Giving With a Goal

Everyone gets into business for various reasons. Most of us want to make money--sure. How much we think we need to make changes from person to person. After all, wealth is a relative term. However, everyone that gets into business-any kind of business, should think about also setting a giving goal.

Many of us belong to a church and are very familiar with the 10 percent rule (that the first 10 percent of your income should go to the church), but that is not the kind of giving I'm talking about. I'm talking about the kind of giving that can make a difference in one or 100 or 1,000 or 10,000 or more lives. For some of you that may be your church and that is certainly an admirable goal. For others it may be a disease that affects a loved one (or even you). The important thing is not which cause, but to find a cause that stirs your heart like no other.

For me, however, this kind of giving has not been limited to one specific charity, but rather several charities. Basically, I have been willing to help any charity that helps children. Focusing on a specific cause can really help motivate you in your business as well. It is your business that is going to provide the money you need to support your real love--your cause.

A long time ago I set a goal for myself. To raise $1 billion dollars for charities that benefitted children. I have already either raised or helped raise $200 million. Obviously, I'm still working toward that ultimate goal, but it is a great motivating factor as I look not only at my current businesses, but other business opportunities. Will these businesses further my philanthropic goal? Looking at opportunities not only from a strictly business standpoint, but also from the standpoint of life goals adds another layer of consideration.

Another consideration is the amount of time you can give to your philanthropic goal. Maybe it is not just about money. Is there something about this business that might give you the flexibility to contribute you time to your cause as well as your money? Is giving of your time and important goal for you?

Having this charitable goal also helps me with my motivation. Sometimes when we are in business for ourselves, it is easy to get discouraged. Especially if your business is internet-based and you don't get a lot of contact with the other people that are in business with you. Having that goal out there to reach can sometimes get you over the hump.

Once you have decided on your philanthropic goal, be sure you have written it down and put it somewhere you can see every day. There have been lots of articles about how goals that are written down are much more likely to be achieved. As you go about your daily routine, you can look at this goal and be reminded of a cause bigger than yourself.

Remember, you may not be able to save the world, but maybe you can save one.