November is here, which means the holidays are just around the corner. The season of giving is nearly upon us!

We all know how hectic this time of year can be for busy professionals and entrepreneurs. As I shared last month, there is the drive to finish the year strong as well as plan for 2024. For many businesses, the holidays and New Year bring special offers that increase workload across the board. And of course, we all have our personal holiday preparations and celebrations.

As important as all of that is, don’t let it get in the way of the other opportunity that presents itself, especially at this time of the year: to serve.

Serve your community, serve those in need, and serve the change we seek in the world.

Serving others in the community and beyond is transformational in so many ways. Through service, you can strengthen your character, build valuable new skill sets, expand your network, establish new friendships, improve your self-esteem, and feel a deep sense of fulfillment and gratitude – the benefits are truly endless.

As Thanksgiving approaches, consider all that you have to be thankful for and challenge yourself to get into the spirit of giving back. Ask yourself: What practical steps can I take to serve others this year?

This evening, the Women of Community Impact will be hosting an in-person meeting at Jambos Donates to fill backpacks for foster children at Creative Community Services. Our guest speaker is Rebekah Black, CEO of Jambos Donates, whose organization is also donating 50 pajamas for foster children for the event. Our generous sponsor, Tacos & Tequilas Mexican Grill of Buford, Georgia, is providing heavy appetizers for our volunteers.

In the spirit of teaching service to future leaders, tonight’s event also includes a youth component. Children ages 4-18 are invited to join us and hear from Joan William on the importance of being a servant leader and giving back to your community. You can stay up to date with all our Women of Community Impact initiatives by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Serving your community does not need to be hard or complicated!

Understandably, some business owners and sales professionals feel daunted by the prospect of undertaking a large, time-consuming service project. But don’t let these feelings prevent you from taking action. There are countless meaningful ways you can step up to serve.

You can volunteer to distribute food at a local soup kitchen, run a food bank donation drive, or collect presents for sick children or struggling families.

In addition to volunteering your time, consider serving by donating your products or professional services. For example, if you have a graphic design business, consider designing a fundraising appeal for your favorite charity. Non-profit organizations are often looking for sponsors to support their events, which can offer you a great opportunity to get your name out in the community on printed and electronic materials.

With a little creativity and soul searching, you can find or create an opportunity to serve that will be meaningful to you. And don’t forget about your personal year-end contributions to causes close to your heart. Your monetary donations during the holiday season help support these charities year round.

In addition to all of these ways, remember that serving others also means being there for friends, family, neighbors, and those around you. If a friend has been struggling, give them a gift card for their favorite coffee. If a single parent you know badly needs some “me-time,” offer to babysit. Smile at the woman bagging your groceries. And of course, recognize your employees for a job well done.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I encourage all of my clients to get involved in serving their communities. I have seen the innumerable personal, social, and professional benefits of serving others firsthand. Many skills developed through service have been useful as my clients work to raise revenue and build a legacy business.

I’ll sign off with these inspiring quotes about the importance of service:

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” –Booker T. Washington

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus™” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with more than 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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