Australian’s are very generous when it comes to supporting those in need and none are more giving than the small business sector. This is a good thing, because customers are much more demanding these days and they want to know they are dealing with businesses that have high levels of integrity and social responsibility.
I know work with many small businesses who really amaze me with their generosity. They give freely of their time, their products, their services and their own money to make a big difference in the world. When I ask them why they don’t promote what they do, they get uncomfortable, saying that no one likes someone who tries to ‘big note’ themselves by taking credit for doing good.
Whilst I understand where they are coming from, and their humility, this is a very outdated philosophy. We should be proud of what we do to make a difference and we should feel very comfortable sharing our passion to make a difference with others.
It isn’t ‘big noting’ yourself to put the charities your support on your website, or in your brochures or to hang a certificate of appreciation on the wall. You can keep the details to yourself if you have donated money, but celebrate supporting them.
Being a great corporate citizen is good for business and whilst I know that very few people support charities simply because it is good for business, it is a fact. Imagine if a customer is given the choice between buying from ‘Business A’, that outwardly doesn’t seem to have any community, environmental or social commitment or ‘Business B’, that is clearly active in each of these areas, which business do you think this modern day consumer will buy from?
So please continue to be wonderfully supportive of those in need, but at the same time tell everyone what it is that your business does to make a difference.
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