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Three Ways Volunteering Secures Your Success

18 April 2018

By Brendan Epps

Service isn’t just an act, it’s a mindset.  Mandy Hale said, “To make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care.”  You can serve others with a haughty or grumbling attitude without it being service. At the same time, you can make the slightest gesture or give a little gift and make a huge impact. 

Leadership
Showing up for community service is a great and necessary thing.  Organize that project takes your role to leadership level.  Whether you are entry level or a journeyman with years of experience, few people have access to leadership opportunities like volunteering offers.  Diverse mix of skills and people.  Volunteering gives you the opportunity to take chances with different leadership approaches.  You can practice leadership styles, reinvent yourself, grow beyond your mistakes, and learn how to interact with diverse groups of people and personalities.

Experience
The experience paradox, also called the “permission paradox” is that we often need experience to get experience.  Employers want to hire people who already have experience; but to get that experience, people need the opportunity.  Experience is often knowing with a you’re doing because you’ve done it before.  Volunteering gives you opportunities to gain new skills, try different approaches and learn from mistakes you’d be too afraid to make in the workplace.  After all, how do you learn from mistakes if you don’t get to make them. 

Network
It’s amazing who you can meet when you volunteer in terms of other volunteers; people who can help you and people you can help.  The type of people willing to invest their precious time helping others are the type of people you want to surround yourself with.  They’re clearly in the business of edifying others and may also be in the position to help you with employment or other connections.  After all, you’ve shown them your work ethic by working side-by-side with them.  And the bonds formed when serving others are strong.

Now that you know how volunteering with the Greater Dayton YMCA can help you, here’s a few ways you can help the Y:
● Coaching/Assisting with youth sports/activities
● Reaching out to potential donors for the Annual Campaign or Strong Kids Campaign
● Be creative and volunteer your talent or expertise
● Organize a fundraiser, workshop, or event for your local Y

When you volunteer, everyone wins.  You feel good.  The YMCA continues to grow from the benefits of your support.  Others are inspired and encouraged seeing you help others.  Certainly the Greater Dayton YMCA isn’t the only place to volunteer, but it’s a great place to start.