The Power of Impact

Today, I want to share something close to my heart – the incredible power of impact and giving back in the world. As a person who owns a social enterprise, I’ve seen firsthand how these values can transform not just individual businesses, but entire communities.?

When we talk about business success, it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers – revenue, profits, market share. But there’s another side to success that’s just as important, if not more so: the impact we have on others. This impact, whether it’s on our employees, customers, or the broader community, creates a ripple effect that can lead to even greater success.

Here are real-world examples to illustrate this point:

Gregory (Ryan) Gill and Fishing With Purpose:

Brush Strokes, an industrial and commercial painting company, has an amazing mission. It? intentionally recruits and employs individuals who are in recovery or are formerly incarcerated. This company understands the power of redemption and believes everyone deserves a second (third, fourth, or fifth) chance. Ryan Gill, the owner and founder, would be the first person to tell you that he struggled with his own vices. Becoming a business owner was his way of escaping the corporate rat race and starting his process of healthy and substance-free living. He is able to use his story and his passion to support others who are on the same journey.

Additionally, Ryan uses his passion for fishing to help youth develop resilience and coping strategies to deal with their pain in a healthy way. In collaboration with the Men-In-Training program with Living In Purpose, Fishing With Purpose will further its mission of using sport, tenacity, and mindfulness to equip the next generation of leaders. Not only does this enhance Brush Strokes’ brand reputation, but it also created a loyal customer base that appreciated their commitment to making a difference.

Alison Couch and District 4 Commissioner:

Alison Couch, the owner and founder of Ignite Accounting and Business Advisors, is an amazing business owner who is breaking the mold for traditional accounting firms. And, it’s not just us who think she is amazing - the community recognizes her as well. She was the Small Business of the Year in 2022. She also has a 100 NPS (net promoter score) which is incredible! Harvard Business Review says that it is “the one number you need to grow.” NPS is the likelihood that your clients would refer you. If you’re a business owner, you understand how valuable referrals are.?

The other side of Alison is her role as the District 4 Commissioner in GA. Alison works tirelessly to advocate for the mom-and-pop shops in her community. For example, she worked with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), which lobbies at the state and federal level for small businesses. She testified before state and federal Business Administration Committees about raising the business tangible personal property tax exemption amount. This means she was fighting to lessen taxes that small business owners have to pay, which has the most impact on the small businesses. Her values and who she is are part of what creates that 100 NPS.?

?Purpose-Fueled Leader and Living in Purpose Foundation :

Living In Purpose is Purpose-Fueled Leader’s non-profit arm. Its vision is “to provide opportunities for vulnerable children and their families to live physically, mentally,? emotionally, financially, and spiritually purpose-filled lives.” Living In Purpose isn’t just empowering the children that come to the building, it is transforming families and communities. We want to equip these children and families with the grit and resilience it takes to live in a world full of pain. We actually want our children to look at obstacles and say, ‘This is what makes me stronger.”?

Losing both of my parents to AIDS is a large contributor to the mission of this non-profit. I think if someone had asked me how I was doing and given me counseling, things may have turned out differently. I was too young to know how to cope with my pain and I didn’t have the outlet to be able to deal with it. Another huge factor to the mission of LIP is I worked in an after-school reading program in Atlanta for 7 years to help vulnerable children learn to read because I knew that would help keep them out of prison. According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, 70% of all incarcerated adults cannot read at a fourth-grade level. I wanted to bring that same mission to Augusta. My team and myself volunteer and give proceeds to Living In Purpose because it brings to life what our day-to-day grind is for.?

Intersection of Impact and Profit

Impact and giving back are not just feel-good initiatives; they are powerful business strategies. They create a positive feedback loop that enhances every aspect of your business, from employee engagement to customer loyalty and, ultimately, to your bottom line.

So, as you think about your business strategy and leadership approach, consider how you can incorporate giving back into your vision. It’s not just about doing well; it’s about doing good and, in the process, achieving a level of success that goes beyond the balance sheet.

Finally, what’s awesome is that you attract who you are. The business owners that we partner with hold the same values that we do. They honor their employees, they develop them and set systems for them to thrive. Some have non-profits of themselves.?

If you’re a mission-oriented organization and want to figure out how to make your business more profitable AND have more impact in the community, please go to www.purposefueledleader.com to schedule a time.?

Thanks for reading, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. How has giving back impacted your business? Share your stories in the comments!