Thanksgiving is just one week away, which means Christmas will be here before we know it!

This time of year is hectic for busy professionals and entrepreneurs. In addition to the holiday get-togethers and shopping, there’s also the drive to finish the year strong.

You may need to spend more of your time on accounting, and you undoubtedly need to spend time planning and budgeting for the new year. There are projects to wrap up. And for many businesses, the holidays and new year bring special offers that increase workload across the board.

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, and that is 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 year, the Women of Community Impact will again be supporting Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter. We plan to serve Thanksgiving dinner and breakfast to 50 children, their mothers, and staff.

We will also serve a Thanksgiving meal to 10 foster children and their house mother at Positive Impact. And we are raising funds with a goal of $600 to feed children and families in Haiti as a partnership with Love Him Love Them.

We will also make Christmas merry for those in need. We will serve the Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter residents with Christmas meals. And we will support Beyond the Ribbon’s holiday event to serve families in this area affected by a diagnosis of cancer and currently in treatment with special goodie bags.

If you would like to contribute to The Women of Community Impact’s service projects, you can make a donation. Any amount is appreciated and all donations go directly to serve others.

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. Or you could donate Christmas gifts to children in need or Thanksgiving dinner to a family that cannot afford it.

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 giving to charities at this time of year. Your monetary donations during the holiday season help support worthwhile causes 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 this powerful quote: “The measure of a man’s greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves.” –Pastor John C. Hagee

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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