I say it all the time: It takes more than money to motivate someone to become a successful entrepreneur. Without question, every single person I’ve known who decided to become a business owner—and was considered a success by their peers—was always driven by something bigger. There was an internal desire to have an impact on their communities or families that would change lives. This is what keeps many people motivated to get up at 5 AM every day, work late hours, and sacrifice the little free time they have. A vision board with a fancy car or a big house doesn’t have the same luster or longevity as one with the opening of a community center for underprivileged children, a senior care facility, or building sustainable communities.
Unfortunately, for many owners, the challenge of running a business can often take up so much time that the things that motivated them in the first place take a back seat to keeping the lights on. Or, when time is available, they’re not sure how to make the big impact they set out for in the first place. While the local shelter or food bank may really appreciate the hours spent volunteering, it just doesn’t have the major bang they were looking for. Figuring out how to best leverage their resources is a crucial step to reaching their goals.
In the corporate world, we often refer to systems or processes that streamline our operations as “force multipliers” because they allow us to make the most of minimal resources to complete otherwise complicated or large tasks. Sometimes this involves computer programs, third-party services, or subcontractors. When we outsource those time-consuming tasks, it puts owners and managers back in the seats where their time is most valuable. In the non-profit world, this is no different.
Most small non-profit organizations lack many of the usual skill sets required to run an efficient business. They are staffed by volunteers and individuals who are skilled at completing the objectives of the mission but not necessarily the business operations side. This is where an impact-driven business owner can thrive. By offering to help that organization in ways that align with their talents or even their own business operations, non-profits can leverage that talent and reallocate resources back to their core mission.
For example, Tim owns an information technology company that procures computers and licenses for his clients. He also helps businesses develop their online presence and connects websites to internal systems and processes. Tim offers to help the local homeless shelter by setting up a computer system replacement strategy where they will receive off-lease and older computers that his clients are getting rid of as part of their upgrade strategy. This drastically reduces the charity’s capital overhead. Next, Tim is going to connect the charity’s website to their donor CRM system and help develop an automated email campaign. Now, website visitors will be automatically engaged, donations will increase, and staff can work more on their mission of helping the homeless.
You see, by using the resources at your disposal, you can turn your own force-multiplying tools into fund-multiplying tools for the mission you believe in!
April Babb
Director
