the terrific man he was.

How awesome to live a life that speaks amazingly for you when you are present and when you are departed.

When a Little Means a Lot

I've previously written about the impact of  $25 Kiva loans to enterprising business women and men.  Today I made my 22nd loan, this one to a group of female business women in the Congo.  It's exciting to perpetually invest a little, with potentially life-changing impacts to the entrepreneurs and their families. As is often the case, with those who attempt to help, my life has been greatly enriched by giving a little and seeing the the bigger difference these little bits have made to so many striving families around the globe. 

A little investment can change lives - of investors and of those in whose enterprises investments are made.  Investment is one of the many ways to help individuals and businesses prosper.

Everyone Can Make Someone's Day Special

This busy week provided the opportunity to enjoy many diverse events including two evening gatherings at the same downtown corporate headquarters.  As I arrived for the second celebration this week, I recognized the smiling valet with appreciation for taking care of me a couple of days earlier.  Much to my surprise and delight, he chose to keep my car upfront so that I'd have no wait as I left.  This simple human connection made two people's days special.  This hard-working man afforded me unexpected special service and earned him a bonus.

We all have the opportunity through simple acts of acknowledgement and kindness to make someone's day special.

45 Ways to Make a Difference

45 Ways to Make a Difference

1.      Volunteer!

2.      Contribute financially to a non-profit organization.

3.      Join a non-profit friends group.

4.      Become an advisory board member.

5.      Serve on a board.

6.      Chair a committee.

7.      Plan an event.

8.      Make friends aware of the great work of your chosen non-profit organization.

9.      Walk, run or bike for an organization.

10.  Donate your new or gently used items to an organization.

11.  Vote.

12.  Bring someone with you to volunteer.

13.  Recycle.

14.  Collect non-perishable food items for a food bank or pantry.

15.  Give blood.

16.  Register as an organ donor.

17.  Provide toiletry items to a homeless organization.

18.  Be a mentor.

19.  Teach a class.

20.  Encourage a friend, stranger, colleague, family member or neighbor.

21.  Speak up for someone who needs an advocate.

22.  Discover new volunteer options. One Houston option is http://www.volunteerhouston.org.

23.  Take the magazines you’ve read to a nursing home or hospital.

24.  Organize a group of colleagues, friends or neighbors for a volunteer project.

25.  Conserve natural resources.

26.  Fund-raise for a non-profit.

27.  Assist a classroom teacher.

28.  Coach a team.

29.  Fund a classroom project. One option is www.donorschoose.org.

30.  Thoughtfully re-gift.

31.  Donate books to the library.

32.  Motivate positive action with a letter to the editor.

33.  Donate or recycle your old cell phone.

34.  Keep reusable bags in your car for shopping trips.

35.  Support a non-profit through social media.

36.  Donate eyeglasses. One option is www.lionsclubs.org.

37.  Donate unopened contact lenses.  One option is http://www.madre.org.

38.  Shop for a cause.

39.  Donate your hair. One option is www.locksoflove.org.

40.  Support our troops.

41.  Share knowledge.

42.  Send used greeting cards to St.Jude’s Ranch (www.stjudesranch.org).

43.  Become a foster parent.

44.  Attend a fund-raising event.

45.  Make a donation in memory or honor of someone.

Eye Can Make a Difference

One of my colleagues suffers from eye allergies.  Her red eyes and comments caused me to provide her the coupon I received from my (new) eye doctor for a significant discount for an over-the-counter medication.  She reported good results today from this new treatment.  Everything is connected in ways that we don't always initially see.

Making a Difference in Classrooms

Sterling Bank's annual Thanksgiving grants benefited 28 classroom projects in high poverty schools in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.  DonorsChoose.org makes it easy to find projects and quickly learn of the impact through the immediate grateful feedback from these classroom teachers.  This appreciative letter from one of our Houston projects beautifully illustrates the difference these classroom grants can make.

Dear Sterling Bank, Aunt Pat, Mrs Salinas and Anonymous Donor, 

My students CHOSE to skip recess so they could learn more math! I could not believe what I was hearing when my students actually decided they would rather play our new multiplication Bingo than go outside for recess - WOW! They loved it!
They were so thrilled when the boxes arrived! They have even started making suggestions for how we can use the materials in workstations. It is so nice as a teacher to see them get excited about and take ownership of their learning.
Thank you so much for your generous contributions to my students and me. It truly will help me be a better math teacher and help them be better math students! Thanks again! With gratitude,
Ms. W.

Funding Classroom Projects

For anyone with a desire to help fund projects in individual public school classrooms, DonorsChoose.org provides an easy way to select from thousands of teacher requests.  DonorsChoose.org is an award-winning online charity that presents public school teachers' classroom project funding requests from across the U.S.  Small gifts really make a difference because the site pools donor funds to make individual classroom dreams a reality.   It's easy to search for projects by location. And the projects are incredibly diverse, allowing incredible donor flexibility.

Is It Time to Change Your Volunteer Post?

Why are we volunteering where we are volunteering? Periodically, we must pause to remember why we are maintaining or neglecting our various volunteer commitments.  We need to remember why we initially engaged with the organization. 

Were we chosen/or did we choose to engage because of a particular skill set, passion or connections?  If so, we need to ascertain if we have added sufficient value from our involvement. We must also question whether the organization could benefit from new blood with a similar reason for engaging.  Best yet, we will realize that our reasons for investing our discretionary time and talent with the organization remain worthy. And when we methodically choose to pare a commitment, my hope is that we will find another organization that will similarly benefit from our engagement and identify another volunteer who will serve in our place.

We all make a difference!

What Difference do Ushers Make?

We can't remember how many years we've been ushering at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church. Suffice it to say, it's more far more than a decade.  I sometimes wonder what would happen if no ushers appeared.  I've decided that the service would progress with little interruption.  Worshippers could grab a service bulletin on the way in. Parishioners would sort themselves out for communion.  The offering could be collected by a priest at the end of the service. 

Ushers:

• provide a friendly greeting to new and returning worshippers 
• give the priests a break in organizing parishioners for worship, offering and communion
• answer questions
• leave the church clean and orderly for the next worshippers
• recycle the service bulletins
• expand the church community

Though the worship service would progress according to protocol - without ushers, it would be a little less welcoming, a bit more intimidating to visitors, a tad more disorderly, and an iota less engaging.

Share Your Talents

According to Volunteering in America, 61.8 million Americans (26.4% of the adult population) volunteered between 2006 and 2008, and the average time volunteered was 34.7 hours.  Eight billion hours were volunteered, with a value of $162 Billion (using Independent Sector's volunteer rate of $20.25).  Imagine what an enormous difference we could make just by boosting volunteer involvement!

Volunteering has been an expectation for as long as I can remember.  It was role modeled for me as a child.  Though I've put heart and soul into many volunteer activities, I've generally felt that I gained far more than I contributed.  However, positive feedback from beneficiaries has confirmed that it is very much a two-way street.  I've often categorized volunteer involvement and contributions as "enlightened self-interest".  Both are good for the individual/corporation and the non-profit.

Though I've engaged with many fabulous non-profits through the years, I'm currently most engaged as the Vice-Chairman of DePelchin Children's Center, Board Member at Alley Theatre,  Houston Better Business Bureau and  Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce.  I also love serving as an advisory board member for Junior League of Houston and Houston Technology Center and as the Corporate Advocate for March of Dimes and the corporate host for blood drives at 8 week intervals as a 6+-gallon donor for the Blood Center. I loved my American Leadership Forum experience where I am a Senior Fellow and former board member. I'm also an active advocate for SEARCH, Center for Houston's Future, Girl Scouts and BioHouston. And with my family, we lead an usher team at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church.

Perhaps I'm over-committed to these marvelous organizations, but I only engage with organizations that I believe are making a difference.  My full level of engagement will illuminate for other non-profits who seek my involvement that when I respond, "I cannot take on one more commitment", I am providing a true assessment. 

If you are not currently an engaged volunteer, please find an organization that will value your time, talent and  treasure.

50 Ways to Make a Difference

There are millions of ways to make a difference. Here are 50:

1. Volunteer

2. Give blood

3. Recycle

4. Donate items that are no longer needed

5. Spend time with an old friend

6. Be a role model

7. Accept an informational interview

8. Make an introduction

9. Provide a recommendation

10. Send an unexpected greeting

11. Smile

12. Offer to help

13. Make a micro-loan

14. Share ideas

15. Solicit opinions

16. Congratulate others

17. Change bad habits

18. Thank a service provider

19. Follow-through on commitments

20. Say yes when you can and no when you need to

21. Give a sincere compliment in front of others

22. Be courteous

23. Do my best everyday

24. Acknowledge the contributions of others

25. Offer ways to incrementally improve a service or process

26. Give others access to data, templates, research

27. Negotiate fairly

28. Drive friendly

29. Treat others as you’d like to be treated

30. Buy an item from a child who asks – lemonade, cookies, tickets

31. Accept an invitation to present in a school

32. Lend a book

33. Share opportunities that are beneficial to others

34. Vote

35. Opt for on-line delivery of documents

36. Purchase and use a re-usable water bottle

37. Support a friend’s endeavor

38. Accept an invitation to connect

39. Live healthy

40. Look for solutions

41. Expect positive outcomes

42. Offer a different perspective

43. Collaborate

44. Pray

45. Thank a soldier

46. Thank a teacher

47. Express condolences

48. Add to someone’s collection

49. Refrain from gossiping

50. Exhibit an attitude of gratitude