3 Ways Small Business Owners Can Give Back and Make a Positive Impact 

As small business owners, it’s easy for us to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle – even to the point that we need to intentionally schedule in time to step back and plan. However, there are other opportunities that can be easy to miss as we get busy: the opportunities to use our platforms to give back and make a positive impact. 

There are so many different ways we can do this. Honestly, that’s part of what I love about it, because we’re all going to see different needs. None of us can fill every need, but together, each of us can do our part to fill some of them. 

And as that effort multiplies, more and more needs will get filled! 

I hope you’re already thinking about or participating in ways that you can give back, but if not, here are some ideas to get you started! 

Helping Entrepreneurs Around the Globe 

Although we all deal with various problems as CEOs and business owners, many of us are actually pretty lucky. We have access to the resources we need, and though we may have to put in some long hours at times, our goals are reachable with hard work and the right guidance. 

In many countries around the world, however, this just isn’t the case. Entrepreneurs in second and third-world countries or in war-torn or poverty-stricken areas simply don’t have access to the resources they need.  

Where we may pursue funding in the tens or hundreds of thousands, a few hundred or a few thousand dollars could change the course of their business (and their family’s lives). We can help provide access to materials, animals, or other resources they need to succeed. 

What can we do to help? 

One organization that I’ve chosen to support is Kiva, a crowd-funding platform that connects people around the world with entrepreneurs in need. You can help an artisan in Tajikistan, a farmer in Ecuador, or a store owner in the Philippines or Kenya. By donating as little as $25, you can help a mother or father support their family and bring needed services or goods to their community. 

And because this support is given in the form of a microloan, as the business owner pays it back, that money will go back into your account to lend again…and again, and again. You can also give as a team – over the past few years, my team of 19 people has funded over 740 loans in 58 countries.  

If you think about all the entrepreneurs, family members, and people in their communities who are affected by those loans…that’s thousands of lives we’ve had the opportunity to positively impact! 

Providing Business Resources to Other Cultures 

We don’t want to stop there, though! While many business owners need the tangible supplies and resources to function, many also need the training and systems to run and grow a profitable business. 

While talking with members of my team who live in Mexico and Central or South America, I learned that much of the training and resources that are readily available in English are much harder to find in Spanish. I wanted to remedy that. 

In the early spring of 2022, I brought together various members of my team and we started to create these resources in Spanish!  

We translated our membership for business owners, Business Mastery College, as well as one of our main systems package, the Financial Systems Manual Package. At the same time, my Marketing Team worked with a coach who specializes in marketing to the Hispanic market to design ways to reach the business owners we want to help. 

All in all, the process took several months, but it was worth it. And today, we have an entire department dedicated to helping business owners who prefer to speak, read, and learn in Spanish! 

Equipping Your Team with Systems for Success 

Some might see this topic as falling under administration and operations (which, of course, it does), but it also contributes greatly to making an impact. 

When you equip your team members with the systems they need to be successful, you’re not just making sure your business runs productively and profitably. Those are definitely goals you want to reach, but equipping your team also makes a positive impact on them. 

Strong systems will help you and your team to: 

• Have higher job satisfaction, which leads to greater happiness and mental health 
• Know that they’re fulfilling a purpose with their work 
• Lower frustration (which is something we all want to do) 
• Increase collaboration 
• Retain key employees 

• Retain and grow your client base 
• Increase sales, which can allow you to grow your team and give raises or bonuses 
• Help to automate processes, which equips both you and your team members to stay within your zones of genius 

In other words, building and implementing the right systems can positively impact not only your life, but the lives of your team members, their families, your clients, their families and clients, and people in your audience. 

Who knew systems were so powerful? 

Building these systems might seem intimidating, but with the right frameworks and guidance, the process becomes a lot easier. If my team and I can help you, let me know!