"If you wait until you can do everything for everybody, instead of something for somebody, you’ll end up doing nothing for nobody"
In order to become and remain successful for any period of
time, a local business needs the support of the surrounding communities. Business
entrepreneurs who learn and practice the methods necessary to gain and maintain
this support will position their company to compete with the largest national
companies of the same industry.
It’s critical for locally-owned businesses to participate in
the local community on a regular basis. Not only in an effort to optimize every
opportunity and increase business, but to “do
well by doing good”. It’s an age-old proverb that is the ultimate “win –
win” for a business and for its employees, when approached with a clean heart
and a right spirit.
Promote Other Local Businesses
Together we all rise as one. Local businesses that form a
community among one another and work to support and promote each other are
often the most successful as a whole. Buy local as often as possible and always
establish methods to encourage your employees to do the same. Promote other
local non-competing businesses on your website and within your business.
Donate a Community Pet Park
Donate or purchase property to establish
a community pet park. Local community members and business partners often
have pets of their own. And properly-cared-for pets require routine time
outdoors. Give the community pets and their caretakers a beautiful outdoor
space to run, play, and be healthy. Each time someone passes through the gates
or past the signs, your business is positively promoted.
Sponsor Youth Scholastic, Athletic, and Musical Endeavors
Whether now or in the future, you and / or your employees
may have children involved in scholastic events, sporting
events, musical events, scholarship
funds, and more. When you dedicate your business to supporting these events,
you are supporting the children’s
education and social growth while positively promoting your business to the
local people.
Sponsor Community Events
Involving your business in the sponsorship of local
events like races, blood drives, eating and cooking contests, growing
contests, and more, places your company image in the forefront of constructive
community involvement. What makes it even better is when one or more of your
employees or a family member is participating in the event.
Help to Build a House
Supporting organizations like Habitat For Humanity and other like-minded
charities provides your business with the opportunity to contribute to building
projects that benefit underprivileged community members. In addition to
financial support and the donation of materials, encourage family and employees
to participate in the construction, often performed on weekends outside of
normal business hours.
Encourage Employees to Volunteer Their Time
Provide an incentive to your employees when they volunteer
their time to worthwhile community
cleanup events and other worthy causes. Offering paid time off for your
employees when volunteering exemplifies your company’s support for the
community. Doing so also boosts morale within your business while boosting your
company’s image with the local community.
As Mother Teresa eloquently exclaimed, “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received,
how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be
judged by ‘I was hungry and you (fed me), I was naked and you clothed me, I was
homeless and you took me in.’ Hungry not only for bread — but hungry for love.
Naked not only for clothing — but naked for human dignity and respect. Homeless
not only for want of a room of bricks — but homeless because of rejection.”
And Malcom Bane
wisely expressed, “If you wait until you can do everything for everybody,
instead of something for somebody, you’ll end up doing nothing for nobody.”