Have you noticed that when you allow the entrepreneurial spirit in you to lead the way – with passion, authenticity, purpose and persistence – you naturally express thoughts and actions of abundance? You just know that all things are possible.
Our recent economy has been built on entrepreneurialism; it’s rooted in the unwavering entrepreneurial spirit of creativity, ingenuity, determination and drive. Entrepreneurs live in a perpetual state of opportunity and they produce a powerful ripple effect of abundance for all of us. Why is that?
I’ve had the pleasure of working with entrepreneurs and business owners for more than a decade. It’s been my personal experience that entrepreneurs are particularly generous people. I was reminded of this when I read a recent study that reported that 89% percent of entrepreneurs donate money (both personally and through their companies) to support charitable causes, while 70% also donate their time. The majority of those surveyed believe that being an entrepreneur makes them more inclined to give to charity.
Entrepreneurs value individual effort and know that greatness starts with a commitment to personal excellence. When you strive for excellence in everything you do, it’s then reflected throughout your company. Because you live it, your staff embraces it. They, too, enjoy seeing their best come through in the work they do.
We see this spirit in our clients all the time here at People Biz, Inc.
- Every Valentine’s Day, Shelley Capretto with Village Maternity in Seattle gives 10% of their sales to charity. They have been involved with “Shop to Make a Difference” for 6 years, and along with other Univeristy Village shops, they raised $51,000 for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in 2010.
- Diane Dean of Epiphany! Counseling & Wellness Center in Pittsburgh mentors counseling students au gratis. Using these students, Epiphany! provides free counseling services to those without insurance, or those receiving medical assistance and unable to find a counselor.
- Dr. Martha Pyron, MD of Medicine in Motion in Austin provides medical care for the Hill Country Ride for AIDS each year, organizing 30 or more volunteers. The ride generated 600,000 funds for AIDS services in Austin last year.
- Doreen Zayer, owner of Relax on Cloud 9 in Staten Island, opens her doors the Monday after Mothers’ Day for an exclusive spa experience for mothers and their special needs daughters. Staff volunteers their time to give the girls special spa treatments such as facials, massages, and foot scrubs.
- Pam O’Bryant’s Keller Williams Realty office in Arlington, VA donated over $40,000 to the Arlington Food Assistance Center in November from their gala and silent auction. They also donated over $8000 last year to the Keller Williams national charity, KW Cares, which helps KW agents in need.
- Each year at Christmas, Ed and Charlene Hoey with Meyer and Associates Marketing & Communications in New York lets staff members pick several charities to which the company will donate, such as Unicef, World Hunger Year, and Habitat for Humanity. They also sponsor NYU students in conjunction with the monthly HSMAI luncheons.
- Representatives of Bluebonnet Electric in Bastrop, TX were honored at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas’ 25th Anniversary on October 25th. The company is listed on the Wishing Wall, a permanent display at the Ronald McDonald House, which was built in appreciation of loyal supporters and was dedicated at the anniversary event.
And the list goes on.
We want to take a moment now, as the new year begins, to honor you and wish you the very best in the year to come. At People Biz, Inc., we are very proud of who you are and what you do for your community!