I believe entrepreneurs are the luckiest people alive. It’s true that they bleed hard work, passion, and sacrifice into their work. However, the level of freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur is unparalleled. This is what makes entrepreneurs lucky.
With this amount of freedom, entrepreneurs have the opportunity to make a massive difference in their communities, and even the world. But people overthink this all the time. There doesn’t have to be a set agenda, organization, or channel to follow, and you don’t need to be Bruce Wayne with a massive fortune in order to be philanthropic. A little bit of time goes a long way. Your time is valuable, but your impact can be too.
Here are a few ways to create direct and immediate change in your community.
1. Donate concrete resources directly to those in need
If you don’t know where to begin with giving back, start with the necessities. Is there a spot in your city where you know displaced folks hang out? Grab a backpack and fill it with food and water to pass around. Talk with these people and give them your time. Not many do.
It’s also helpful to coordinate your resources with a local nonprofit that works to end hardship in your community. When you give back locally you have a higher chance for immediate impact.
Here are some resources in the Madison area:
Child Home Services: The Road Home
2. Mentor someone in a new skill
A very bright friend of mine wanted to learn design and asked me to help. We would go to a café and he bought me lunch and I showed him some shortcuts or techniques on how to use certain tools in Adobe. His skills have improved vastly since.
This year I will be mentoring a friend’s nephew who has autism in video editing. We’ll be going through how to use editing software, editing techniques, and how to set up his own YouTube channel. I am personally looking forward to lending a hand to this kid.
4. Get other people involved
I was approached by two folks I know with their own original ideas on how to give back. One paid homeless folks to clean up the streets, while the other was a store where all items were completely free and donation based.
Sometimes you won’t even have the opportunity to help. A community space in Madison (that will not be named) once turned me away after I offered assistance because I was not a part of their “club.” That’s okay! Start your own group and spread the word. Go out on your own and make your direct and immediate change regardless of anyone’s politics or religious affiliation.
Take photos if you want, but don’t make that the reason you are there. Taking a photo and writing about your experience volunteering can help inspire someone or shed light on a cause they did not know existed. However, make sure it is not forced or contrived. You are not there for the photo-op!
In summary, it’s important for entrepreneurs to give time and energy back to their community. Entrepreneurs by nature are powerful, change-driving beings, and have a social responsibility to put good into this world as much as possible.