Social Business Success

Last week I was invited to attend the Capital Area United Way Volunteer of the Year Award Dinner.  You see, I was nominated for Volunteer of the Year Award by the organization in which I’ve been volunteering for 20 months.  Since August of 2011, I’ve been volunteering as the LinkedIn trainer for the downtown branch of the Capital Area District Library.  The Librarians at the library nominated me for the award.

Let me talk a bit about volunteering.  I know I wrote about volunteering a few months ago, however in this blog I am writing it from my perspective.  As I already mentioned, I’ve been volunteering as the LinkedIn trainer for the downtown branch of the Capital Area District Library.  During this time I’ve been able to improve my skills as a speaker and trainer.

As a volunteer, I felt I was making a contribution to the community.  There are very few places in the Lansing metro area offer training on LinkedIn, especially the type of training I do.  Here I’ve had the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, business professionals and job seekers alike.  What a great opportunity to expand my network.

Neil & a friend at the Volunteer of the Year Award Dinner.

After a while, the Librarians were able to get to know me and the type of work I do.  Volunteering directly lead to three professional speaking engagements.  How did I land these speaking engagements?  Through networking with the Librarians at the library!  Remember my philosophy of networking?  Helping people without expecting anything in return.

As a volunteer I’ve developed wonderful professional relationships with some of the library staff.  So when I read the letter that stated members of the library staff nominated me for the Volunteer of the Year Award, you know why I was stunned.  I was not thinking of “what’s in it for me”.  I was thinking of “what’s in it for them” as a volunteer.  I feel humbled by being nominated for the award.

The awards dinner was spectacular.  To be in the company of the other people that were nominated was an honor.  The ceremony made me think how much of an impact I’ve had on people.  It’s interesting to note the type of people that volunteer.  I noticed that the people that volunteer are individuals that believe in the philosophy of helping people without expecting anything in return.  The type of people that volunteer are people that care about the community in which they live and work.  Successful people are the type of people that volunteer.  The Awards dinner gave volunteering a whole new meaning to me.

Remember the next time someone talks with you about volunteering.  Don’t automatically shove it aside.  Look into the opportunity and remember what volunteering can do not only for you but for the people that will benefit from your work.

I was nominated for the Capital Area United Way Volunteer of the Year Award.  Wow!  That’s a feather in my cap and not everyone can say that.  I’m honored, flattered and humbled.  Think about what you can do for other people.  Because what you do for other people will come around help to you without you even realizing it.  Take it from a person who’s been there and done that.  Nominated for Volunteer of the Year, I like how that sounds!