Have you been excited about being a volunteer?
The picture above was taken at Leadercast 2013. I just applied to work as a volunteer again and I can’t wait for the opportunity to serve.
And I’m talking about the kind of excitement where you wish you could invite everyone to participate with you. It’s crazy long hours the day before the event doing whatever needs to be done. And I mean whatever. I tried to get it across that I was volunteering and that whatever they needed me to do, I was their guy.
And in a weird way, they couldn’t believe I was serious. They asked and before they could explain what needed to be done in detail I said yes. Always.
Now, let me apologize. This isn’t just about me. This is for all of us. We should all have a desire to volunteer where we can. And to that, here are some guidelines that might help you decide when and how much to volunteer.
- Don’t volunteer just to gain bragging rights.
- Consider helping for seasonal opportunities (Thanksgiving, back-to-school, etc.) if your time is short.
- If you are in charge of volunteers, thank them regularly.
- Be wary of any group that asks for money for you to volunteer. If that’s the case, it’s not a true volunteer opportunity. Look elsewhere.
Don’t be bullied into volunteering. Coercion is not a proper way to get someone to volunteer. This is service that should come from the heart. There are going to be times when you have to and should say no to a volunteer opportunity. Weigh your immediate demands against the benefits of the chance to volunteer.
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Best best life experience: Chaperoning youth on a week long mission trip to the Cheerokee Nation in Oklahoma. Life’s best kept secret: It’s in giving we receive.
I would go again in a heart beat. Watching those youth reach out to others and find the joy in assisting the young, the old, the homeless was truly a gift.
There is a level of satisfaction that you can’t put a price tag on. And each year (it’s only been 2) keeps getting better, in my opinion.
As someone that has had the honor and privilege to volunteer along side David 2 years in a row at Leadercast, I can say without a doubt I agree with David 100%! It is a lot of work but is a total blast! If I can swing it in my schedule this year I’m going to volunteer both days (and this is coming from a guy who sat on the front row last year and is flying out from Arizona to do this)!
Ah . . . . my once a year buddy . . . Hope you can work it in to your schedule to make it out. You know where I’ll be. 🙂