Recently I had the honor of being the chairperson of the Field
of Heroes, an annual event conducted by the Rotary Club of Jackson Township. It
takes place over the Memorial Day weekend and features the placement of more than
1,000 American flags on the township safety center lawn. The flags are
sponsored by area residents who wish to honor a military veteran, safety
officer, or other hero in their lives.
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| Mike Boyd served as chairperson of the 2015 Jackson Township Field of Heroes |
Because of that, I noticed along the way that my volunteer
service was having a direct, positive impact on my business. Here I was, being
put in touch with community leaders and key volunteers on a daily basis. They
came to my office, or attended meetings in our conference room, or were
otherwise made well aware of who I am and what I do. As that happened, they
became acquainted with our company and learned more about the products and
services we provide.
Was chairing such a major community event a lot of hard
work? Absolutely. Did it consume a great deal of my time? Yes, it did. And
that’s fine; volunteerism is one of the great things that drives our country
and our communities. We serve because we want to help, not because we expect to
get anything out of it. As I mentioned, it was an honor to chair the Field of
Heroes, and I felt privileged to do so.
Of course, anyone who has volunteered in their community
will tell you how they benefited personally from their service, and received
something in return. Typically, it’s a new perspective, or a greater sense of
appreciation after seeing what others may be experiencing. During the Field of
Heroes, I saw how much it meant to people to have the opportunity to express
appreciation for those individuals who had made a difference in their lives. It
lifted my spirits and reminded me that we all have much to be thankful for.
Since the event concluded, my volunteer service has had a
tangible effect on our company, as well.
People continue to thank me, weeks later. Others have called to place
orders, or have stopped in to invite bids from us on projects they’re working
on. In some cases, these are people who didn’t know much about me or my
business just a few weeks or months ago.
I’ve written before about how important it is to get out of
our comfort zones, to try new things or to involve ourselves in community
activities. It’s benefited me personally on a number of occasions. In addition
to the Field of Heroes, I’m active with our local Rotary Club and serve on the
board of the Canton Advertising Federation. Our company has helped dozens of
charities promote their organizations and events. Not only have they provided
us with the chance to be of service, they’ve offered us numerous opportunities
for networking with organizations and individuals who later became customers.
Without question, we all volunteer in the community because
we believe in the causes we’re helping, and because it’s the right thing to do.
But don’t overlook the fact that the right thing can also be the beneficial
thing for your company. What you give in time and service will often come back
to you many times over in business or career opportunities.
MIKE BOYD is president of Creative Source. Clients looking for sign companies in Canton, Ohio
and the surrounding region look to Mike and his staff for creative marketing solutions.
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