Have you heard the phrase, “time is money” or “stay close to the money?” I would argue that time might be our most valuable commodity. This naturally begs the question why volunteer if you are not getting paid?
I can only speak for myself but volunteering in NPA and other organizations has always provided great value to me personally. Here are five benefits that I’ve received from volunteering.
- Form Deeper Connections. I have developed relationships and friendships and deeper connections within my communities through volunteering. On the personal side, these life-long friendships are priceless. This involvement has also led to deeper business relationships with many people and organizations leading directly to business opportunities as well as other professional enrichment.
- Being Part of Something Larger. I spent the first half of my career in leadership with a large global company. Moving to a very small practice was awesome but I missed being part of something larger than my immediate surroundings. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to connect with peers and continue to develop my leadership skills along with everything I love about owning a small business.
- Provides Balance/Well-Being. I have witnessed many recruiters invest everything in this roller coaster ride of running a desk. While this is a good equation for making money, it is also a recipe for burn out. Volunteering provides a distraction and vehicle to invest some time into helping for a greater cause. Helping fellow NPAworldwide members be more successful or get more out of their membership is rewarding. I also get renewed from attending our conferences and reconnecting with fellow members.
- Learning and Growth. As a volunteer leader I’ve been the beneficiary of being mentored and learning from many great leaders within our network. I carry and draw from many of these attributes every day. I was a trading group leader under Doug Stone and I still draw back on his leadership today. I have been influenced by too many people to mention within our network both from a business and personal standpoint. This is priceless.
- Becoming Better Known. Volunteering within NPAworldwide will help you become more known to more people. The pay-off might not be immediate but becoming more known will pay benefits in the future. I believe you are increasing your current investment of the network by volunteering.
I hope to see you volunteer your time for the purposes of improving our collective success. It might be what former longtime member Doug Stone called a “small bite” where you are helping on a committee or it might be an Area Leader or Practice Group Leader role. Nothing worthwhile happens quickly but I believe over time you will see that you see great returns from volunteering.