Giving Back To Your Community

‘It is better to give than receive.’

How many of us were raised with the values of charity, generosity of spirit, care and consideration? I am sure, most of us have. Which leaves us to consider its corollary question: When was the last time you gave back to your community?

People, who challenge themselves with extreme sports and other physical challenges in order to raise funds for a disadvantaged group, inspire me. At times, these monetary collections may pale in comparison to the challenge, yet the initiator of this fund ends up bigger and brighter, for longer. And, the Tribes support these minor causes – as long as it clicks with them, and resonates with their values and beliefs.

On Twitter, we return the favour by connecting the online presence of a Follower with our followers, through Re-Tweets (RTs). It is conventional to retweet the 140-character maximum text message when you like it, and like to share its usefulness with our Tribe. The Twitter community does easily promote timely news, worthy causes, and useful information to its highly connected network. Certainly, reckless and rampant re-tweeting has its repercussions and implications since ‘one person’s meat is another person’s poison.’ By re-tweeting, we are affirming a person’s cause or preference.

Talk-show mogul, Oprah Winfrey organised a reality television series called the Big Give Back, which emphasised the human spirit of wanting to help, and philanthropy. The viewing audience may have perceived the eventual prize of $1 million as the antithesis of pure philanthropy, so it lasted for one season only.

There are ways to give back, including:

1)    Actively raising funds for a cause (organize a club-level running race, and entry is by ‘as you wish’ contribution) that matters.

2)    Conducting a free skills workshop for a ‘not-for profit’ organization, club, or community (‘teaching them to fish’).

3)    Mentoring and coaching, face-to-face, ‘at risk’ youths.

4)    Monitoring ‘online help-desks’ and helping counsel the needy, disparate, and desperate.

5)    Helping somebody extensively and effectively promote his/her cause, business, passion, or pursuit.

6)    Teach, educate and coach others in a field of your expertise (coach swimmers or runners at your local tri-club).

7)    Volunteer at a local sports event in various capacities and capabilities (handing out medals, security, bag-collection, aid-stations, sports massage, first-aid tent, road marshals, etc.).

Leadership Lessons: Giving and giving back are personal choices, not requirements. If you feel obligated to give back to the larger need, then you might want to review your intentions. Give freely of your time, effort and resources. Place yourself in a place of most potential, so you may benefit from your thoughts, words and deeds. Above all, feel good about doing good for others. May you go forth and prosper!

Awesome YouTube concert video of Trace Bundy and young guitarist wunderkind, Sungha Jung in respectful musical collaboration.