What Happens When Community Involvement Becomes Core to Your Business

WEBVTT
00:00:46.573 --> 00:00:52.198
As a business owner, I truly feel that we have a responsibility to our communities.
00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:54.656
I know that is big for you, Chrissy.
00:00:54.656 --> 00:01:02.740
Yeah, you're smiling much more than you were for last week's episode when we were talking about, something something something something something.
00:01:02.740 --> 00:01:03.906
Yeah.
00:01:03.906 --> 00:01:07.698
Community responsibility to me is is it's twofold.
00:01:07.698 --> 00:01:10.073
It is a it is a responsibility.
00:01:10.073 --> 00:01:12.781
But B, it's kind of one of my favorite things.
00:01:12.781 --> 00:01:14.240
It's so much fun.
00:01:14.240 --> 00:01:15.031
Yeah.
00:01:15.031 --> 00:01:16.031
How do you have fun with that?
00:01:16.031 --> 00:01:17.573
How do you do it?
00:01:17.573 --> 00:01:19.948
I think we're gonna have fun today. Yeah.
00:01:19.948 --> 00:01:22.948
Stay tuned.
00:01:23.573 --> 00:01:25.240
She's the CEO.
00:01:25.240 --> 00:01:27.448
He's the marketing and operations guy.
00:01:27.448 --> 00:01:29.615
If it's broken, you need.
00:01:29.615 --> 00:01:32.615
The business fix.
00:01:36.490 --> 00:01:39.490
The mood change.
00:01:39.823 --> 00:01:41.490
Pink. Pink.
00:01:41.490 --> 00:01:43.323
Just pegged from one direction.
00:01:43.323 --> 00:01:44.656
The other.
00:01:44.656 --> 00:01:46.073
Rather entertaining.
00:01:46.073 --> 00:01:48.781
Chrissy, what do you have that is going on?
00:01:48.781 --> 00:01:50.990
That is entertaining? Exciting.
00:01:50.990 --> 00:01:52.781
I mean, there's one, I think. Good.
00:01:52.781 --> 00:01:54.698
It's a travel season for me.
00:01:54.698 --> 00:01:58.198
So I have several conferences going to, Alberta.
00:01:58.240 --> 00:02:02.240
We're going to be in Lake Louise for a week for a conference, and then I get to get that for you.
00:02:02.281 --> 00:02:03.156
Okay.
00:02:03.156 --> 00:02:06.156
And I get to go to Kansas City. So, like.
00:02:06.156 --> 00:02:07.865
Yeah, two totally different places.
00:02:07.865 --> 00:02:08.740
So, yeah.
00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:09.198
Another week.
00:02:09.198 --> 00:02:11.948
Well, yeah, they are different, but a lot of wheat.
00:02:11.948 --> 00:02:13.823
Yeah, it's just wheat.
00:02:13.823 --> 00:02:14.823
They have wheat in common.
00:02:17.406 --> 00:02:17.990
Okay.
00:02:17.990 --> 00:02:20.990
At least not not necessarily in the city as much, but around.
00:02:20.990 --> 00:02:26.406
I haven't been to either one ever, so I'm just super excited to be somewhere different. So good. What about you?
00:02:26.406 --> 00:02:28.531
What's going on?
00:02:28.531 --> 00:02:29.823
It's starting to get colder.
00:02:29.823 --> 00:02:31.240
Yes. Rainier.
00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:33.823
Darker. Dark. Oh, darker. Yes.
00:02:33.823 --> 00:02:34.781
All right. Yeah. It's me.
00:02:34.781 --> 00:02:38.031
Married to someone who's like, there's only eight hours of sunlight.
00:02:38.073 --> 00:02:39.240
There's only ten hours.
00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:41.115
Like, he counts down every day.
00:02:41.115 --> 00:02:44.115
Oh, that's. That's helpful. Yeah, I know.
00:02:44.281 --> 00:02:44.990
Working on it.
00:02:44.990 --> 00:02:47.281
Does it does he do the opposite in the spring? Yes.
00:02:47.281 --> 00:02:48.198
Oh, good. Good.
00:02:48.198 --> 00:02:49.031
That's okay.
00:02:49.031 --> 00:02:52.323
So that's the going into the dark ages.
00:02:52.448 --> 00:02:55.448
Out of the dark.
00:02:52.448 --> 00:02:55.448
No, I get it to me, though.
00:02:55.740 --> 00:03:01.865
I do love the four seasons that we have here in Ohio because, like, part of it's some relief is summer.
00:02:59.115 --> 00:03:01.865
We try and get so much done.
00:03:01.865 --> 00:03:03.031
We're always doing stuff.
00:03:03.031 --> 00:03:04.865
I'm always like, can I go for a ride today?
00:03:05.906 --> 00:03:11.948
Can't really squeeze it in but I'm going to anyways like going into this time of year is kind of like the okay.
00:03:11.948 --> 00:03:13.906
Can't like yardwork.
00:03:13.906 --> 00:03:15.365
Yeah. It's cold damp and wet.
00:03:15.365 --> 00:03:17.531
You're not doing not doing outside not doing anything.
00:03:17.531 --> 00:03:17.906
The house.
00:03:17.906 --> 00:03:21.990
So it I don't want to say life slows down a little bit but it does.
00:03:22.156 --> 00:03:26.240
So I, I don't love it but I also need the break.
00:03:26.365 --> 00:03:29.365
Yeah, I get it.
00:03:29.656 --> 00:03:34.531
There's still a ton of projects, though, that we can do for the community.
00:03:34.531 --> 00:03:35.948
Yeah.
00:03:35.948 --> 00:03:38.281
Just as soon as I say community, you're faces.
00:03:38.281 --> 00:03:41.031
Like I just. Say you do.
00:03:41.031 --> 00:03:45.990
The thing that I love about it is my business, which involves a lot of stuff in the community.
00:03:45.990 --> 00:03:46.906
I know you're involved.
00:03:46.906 --> 00:03:49.573
You have been for eons involved in the community.
00:03:49.573 --> 00:03:51.490
That's like a core thing that you guys do.
00:03:52.656 --> 00:03:54.948
It's not just good for the community. No.
00:03:54.948 --> 00:03:57.615
It's good for business in a lot of ways, too.
00:03:57.615 --> 00:04:02.573
Yeah. And it's it's one of those things that it's tough not to feel warm and fuzzy about.
00:04:02.573 --> 00:04:04.490
Something that is good for the community.
00:04:02.573 --> 00:04:04.490
Good for the bad.
00:04:04.490 --> 00:04:07.490
I mean, if it's just good for everyone, just do it.
00:04:09.365 --> 00:04:12.406
We always say like in my business, success is a shared thing.
00:04:12.406 --> 00:04:14.156
You've heard me say that ad nauseum.
00:04:14.156 --> 00:04:17.240
It's not just bad wall art. No.
00:04:19.322 --> 00:04:19.865
For me.
00:04:19.865 --> 00:04:25.115
And one of the ways that I always look at it is it's not just what you achieve, but what you help others achieve.
00:04:26.197 --> 00:04:29.197
You guys are well known for your commitment.
00:04:29.281 --> 00:04:32.740
I mean, in the community, throughout the community, throughout multiple communities.
00:04:33.697 --> 00:04:42.740
Not only successful in the business, but you guys typically are pretty successful at any community engagement programs or anything like that you guys work on.
00:04:42.740 --> 00:04:45.822
It typically goes off pretty darn well.
00:04:45.990 --> 00:04:48.031
Well, thanks.
00:04:48.031 --> 00:04:51.031
I do like that's not just.
00:04:51.156 --> 00:04:57.072
Hey, guys, community project, come up with something and expecting it to happen.
00:04:57.197 --> 00:05:00.197
Yeah. No.
00:05:01.990 --> 00:05:04.865
How do you how do you make this happen successfully?
00:05:04.865 --> 00:05:05.990
Yeah, there's a few things.
00:05:05.990 --> 00:05:08.948
I mean, first is aligning your mission with community impact, so I love it.
00:05:08.948 --> 00:05:11.823
It's part of. I mean, your mission statement sounds great.
00:05:11.823 --> 00:05:13.531
Scott wall art, you know, all the things.
00:05:13.531 --> 00:05:18.990
But if it doesn't really show up in the community, if it if the action isn't there, the fruit isn't there.
00:05:18.990 --> 00:05:19.948
It's just a tagline.
00:05:19.948 --> 00:05:24.698
So, I mean, for us, there's a there's a bunch of different things that we do at ROI and clarity.
00:05:25.990 --> 00:05:27.615
One is collaboration.
00:05:27.615 --> 00:05:31.531
So we look at, you know, how can we serve in the community and how can we be collaborative?
00:05:31.531 --> 00:05:39.281
Sometimes it's with clients, sometimes it's with just community leaders to work on specific things that help drive our organization and our community.
00:05:39.281 --> 00:05:41.240
And in general forward.
00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:46.198
So, I mean, community is a core value of a UI and clarity.
00:05:46.198 --> 00:05:50.615
So we believe that serving the community is just as important is doing business in the community.
00:05:50.615 --> 00:05:56.740
So finding the right type of purpose for things that we can do together as an organization, is important.
00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:09.073
And then also, I mean, we we celebrate and incentivize our team members to serve in the ways in which they want to, because not everybody's going to want to go, you know, wash dogs at the dog shelter.
00:06:09.073 --> 00:06:14.615
Not everybody's going to want to go clean up a litter at the soapbox derby.
00:06:14.615 --> 00:06:17.615
So we give them the ability to track their hours.
00:06:17.615 --> 00:06:31.031
So we say, you know, if you're serving on a board, if you're serving in in your church or in a in a different way, if you're coaching Little League, keep track of those hours and then the individual that has the most hours at the end of the year, we give them $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice.
00:06:31.031 --> 00:06:36.990
So then we're not just incentivizing people to say, hey, come work for us so that we can go do these great projects together.
00:06:36.990 --> 00:06:38.615
We're saying, you're doing these things on your own.
00:06:38.615 --> 00:06:39.156
Good job.
00:06:39.156 --> 00:06:42.156
How can we celebrate and support you to that's awesome.
00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:43.740
That's a big. Boat.
00:06:43.740 --> 00:06:44.490
Oh yeah.
00:06:44.490 --> 00:06:52.073
That and I mean, to me like how does how do like values play into that.
00:06:52.073 --> 00:06:54.490
I mean I like we talk about values.
00:06:54.490 --> 00:06:57.156
We talk about like the company culture.
00:06:57.156 --> 00:06:59.448
I know you've you've got it has value.
00:06:59.448 --> 00:07:01.698
Yeah. I mean it's you show up in your community.
00:07:01.698 --> 00:07:06.156
Your the way you show up in the community should directly reflect the values that you have.
00:07:06.156 --> 00:07:09.698
So if we say we care about people, it doesn't stop with payroll.
00:07:10.198 --> 00:07:15.115
It should show up in how we invest, how we do things and in the place that we do business.
00:07:15.115 --> 00:07:16.281
We paid you.
00:07:16.281 --> 00:07:21.615
So I mean, for us, some of that also means that we don't just donate, we don't just write checks to organizations.
00:07:21.615 --> 00:07:22.781
We fully participate.
00:07:22.781 --> 00:07:28.031
And, you know, your community work should feel like an extension of your culture.
00:07:28.031 --> 00:07:29.823
It's not just a PR opportunity.
00:07:29.823 --> 00:07:42.906
I think you can see that in the operations on the tactical side, when you see it in social media, you can tell when people are serving and there's a photo and they're like, I got paid to be here, like, or we truly enjoy what we're doing.
00:07:43.490 --> 00:07:47.240
So I mean, like for us, we believe the businesses and this is really me.
00:07:47.615 --> 00:07:51.573
I believe that businesses have a platform and the resources to make a difference.
00:07:51.573 --> 00:07:53.615
And so with that comes responsibility.
00:07:53.615 --> 00:08:02.281
And so when it shows up in our values, these are the things that we're going to do, whether it's sponsoring events, mentoring youth, helping organizations strengthen their HR practices and their benefits, which is what we do.
00:08:02.281 --> 00:08:07.740
It all stems from a belief that serving the community is just as important as doing business in the community. Why?
00:08:09.073 --> 00:08:12.073
Because that makes the world better and.
00:08:12.615 --> 00:08:14.698
I know, I know.
00:08:14.698 --> 00:08:15.490
It is. It's simple.
00:08:15.490 --> 00:09:20.335
It's because a a better environment in general creates you create a better work environment, you create better opportunities within the economy.
00:09:20.335 --> 00:09:22.543
You create a better place to live and work.
00:09:22.543 --> 00:09:31.293
And when you want, when you're able to do that, I think you're able to cement your culture and it makes you, as a business owner, want to continue to go to work every day.
00:09:31.293 --> 00:09:42.500
I mean, we talk about in resilient Operating System, how philanthropy and having something else beyond making money, beyond doing the thing that makes you want to get up every day and work in your business.
00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:44.293
And so for me, that's community.
00:09:44.293 --> 00:09:45.668
That's how can I make an impact?
00:09:45.668 --> 00:09:48.710
How can I make the world that we live in a better place?
00:09:48.710 --> 00:09:54.835
Not just for me, not just for my employees, but for my children and for my children's children and my children's children's children?
00:09:54.835 --> 00:09:57.375
Because I like it here.
00:09:54.835 --> 00:09:57.375
I want to stay here.
00:09:57.375 --> 00:10:00.085
I want it to be a great place to to remain here.
00:10:00.085 --> 00:10:01.668
So it's all about sustainability to.
00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:10.710
I love how you put that, because the to me, the passion for it just comes out in your voice.
00:10:11.875 --> 00:10:18.668
The this is the it's the good excitement, like the last episode, the social media that was the bad.
00:10:18.710 --> 00:10:20.043
I was the. Anxious.
00:10:20.043 --> 00:10:22.001
So that's anxiety.
00:10:22.001 --> 00:10:23.293
That was oh.
00:10:23.293 --> 00:10:32.210
This is the truly excited truly like I at like you ready to ready to just burst at the seams doing this.
00:10:33.293 --> 00:10:36.293
I know you talked about the rewards and stuff like that.
00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:40.210
How do you make sure though, that, like, people are feeling good about it?
00:10:40.210 --> 00:10:44.085
I know you said, like, letting them pick some of it, but you guys do some group stuff too, don't you?
00:10:44.085 --> 00:10:44.585
We do.
00:10:44.585 --> 00:10:47.876
So I mean, you're talking about you know, empowering employees, engaging with purpose.
00:10:47.876 --> 00:10:53.835
So if your community work isn't showing up in your employee experience, you're missing the point your employees need to be able to be.
00:10:53.918 --> 00:10:56.960
If you're doing community work, your employees should be engaged in it, too.
00:10:57.710 --> 00:11:04.876
So we give our team space and encouragement to kind of serve in those different ways that are meaningful to them, because, again, it builds pride, it builds connection.
00:11:04.876 --> 00:11:09.460
So we celebrate their gifts because not everybody is going to want to serve in the same way.
00:11:10.335 --> 00:11:12.460
That can include, you know, volunteer time off.
00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:14.085
We have group service days.
00:11:14.085 --> 00:11:17.835
There are certain things that align with our business that we have worked on.
00:11:18.376 --> 00:11:18.585
Great.
00:11:18.585 --> 00:11:22.460
One that we talk about is, you know, we're we're in a safe drug disposal program.
00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:31.085
We are just a distribution partner for Summit County Community Partnership within our region in helping individuals safely dispose of their medication.
00:11:31.085 --> 00:11:41.751
So we hand out whether it's at community events that we're at, networking events, and organizations can come to us as a distributor, and we'll give them boxes to take to their take and distribute out to their employees.
00:11:41.751 --> 00:11:46.543
But they're pouches where you can put, opiates or any other type of medication.
00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:53.710
You open the pouch, put it in, mix it with water, and then it is biodegradable, safe to be disposed of in a landfill.
00:11:53.710 --> 00:11:56.710
You're not flushing your medication, which you're not supposed to do.
00:11:57.210 --> 00:12:01.501
But it's something that enables us to kind of, you know, it's it's helping the community.
00:12:01.501 --> 00:12:07.210
It's also helping our customers because we work with, I mean, in the insurance space, you're going to have people that may be on medications.
00:12:07.210 --> 00:12:12.710
So sometimes they're not going to need to use those medications anymore because they got healthy or they had a medication change.
00:12:12.710 --> 00:12:14.126
So how do you safely dispose of those.
00:12:14.126 --> 00:12:16.210
So this is part of the education that we do as well.
00:12:16.210 --> 00:12:22.001
So that's a partnership that has been in we've had that partnership since 2017.
00:12:22.001 --> 00:12:24.251
And we continue to be a distribution partner for them.
00:12:24.251 --> 00:12:32.418
And again it's it's serving the community, doing business in the community and enables us to do both because we're working with some of our individuals that are over 65.
00:12:32.418 --> 00:12:35.043
This is a great way to say, hey, do you need this?
00:12:35.043 --> 00:12:36.543
So it's a great resource.
00:12:36.543 --> 00:12:39.793
What's one of your longest standing ones that you guys have been involved with?
00:12:41.835 --> 00:12:46.918
You knew I was going to ask crazy hard, difficult, off the wall question because that's what I do.
00:12:46.918 --> 00:12:54.585
Chrissy I know, and so I would say community partnership is probably one of the longest ones that's on continuously going.
00:12:56.543 --> 00:13:02.876
There have been a few others where we have served like on a board capacity, and then we've kind of done some some additional work with them.
00:13:02.876 --> 00:13:08.460
But I would say community partnership is one, we've done work extensively with the soapbox derby.
00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:12.085
So we have we help them on different cleanup days.
00:13:12.085 --> 00:13:14.376
We've been a donor for them for years.
00:13:14.376 --> 00:13:23.543
Another one that's been in, in board service, but then also in, you know, donation time, talent, treasure and connecting them to other business owners.
00:13:23.585 --> 00:13:29.501
He's been on my better business for, business leaders podcast, better business for small business leaders, whatever it is.
00:13:29.501 --> 00:13:32.501
I can't remember the name of my own podcast on there.
00:13:33.751 --> 00:13:34.835
She's that excited.
00:13:34.835 --> 00:13:36.126
That excited about it.
00:13:36.126 --> 00:13:38.501
So she can't remember her own podcast. Yes.
00:13:38.501 --> 00:13:40.460
So Chris Canova, jobs for Ohio graduates.
00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:41.085
He's the executive.
00:13:41.085 --> 00:13:42.835
So as soon as you started to talk, you.
00:13:42.835 --> 00:13:44.210
Know, and we talked about jobs.
00:13:44.210 --> 00:13:47.751
And so Jörg has been we've we've had a relationship for a long time.
00:13:47.751 --> 00:13:49.710
They've been, an AUI customer.
00:13:49.710 --> 00:13:50.793
They've been a Claroty customer.
00:13:50.793 --> 00:13:53.335
They were part of the reason why we started clarity. Dr..
00:13:53.335 --> 00:13:58.751
But different collaborative relationships with them, because they work with students that help.
00:13:58.918 --> 00:14:00.585
They mean they advance people into work.
00:14:00.585 --> 00:14:08.501
So helping students find jobs, helping students decide what career path they're going to be on so that they can keep and retain good employment.
00:14:08.501 --> 00:14:12.501
So they have an internship program, they have a jobs good challenge program.
00:14:12.543 --> 00:14:14.043
I mean, there's so many different things.
00:14:14.043 --> 00:14:19.960
I know you've worked with JAG in the past, had a very awesome success story with a job student. Yes.
00:14:20.543 --> 00:14:29.585
What I love about their organization is that they are, I want to say, almost 40 years of meeting their outcomes year over year.
00:14:30.043 --> 00:14:34.043
And that as a nonprofit is amazing.
00:14:34.126 --> 00:14:35.168
Yeah, they crush it.
00:14:35.168 --> 00:14:40.460
So not only do they and they put their their work and their money where their mouth is, they they do the work.
00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:47.335
So I would say JAG is probably our longest standing organization that we have continued to support.
00:14:47.418 --> 00:14:48.793
And then there's all the work that we do.
00:14:48.793 --> 00:14:53.501
I do personally with the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, Mental Health Services Board, and that tends to ripple.
00:14:53.501 --> 00:14:57.376
It's started as a result of some of the work that we did with Summit County Community Partnership.
00:14:57.376 --> 00:14:59.293
And so sure, yeah. What are you.
00:15:00.876 --> 00:15:03.626
Oh, I have to follow that.
00:15:03.626 --> 00:15:04.751
Yeah.
00:15:04.751 --> 00:15:05.751
I have like, your support. That's.
00:15:05.751 --> 00:15:08.126
I'm, I'm just come into my mind again.
00:15:05.751 --> 00:15:08.126
I'm like, oh, what about that one?
00:15:08.126 --> 00:15:09.543
I'm a. Shut up. No.
00:15:09.543 --> 00:15:12.001
But to me, that that's what's so amazing about it is.
00:15:12.001 --> 00:15:15.585
And that shows like how involved you guys are with that type of stuff.
00:15:16.793 --> 00:15:17.710
Yeah.
00:15:17.710 --> 00:15:18.918
And your passion for it.
00:15:18.918 --> 00:15:21.668
It to me, we do.
00:15:21.668 --> 00:15:24.085
We look at it from the same type of thing.
00:15:24.085 --> 00:15:28.460
For us, we like it's easier for us to do a lot of pro bono work.
00:15:28.501 --> 00:15:29.626
Yeah.
00:15:29.626 --> 00:15:30.501
There are groups.
00:15:30.501 --> 00:15:32.085
There are charities. There are.
00:15:32.085 --> 00:15:34.251
I mean, we help Main Street, Barberton, right downtown here.
00:15:34.251 --> 00:15:35.418
Barberton to help.
00:15:35.418 --> 00:15:38.418
I mean, if we help promote the businesses around us.
00:15:38.418 --> 00:15:39.126
Holy cow.
00:15:39.126 --> 00:15:41.751
I mean, not only are we helping promote other businesses.
00:15:41.751 --> 00:15:44.918
Exactly, but this is going to build up the area that we're in.
00:15:45.335 --> 00:15:47.835
How is that not a win for everyone?
00:15:48.835 --> 00:15:53.085
This afternoon I am actually headed to talk to the local fire department.
00:15:53.085 --> 00:15:53.501
Nice.
00:15:53.501 --> 00:15:54.585
They have a levy coming up.
00:15:54.585 --> 00:15:57.335
They're like, hey, we just like to do a couple of quick videos.
00:15:57.335 --> 00:15:59.210
Awesome show, a couple of quick videos for you.
00:15:59.210 --> 00:16:03.710
So that way you can make sure people know what you're gonna be spending the money on.
00:16:03.710 --> 00:16:05.626
Totally makes sense for us.
00:16:05.626 --> 00:16:20.085
I mean, the pro bono stuff that we're able to do it is to me, it's meaningful because it gives these like small nonprofits and other small organizations that don't have the budget and reach.
00:16:20.085 --> 00:16:24.210
Yeah, the reach that some others may not have.
00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:32.710
And for us that the it's once again, it's the same thing that you get the pure joy of working with some of these people.
00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.085
Yeah.
00:16:34.085 --> 00:16:39.460
The fact that like in my town, when the fire chief comes up and it's like, hey, how's it going?
00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:40.293
Great to see you.
00:16:41.626 --> 00:16:44.626
And like, I've become friends with these people.
00:16:45.251 --> 00:16:47.960
And it's it's not just because we offered the video.
00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:52.293
It's we've genuinely made that connection and it's made the community better. Yes.
00:16:53.293 --> 00:16:58.710
Those are the types of things that, to me, are, a big benefit for the community.
00:16:58.710 --> 00:17:07.835
Now, on the flip side of that, too, internally, if we're going to test something that might be a little bit outside of our wheelhouse, guess what?
00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:10.710
We're going to do it on the people that we're doing it for free for. Exactly.
00:17:10.710 --> 00:17:15.500
Hey, if we're going to try a new technique with a video, sure.
00:17:15.792 --> 00:17:18.125
We'll try it on the video that we're doing for free.
00:17:18.125 --> 00:17:20.835
We're not going to do it on the video that we're charging 15 grand for.
00:17:20.835 --> 00:17:22.917
No. No. Correct.
00:17:22.917 --> 00:17:25.042
Hey, this didn't quite turn out.
00:17:25.042 --> 00:17:27.250
Hope you like what we know.
00:17:27.250 --> 00:17:29.042
If it doesn't turn out, they're granted.
00:17:29.042 --> 00:17:35.250
Everyone's time is still valuable, but it allows us the ability to try and do unique and cool things.
00:17:35.375 --> 00:17:38.710
For others, that's very low risk for us, very low risk for them.
00:17:38.710 --> 00:17:42.042
And it works out really, really well for everyone in the long run.
00:17:42.835 --> 00:17:56.250
The other thing when you said, like, do you coach a little league team, the thing or sponsor them if you have any like community facing, like if you have any retail side of you at all.
00:17:56.292 --> 00:17:59.292
Yeah. To me that's a no brainer. Absolutely.
00:17:59.667 --> 00:18:06.000
To, to to have your name on a bunch of little kids jerseys running around is just amazing.
00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.625
Yeah.
00:18:06.625 --> 00:18:10.335
And not just to have your name on the jersey show up to the game. Yes.
00:18:10.792 --> 00:18:12.835
Pouring oranges.
00:18:12.835 --> 00:18:15.960
And you will have raving fans for.
00:18:16.335 --> 00:18:20.792
It's amazing how much $6 worth of oranges can get you in terms of.
00:18:21.210 --> 00:18:31.750
Yeah, in terms of great PR, not to mention just 100% the feel goods that you are going to walk away from with that.
00:18:31.750 --> 00:18:33.000
Yeah.
00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:38.585
One of the things that I love about it, too, is like the ability to build from youth. Yes.
00:18:38.585 --> 00:18:43.875
Hopefully you're planning on having your business be around for more than five, six, seven years.
00:18:43.875 --> 00:19:31.830
If you connect with the youth of the day, they're going to know you today, tomorrow, and when you're finally like when they're of age to be clients of yours, be customers of yours.
00:19:32.705 --> 00:19:34.998
Additionally, those kids have.
00:19:34.998 --> 00:19:36.205
Parents. They do.
00:19:38.455 --> 00:19:46.580
But I mean, still, to me, nothing is more rewarding than seeing the smiles on those faces to see the kids learn.
00:19:47.455 --> 00:19:51.330
I used to be a volunteer for, as a high school soccer coach.
00:19:51.330 --> 00:19:52.039
Okay.
00:19:52.039 --> 00:20:01.039
And the people that I came in contact, the people that have both the kids and the parents were absolutely amazing.
00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:07.123
And I guarantee you that I learned far more from those kids.
00:20:07.123 --> 00:20:09.414
Yeah, than they ever learned for me.
00:20:09.414 --> 00:20:12.039
I mean, they already knew how to run.
00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:15.039
I just had to scream at them to do it occasionally.
00:20:17.248 --> 00:20:18.289
Yeah.
00:20:18.289 --> 00:20:27.414
So I mean, to me, the the, the, the big pieces with that, I mean, you can have those like the other thing that I like with it is there's that shared success. Yes.
00:20:27.873 --> 00:20:30.789
You coach a little league team, you show up, they win.
00:20:30.789 --> 00:20:34.539
Guess what you won with them.
00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:40.330
And it's the same thing with any charity, any nonprofit, any anyone that you can help.
00:20:40.414 --> 00:20:41.539
Yeah.
00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:43.789
When they, when you, you had a hand in that.
00:20:43.789 --> 00:20:46.289
Yeah. It's huge. Yeah.
00:20:46.289 --> 00:20:51.748
And I think it drives you forward when things can get difficult in your business or when things get hectic in your schedule.
00:20:51.748 --> 00:20:54.330
Yeah. And you're like, you know what? I'm looking forward to this.
00:20:54.330 --> 00:20:55.164
Oh, 100%.
00:20:55.164 --> 00:20:56.039
I have this.
00:20:56.039 --> 00:21:00.498
I'm I'm going to go coach this or I'm going to go to this meeting or I'm going to help this nonprofit like it.
00:21:00.498 --> 00:21:09.664
I feel like there are times where it makes the real stress of being an entrepreneur more palatable, because you've got something beyond you that is important.
00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:14.873
The other thing that I found is that it is a huge mindset shift.
00:21:15.998 --> 00:21:20.080
Like when you're able to donate work to help others.
00:21:20.123 --> 00:21:26.998
Yeah, it lets you know what really, really matters.
00:21:27.623 --> 00:21:29.039
It resets.
00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:36.414
We we've done work for a number of nonprofits that, I mean, help various people in various stages of life.
00:21:38.998 --> 00:21:45.414
And just what you get out of that is like, okay, I, I had a rough day to day, but it really wasn't a rough day.
00:21:45.623 --> 00:21:48.373
Like when you compare it with some of the other people.
00:21:48.373 --> 00:22:01.955
So to, to have that, the other thing that the other two pieces that I'll cover with that real quick are the one thing is the brand storytelling is you've made it a piece of your brand and the services that you guys offer.
00:22:01.955 --> 00:22:09.080
People know that you are in service of your clients because you are also in service of your community.
00:22:10.830 --> 00:22:12.164
I want to work with people like that.
00:22:12.164 --> 00:22:21.914
Yeah, that that's who I if I see someone that I know is helping the community and someone that's just bought a, I mean, there's a you can have both.
00:22:22.414 --> 00:22:34.789
But if I, if there's someone that I know is giving back to the community and there's someone else that just bought their eighth car, I guess what I'm probably going to go to the people that are giving back to the community just.
00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.830
For the differentiator for you. Right.
00:22:36.830 --> 00:22:38.873
It is a differentiator for me.
00:22:38.873 --> 00:22:45.414
The other thing is too, is, I mean, people want to buy and from businesses that share their values.
00:22:46.705 --> 00:22:47.289
They do.
00:22:47.289 --> 00:22:50.164
And that once again that comes down to that differentiator.
00:22:50.164 --> 00:23:02.164
I just talk about if you see that people are giving back to their community, I mean, here in Barberton, there are some people that just, I mean, pour their lives into this community.
00:23:02.164 --> 00:23:02.455
Yeah.
00:23:02.455 --> 00:23:05.455
Which is absolutely amazing to watch.
00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:11.580
The fact that we've had a small piece in that is to me, I'm just blown away by all of that.
00:23:12.748 --> 00:23:22.205
When customers see you, like, in spaces that they care about, like schools, non-profits, do you feel like there's that emotional connection, like.
00:23:22.205 --> 00:23:29.955
Because what's funny is, is when, like, do you connect with people on, like, a, hey, I'm not just Chrissy, the CEO?
00:23:30.164 --> 00:23:30.330
Yeah.
00:23:30.330 --> 00:23:33.164
Most of the time people know me as not Chrissy, the CEO.
00:23:33.164 --> 00:23:36.080
And then they're like, oh, wait, you do other things.
00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:37.080
You have this podcast.
00:23:39.123 --> 00:23:40.289
So, oh, you work.
00:23:40.289 --> 00:23:41.789
Oh, you work.
00:23:41.789 --> 00:23:43.914
Yeah. Only like 90 or 100 hours a week.
00:23:43.914 --> 00:23:51.414
It's been interesting because I think, I mean, community work can be it's a very long game, but it's, it's that's the best game that I play.
00:23:51.414 --> 00:23:52.498
I love it so much.
00:23:52.498 --> 00:23:59.248
And I think that now with where I am and sitting, I'm chairing the Am board.
00:23:59.248 --> 00:24:04.914
I'm, I'm in a couple of other positions where I've got some significant space to make impact.
00:24:04.914 --> 00:24:08.248
It took a long time to get there, and now people are like, they see me in that space.
00:24:08.248 --> 00:24:10.039
And I'm like, oh, wait, what do you do?
00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:11.498
What else do you do during the day?
00:24:11.498 --> 00:24:14.498
So I think that that's part of it.
00:24:14.998 --> 00:24:16.789
Laundry. It's like laundry.
00:24:16.789 --> 00:24:23.998
Occasionally I record a podcast and there but then there's that expertise of like, how did you so you're doing this, it seems like, you know, a lot of stuff.
00:24:25.164 --> 00:24:26.914
How did you learn all this stuff?
00:24:26.914 --> 00:24:28.414
I'm like, well, actually, I own a business.
00:24:28.414 --> 00:24:29.998
And this is these are the other things.
00:24:29.998 --> 00:24:32.248
So it's it's sure it's credibility, I'd say.
00:24:32.248 --> 00:24:37.998
Yeah, most of the time people it's getting to the point now, Josh, where people know me as a full person.
00:24:38.248 --> 00:24:42.123
But it used to be, especially when I was young and starting to volunteer and starting to do work.
00:24:42.123 --> 00:24:47.039
They knew me as either Chrissy, the employee at ROI, or they knew me as Chrissy, the torch bearer.
00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.080
There was no.
00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:59.955
Now it's as I think as you mature in your career and you start moving up in in levels of leadership within even the nonprofit space, people see you as whole person, so sure.
00:24:59.955 --> 00:25:04.039
But there's still some that are like completely it's more like around the kid stuff.
00:25:04.164 --> 00:25:08.123
Like if I'm in some place with kid things, they're just like, who are you?
00:25:08.455 --> 00:25:11.373
So like, I'm like, I'm just a manager, like mom.
00:25:13.205 --> 00:25:15.330
I'll say, watch my podcast.
00:25:15.330 --> 00:25:17.455
Three quarters of, yeah, I'm, I'm one quarter of teammates.
00:25:17.455 --> 00:25:19.580
And so, I mean, it's just.
00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:21.373
Yeah, just watch the podcast.
00:25:21.373 --> 00:25:24.373
Yeah. What about for. You?
00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.705
It's interesting.
00:25:25.705 --> 00:25:35.789
I've, I've been involved with some things over the years, and when I look back at it, it's always been in this, like, background.
00:25:35.789 --> 00:25:37.789
Escarole.
00:25:37.789 --> 00:25:39.164
And I've enjoyed that.
00:25:39.164 --> 00:25:40.580
I liked being in the background.
00:25:40.580 --> 00:25:43.998
I pushed to the front in the last couple of years and I was like, oh, hi.
00:25:44.205 --> 00:25:46.039
Right, right.
00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:54.623
When I look at what I did with elves and more, when I looked at some of the stuff, like there's, there's this business background role, which I've appreciated.
00:25:54.748 --> 00:25:56.205
Yeah.
00:25:56.205 --> 00:25:58.498
We're media, we do a lot.
00:25:58.498 --> 00:26:06.914
I mean, I spend a ton of time on camera, and now we're spending a ton of time on camera. You're welcome. Is whether you want to or not.
00:26:06.914 --> 00:26:08.623
Yeah. Here you are.
00:26:08.623 --> 00:26:09.789
Is so.
00:26:09.789 --> 00:26:13.955
No, it's nice for me to be able to sit back and kind of be like, okay.
00:26:14.498 --> 00:26:24.705
And once again, instead of the it like you're being pushed to the front again here, I'm still in some of the stages of a lot of this where I could be like, hey, how can I help?
00:26:24.789 --> 00:26:26.498
Yeah, tell me what to do.
00:26:26.498 --> 00:26:29.623
And I will mindlessly go do the thing that you need help with.
00:26:30.414 --> 00:26:35.539
I'll use my skills to the best of my ability, but tell me what you need me to do.
00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:41.248
I don't need to come up with the ideas because right now I am coming up with in the business all the ideas.
00:26:41.248 --> 00:26:43.289
As the leader, I am coming up with the idea.
00:26:43.289 --> 00:26:47.164
So it's nice to be able to be in service in that way.
00:26:47.164 --> 00:26:47.830
For me.
00:26:49.748 --> 00:26:56.039
If once again, it feels great and it's a great way to kind of mentally be like, oh yeah, this is this is boots on the ground.
00:26:56.039 --> 00:27:05.580
I like this, How do you find community partners that align with your business values?
00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:10.373
Because there's obviously all sorts of charities out there.
00:27:10.373 --> 00:27:13.289
There's all sorts of partners that you could be involved with.
00:27:13.289 --> 00:27:15.498
There's all sorts of whoevers.
00:27:15.498 --> 00:27:20.873
How do you be like, oh, that one, and know that it's the right fit?
00:27:20.873 --> 00:27:22.748
Well, I mean, have clarity on your values first.
00:27:22.748 --> 00:27:24.498
So you got to know who you are, not. Just.
00:27:24.498 --> 00:27:25.914
Walmart know.
00:27:25.914 --> 00:27:26.748
You got to know who you are.
00:27:26.748 --> 00:27:29.705
That's my new favorite thing.
00:27:26.748 --> 00:27:29.705
Can you tell?
00:27:29.705 --> 00:27:33.330
I feel like I've made a major impact that you keep saying it makes me happy. Yes.
00:27:34.705 --> 00:27:36.123
So I mean, getting clear on your value.
00:27:36.123 --> 00:27:41.039
So looking and then looking for organizations that that potentially align with your, your values.
00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:44.164
And what I will tell you is that you don't want to chase prestige.
00:27:44.164 --> 00:27:45.748
You chase alignment.
00:27:45.748 --> 00:27:58.455
So I think there are a lot of individuals who can look at community service and go, this is really and I'm going to just say it, the fortune five seconds that are like, you must serve on a board and it must be the largest board, and you must be on this board, in this board.
00:27:58.455 --> 00:28:01.455
And I'm not going to say any of them can't won't be mad at me.
00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:07.498
But like you can tell, they're there because they are checking a box within their organization.
00:28:07.498 --> 00:28:11.455
When you're the business owner and you're in a small business, you get choice.
00:28:11.830 --> 00:28:17.330
So find the organization that is that is important to you, and it doesn't have to be the biggest one.
00:28:17.330 --> 00:28:20.914
Sometimes you can make the most impact in the smallest organization possible.
00:28:21.289 --> 00:28:32.080
I will say for me, we started doing that work with with community partnership and how we could safely dispose of drugs and deal with things in the opioid epidemic.
00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:35.664
I am passionate about mental health because I lost my first husband to suicide.
00:28:35.664 --> 00:28:39.623
So looking in, where do we fit within the greater landscape?
00:28:39.623 --> 00:28:44.830
Community partnership was a really great spot and I met the person that does did their business development.
00:28:44.830 --> 00:28:50.539
She's somewhere else now, but she did their business well and we met at a networking event, and then I slowly got involved there.
00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:54.330
And then it led to, you know, moving into bigger spaces, being able to ask.
00:28:54.330 --> 00:29:02.373
And now I'm serving on the Am board and we're working on, you know, how do we transform mental health and the delivery system that is in Summit County and beyond.
00:29:02.373 --> 00:29:06.123
And that started with just something very small.
00:29:06.414 --> 00:29:09.539
And, you know, we're just going to dispose of drug safely.
00:29:09.873 --> 00:29:11.248
We're not going to flush them down the toilet.
00:29:11.248 --> 00:29:15.330
And so I tell you like find something that aligns with your values.
00:29:15.330 --> 00:29:18.330
Find something that they truly need your help.
00:29:18.955 --> 00:29:19.830
Because that's the other part.
00:29:19.830 --> 00:29:28.039
I don't know if you care, but I want people if they I want I want to be wanted, but I want to be able to prove value and give value to people.
00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:32.123
And if I can't give value to you, then I don't think it's worth my time.
00:29:32.123 --> 00:29:38.705
And because then you just I mean, I can write a check to anybody, it doesn't mean I'm going to, but I can, right?
00:29:38.705 --> 00:29:42.080
Because again, I get a lot of asks and we do a lot.
00:29:43.455 --> 00:29:45.080
But the check's easy.
00:29:45.080 --> 00:29:50.998
The time, I think, as an entrepreneur is what is so much more valuable and what is, I think, more rewarding to you.
00:29:50.998 --> 00:30:01.330
So one half that's what our time is at business owners business owners, give them your time because they really need your knowledge more than anything. 100%.
00:30:01.330 --> 00:30:05.330
And the other thing that I have found with that is there's two pieces to that.
00:30:05.330 --> 00:30:28.123
First off, I like worked with the homeless in a charity that I was on the board of years ago, and I learned so much from those people that I worked with about perspective and about different situations, and it made me able, like, I have transferred so many of those skills that I learned in working with directly with those people.
00:30:28.873 --> 00:30:37.455
You would not believe in how working with homeless translates to being able to work with other CEOs better. Yes.
00:30:37.830 --> 00:30:39.748
It was huge. Yes.
00:30:39.748 --> 00:30:44.873
The other thing with that is too is you also get to see how another organization works.
00:30:45.248 --> 00:30:50.998
Yes, and I have pulled so many other ideas from other organizations that I have been involved in.
00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:59.455
Additionally, when you volunteer on a time basis, if you write the check, you feel good when you write the check.
00:30:59.455 --> 00:30:59.830
Yeah.
00:30:59.830 --> 00:31:06.205
If you volunteer on a time basis, the feel good lasts far longer.
00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:09.289
Oh yeah. Than when you write the check.
00:31:09.289 --> 00:31:10.039
Yeah.
00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:14.998
You come, you go home from something I remember, charity that I used to be involved with, elves and more.
00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:18.248
We would.
00:31:18.248 --> 00:31:22.998
The Sunday before Christmas, we would surprise a neighborhood with anywhere from 1000 to 1200 bicycles.
00:31:22.998 --> 00:31:24.623
Just show up.
00:31:24.623 --> 00:31:27.748
Obviously, we would go into neighborhoods that needed a win.
00:31:29.248 --> 00:31:32.789
I would go home frozen, in many cases, soaking wet.
00:31:33.498 --> 00:31:37.039
Exhaust it and grinning from ear to ear.
00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:42.498
So, and granted, it was an emotional roller coaster because you go from grinning to crying, grinning, crying, grinning, crying.
00:31:42.498 --> 00:31:44.123
Everyone's like, is he nuts now?
00:31:44.123 --> 00:31:46.289
He just had a had a long day.
00:31:46.289 --> 00:31:52.330
But the the things that you pull away from that are so amazing and once again, so transferable.
00:31:52.373 --> 00:31:57.748
Yeah, that to me it's it's one of those things where how can you not do that.
00:31:57.830 --> 00:32:01.373
Yes. It's an investment in them and it's an investment in yourself.
00:32:03.373 --> 00:32:16.414
I loved the fact on the celebrate the, the, the engagement piece that you talked about that is awesome that it's I know most people don't do these types of things for the recognition.
00:32:17.414 --> 00:32:23.664
In the same sense to acknowledge them and say thank you in some way, shape or another publicly. Yes.
00:32:23.664 --> 00:32:25.080
It's very cool.
00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:27.289
Thanks.
00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:27.289
I think there's several ways to do it too.
00:32:27.289 --> 00:32:31.539
And we we've done this at AUI and clarity.
00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:34.373
And so I'm going to share them with you whether you like to hear them or not. So.
00:32:34.373 --> 00:32:35.248
Oh no, I'm excited.
00:32:35.248 --> 00:32:37.873
So last year we turned 50 as an organization.
00:32:37.873 --> 00:32:39.705
So we did not meet the organization.
00:32:39.705 --> 00:32:41.373
The organization.
00:32:41.373 --> 00:32:41.914
What are the.
00:32:41.914 --> 00:32:42.955
What are not there yet?
00:32:42.955 --> 00:32:45.873
What make progress there. Right.
00:32:45.873 --> 00:33:03.330
So we did 50 acts of service, actually did more than 50, to celebrate our 50 years and we did memorialize those we don't always like post everything that we do, but we do post a fair amount because my thought is, you know, because service and community are core values of ours, because community is is so important to us.
00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:10.914
I think it's important that our clients and the rest of the world knows we put our money where we mouth or our mouth as we put our time, where our mouth is.
00:33:10.914 --> 00:33:12.873
And these are the organizations that we support.
00:33:12.873 --> 00:33:15.873
And you should support them too, because they're awesome.
00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:17.914
So we did the 50 acts.
00:33:17.914 --> 00:33:24.080
We we kept track of all of them. We did videos, I think, and then bringing everything into the organization.
00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:28.205
We so it gave us the ability to do a community impact report so we can send it to our clients in a newsletter.
00:33:28.205 --> 00:33:40.789
Hey, thank you for being our clients because you giving us money enables us to to do the things that we're doing and give these organizations money and then also give them some of our time, talent, treasure. So there was that.
00:33:40.789 --> 00:33:43.914
And then also there's the my train of thought.
00:33:43.914 --> 00:33:45.414
What was it?
00:33:45.414 --> 00:33:46.498
It's gone.
00:33:46.498 --> 00:33:47.289
That's okay.
00:33:47.289 --> 00:33:48.205
It's gone. Yeah.
00:33:48.205 --> 00:33:50.455
Because I want to get to a couple of actionable things to you.
00:33:50.455 --> 00:33:52.455
Okay. Let's talk about them.
00:33:52.455 --> 00:33:55.248
The one I want to start with is these start small.
00:33:55.248 --> 00:33:58.248
Yes. So and and here's why I say this.
00:33:58.248 --> 00:34:04.373
Because the, the the biggest obstacle that I see so many people that are like, well, I don't know how I can help.
00:34:04.498 --> 00:34:07.205
They will find a way.
00:34:07.205 --> 00:34:09.081
Yeah. They'll tell you. For you to help.
00:34:09.081 --> 00:34:12.539
They have 10,000 bills for you to help.
00:34:12.914 --> 00:34:13.914
They have a. List, right?
00:34:13.914 --> 00:34:15.664
They have ten lists.
00:34:15.664 --> 00:34:23.998
Every charity, every nonprofit, every community organization has ten different lists of these are the things that we need.
00:34:23.998 --> 00:34:24.998
Yeah.
00:34:24.998 --> 00:34:26.956
The one you said washing dogs.
00:34:26.956 --> 00:34:28.998
I mean, people, like.
00:34:26.956 --> 00:34:28.998
I don't know how to do that.
00:34:28.998 --> 00:34:29.706
They will show.
00:34:29.706 --> 00:34:31.998
They will show you. 100%.
00:34:31.998 --> 00:34:34.498
They will show you. I used to walk dogs.
00:34:36.206 --> 00:34:39.206
Loved it.
00:34:39.206 --> 00:34:47.498
There's just so many ways that there's a minimal amount of training needed for 99.9% of the things that are needed.
00:34:47.623 --> 00:34:52.289
Yeah, pick someone and say, hey, I'd love to help.
00:34:53.330 --> 00:34:54.289
Leave it at that.
00:34:54.289 --> 00:34:57.205
Let them tell you how you can help.
00:34:57.205 --> 00:35:00.205
Yeah, you may be underutilized for a long time.
00:35:00.623 --> 00:35:01.498
That's awesome.
00:35:01.498 --> 00:35:03.039
Because you know what?
00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:06.039
You're still doing something amazing.
00:35:06.080 --> 00:35:07.539
This is the this is the what?
00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:15.623
The start small piece is the one that I obviously am going losing my mind on because I give a I hear from people why I just don't know where to start.
00:35:15.914 --> 00:35:17.080
Just pick something.
00:35:17.080 --> 00:35:18.830
There's 10,000 of them.
00:35:18.830 --> 00:35:21.248
Throw a dart at a dartboard. Yeah.
00:35:21.248 --> 00:35:23.080
It doesn't ask if you really.
00:35:23.080 --> 00:35:25.289
I mean, this is what we talked about social media last week.
00:35:25.289 --> 00:35:31.705
This is one of those hey, are there any community organizations that I can get involved with and let your network tell you options?
00:35:31.705 --> 00:35:33.914
If you don't want to do the the search yourself.
00:35:33.914 --> 00:35:35.705
Ask this.
00:35:35.705 --> 00:35:42.080
If you don't end up with a couple of hundred responses to a post like that, especially if you put it in a community board.
00:35:42.622 --> 00:35:44.289
Oh please tag me on LinkedIn.
00:35:44.289 --> 00:35:47.039
I will give you like 12 to 20.
00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.122
Correct. Tomorrow.
00:35:48.122 --> 00:35:49.830
Without even thinking about.
00:35:49.830 --> 00:35:55.164
Now and then I'll tag all of them and I'll tag their executive directors and their development people and their volunteer coordinators.
00:35:55.164 --> 00:35:56.747
And you won't. You will not be bored.
00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:02.289
If you aren't spammed, let Christy know.
00:36:02.289 --> 00:36:04.830
No, it's truly it. It is.
00:36:04.830 --> 00:36:13.705
And you will find something that that and I also the way to start small is do something that may be a little outside of your comfort zone.
00:36:15.164 --> 00:36:17.122
I'm a bit of a germaphobe.
00:36:17.122 --> 00:36:24.830
Working with the homeless was not an easy one for me, but boy did it help me.
00:36:24.830 --> 00:36:26.747
Yeah.
00:36:26.747 --> 00:36:29.747
Alignment. Yes.
00:36:30.247 --> 00:36:34.955
Pick something that aligns with your values as an organization if you're going to make it public.
00:36:34.955 --> 00:36:37.789
If you're not going to make it public, then that's that's perfectly fine.
00:36:37.789 --> 00:36:42.247
But if you're going to share, make sure it's something that aligns with your values as an organization.
00:36:42.247 --> 00:36:46.664
And there are some organizations that we give to as a family that we don't give to as a company.
00:36:46.747 --> 00:36:49.664
It's just different. Sure. It's okay.
00:36:49.664 --> 00:36:52.289
The other thing that like to me is get your team involved.
00:36:52.289 --> 00:36:54.622
I love how you guys do it.
00:36:54.622 --> 00:37:01.955
To me to say, hey, look, it's like, first off, ask your team, is there something they would like to be involved in?
00:37:01.955 --> 00:37:04.914
Because if you can support them in something that they want to be involved in.
00:37:04.914 --> 00:37:06.455
Or the engagement is huge.
00:37:06.455 --> 00:37:07.164
It's.
00:37:07.164 --> 00:37:10.289
I mean, you have an employee for life at that point.
00:37:11.455 --> 00:37:18.622
But secondly, I mean to so first off, to support them in that but secondly is to get them involved and just be like, hey, we're going to do this.
00:37:18.622 --> 00:37:21.622
Would you like to come along and do this too? Yes.
00:37:21.747 --> 00:37:27.247
And. If you don't have if you don't know how to do that, there are organizations locally that can even help you get involved.
00:37:27.247 --> 00:37:28.330
Like it's a great one.
00:37:28.330 --> 00:37:34.497
They've got a small business engagement team where they teach small business leaders how to get engaged in the community and engage their teams in the community.
00:37:34.497 --> 00:37:35.205
Yeah.
00:37:35.205 --> 00:37:39.205
The thing that you have been brilliant about is telling the story of what you guys are doing.
00:37:39.205 --> 00:37:43.414
Yeah, because you guys, I mean, it's it it's well-planned.
00:37:43.414 --> 00:37:45.497
It's well thought out.
00:37:43.414 --> 00:37:45.497
You tell the story with it.
00:37:45.497 --> 00:37:49.830
It took a long time to get there, be able to figure out how to tell the story.
00:37:49.830 --> 00:37:57.205
But it it you guys do it in a way that says like, here's what we're doing that you can do also to support the community.
00:37:57.205 --> 00:38:00.372
It's not like it has no jazz hands.
00:38:01.080 --> 00:38:03.872
Because there's there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.
00:38:03.872 --> 00:38:12.080
I've seen many companies be like, look at how hard we're working for our community for ten minutes. So, no, you can see the actual engagement with it.
00:38:12.080 --> 00:38:14.789
It's it makes a big difference.
00:38:14.789 --> 00:38:21.955
What is a like when you look, we both have seen good and bad community involvement.
00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:23.664
Yeah. I mean, it's all good.
00:38:23.664 --> 00:38:25.247
Their companies are helping communities.
00:38:25.247 --> 00:38:34.372
But how do you make sure that like there how do you know when someone's community community, their community, what you have is contagious.
00:38:34.414 --> 00:38:37.414
Community involvement is authentic.
00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:39.372
So you feel their impact.
00:38:39.372 --> 00:38:40.372
Oh I like. That. Yeah.
00:38:40.372 --> 00:38:48.330
You see it so you can see it in whether it's a video, whether it's a, a post on social media or it is community connection.
00:38:48.330 --> 00:38:54.247
Like oftentimes nonprofits will highlight who is helping them and who is volunteering.
00:38:54.247 --> 00:38:55.497
And you can tell when that is.
00:38:55.497 --> 00:38:58.330
Well, they just wrote a check or and they did all this.
00:38:58.330 --> 00:39:01.164
So that's I would say you feel the impact.
00:39:01.164 --> 00:39:03.080
That did all this part.
00:39:01.164 --> 00:39:03.080
That's what I like.
00:39:03.080 --> 00:39:04.705
I like the did all this. Yep.
00:39:04.705 --> 00:39:07.122
Yeah. Because that's what's needed most is the time talent.
00:39:07.122 --> 00:39:07.539
Yeah.
00:39:07.539 --> 00:39:12.039
Yeah. So what's the simplest way a small business owner can find a community partner?
00:39:12.122 --> 00:39:17.664
The there's two ways a like we talked about post to a to a group and be like, hey, what can we do?
00:39:17.705 --> 00:39:23.080
The other one is if there is someone out there that you think, like, hey, maybe it's a home.
00:39:23.164 --> 00:39:29.122
Like for us, maybe it's a homeless group, to offer them like your services.
00:39:29.122 --> 00:39:30.539
Yeah. Be it H.R.
00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:32.247
Services, be it media services.
00:39:32.247 --> 00:39:37.247
Most nonprofits need the same exact thing that a normal business does not.
00:39:37.580 --> 00:39:39.497
There's someone I know he set up beautifully.
00:39:39.497 --> 00:39:42.414
Nonprofit is a tax status, not a goal. That is correct.
00:39:42.414 --> 00:39:46.497
And they need help with the things that you do to donate.
00:39:46.664 --> 00:39:47.122
Excuse me?
00:39:47.122 --> 00:39:51.414
To donate four hours a month to a group like that.
00:39:51.830 --> 00:39:52.664
Holy cow.
00:39:52.664 --> 00:39:54.955
Could it be a game changer for them?
00:39:54.955 --> 00:39:57.955
And it could be just a beautiful start for something for you.
00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:01.747
Oh, that's a lot.
00:40:01.747 --> 00:40:02.205
It is.
00:40:02.205 --> 00:40:04.497
We could do another episode on this.
00:40:02.205 --> 00:40:04.497
I'm really happy.
00:40:04.497 --> 00:40:05.664
I know we could.
00:40:05.664 --> 00:40:06.330
I know we could.
00:40:06.330 --> 00:40:09.539
Maybe we'll make that like episode 52 okay.
00:40:09.580 --> 00:40:11.039
Because that'll double 26.
00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:13.705
And that's even more people.
00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:13.705
Then more things.
00:40:13.705 --> 00:40:17.789
Yeah, more things to talk about and do to everyone that's listening.
00:40:18.830 --> 00:40:20.830
We both hope you're going to go out.
00:40:20.830 --> 00:40:23.747
Make an impact, please. Yes.
00:40:23.747 --> 00:40:25.622
You have the tools.
00:40:25.622 --> 00:40:28.330
You have the talent, you have the time.
00:40:28.330 --> 00:40:31.330
You may not have the time, but make the time.
00:40:31.330 --> 00:40:34.372
The other thing is, if you don't have the time, take the family along.
00:40:34.580 --> 00:40:37.164
Yeah, I know. You love that. We do.
00:40:37.164 --> 00:40:38.997
We love our volunteer events. Yeah. Together.
00:40:38.997 --> 00:40:39.330
Yeah.
00:40:39.330 --> 00:40:43.705
It's it's a great way to to get the family all out in a place where it's tough to argue.
00:40:45.372 --> 00:40:48.372
Like.
00:40:48.580 --> 00:40:55.789
If you are looking for more resources and maybe we even put up some of, Christy minds favorite charities that you may be able to get involved with.
00:40:56.164 --> 00:40:58.122
Business fix podcast.com.
00:40:58.122 --> 00:40:59.705
Go there.
00:40:59.705 --> 00:41:08.664
Leave us a review on the podcast platform that you are listening to by all means. And a review and a subscription.
00:41:08.664 --> 00:41:10.372
Go a long way please.
00:41:10.372 --> 00:41:12.705
Oh, you even ask nicely, Christy?
00:41:12.705 --> 00:41:15.705
Christy asked nicely that I that's tough to resist.
00:41:16.247 --> 00:41:21.414
Next week the work life balance.
00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:23.789
Is that even a topic here?
00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:23.789
Is that an oxymoron?
00:41:23.789 --> 00:41:26.789
I think it's going to be a street fight argument.
00:41:27.622 --> 00:41:29.997
We've had a few in this recently.
00:41:29.997 --> 00:41:31.580
That being said, do me a favor.
00:41:31.580 --> 00:41:32.455
Take care of yourself.
00:41:32.455 --> 00:41:34.664
If you can take care of someone else too.
00:41:34.664 --> 00:41:37.664
We will see you very, very soon.
00:41:54.830 --> 00:41:55.414
Stay.