Photo by Dennis Herrara (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Smart Moves

Did getting more involved in your community make your list of goals or resolutions?

Here’s why it should.

Any form of community involvement can be a wonderful thing in itself. The satisfaction you experience by contributing to your community and the people around you is priceless and many times is the most positive thing you do in your day. Although community involvement by its very nature is altruistic, you will often find that you receive more than you give.

But beyond the personal rewards, being active in your community also provides a tremendous opportunity to network with people who live in your area and the professional connections can help you advance your career or bring in more business. It can also present a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and build your personal support network.

Start participating in neighborhood or community meetings, take part in activities relating to your kids’ school or join a volunteer group or cause that interests you. The choices are endless. Find something that appeals to you and fits into your schedule. Don’t view this as another demand on your time, but as a possibility to enhance your career and your life.

Plus you’ll be setting a great example for your children.

I have over the years been a part of the school PTO and joined a local literacy tutoring group. I found both to be enjoyable, rewarding and very beneficial in adding to my pool of connections.

What type of community involvement have you done or are you planning to di in the future?

Image by Horia Varlan via Flickr

Need a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person? Books make great gifts. Thoughtful, affordable and simple. Here are some of my favorite gift picks:

For the tech lover – Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson or The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood by James Gleick

For the young reader (or the young at heart) – The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set by Suzanne Collins or The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse a new picture book by Eric Carle

For the suspense lover – The Litigators by John Grisham or Zero Day by David Baldacci

For the history buff – Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O’Reilly, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero by Chris Matthews or Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy by Caroline Kennedy

For the cook – Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible: The New Classic Guide to Delicious Dishes with More Than 300 Recipes or my personal favorite Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook

For the fiction lover – 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami or The Marriage Plot: A Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides

Look no further than your local bookstore or get them online at ]]> http://productivelifeconcepts.com/books-make-the-perfect-holiday-gift-my-picks/feed/ 0 http://productivelifeconcepts.com/its-time-to-think-about-helping-others/ http://productivelifeconcepts.com/its-time-to-think-about-helping-others/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:48:10 +0000 Royale http://www.thegratitudesite.org/?p=2407

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Today be grateful for your ability to help others. Remember that there is always someone who is having a harder time than you are. As the holiday season is underway, it’s time to start thinking about charitable giving. Keep in mind some guidelines suggested by Charity Navigator:

Be a 3-D giver: There are three components that a wise donor must consider before selecting a charity.

1. Check the charity’s financial performance: Financially healthy organizations – those that are both financially efficient and sustainable – have greater flexibility and freedom to pursue their goals. Charity Navigator’s ratings provide this information.
2. Review the charity’s commitment to accountability and transparency: Generally speaking, charities that follow good governance practices are less likely to engage in unethical or irresponsible activities so, the risk that charities would misuse donations should be lower than for charities that don’t adopt such practices. Donors can view data regarding accountability and transparency for more than 1,000 charities (and growing each month) on the Charity Navigator website.
3. Assess the charity’s results (whether the charity can show evidence that it makes a meaningful difference for people and communities who receive services): Learn about a charity’s accomplishments, goals and challenges by reviewing its website and/or talking with staff. You should be able to ascertain the quality and depth of the charity’s results as well as its capacity to continue to get these results. In the not-too-distant future, Charity Navigator plans to include results information for each of the charity’s it rates.

Follow up on disaster donations: Millions of Americans reached into their pockets this year already and gave generously in response to the Japanese earthquake and Hurricane Irene victims. If you gave, now is the time to follow-up on that gift. Contact the charity that you supported and find out what the organization has been able to accomplish. As we enter the more expensive and time-consuming reconstruction phase of recovery from these disasters, inquire about the projects the charity is currently tackling. If you find merit in their continued endeavors, make an additional donation.

Find inspiration through social media, but be careful when donating: Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook and blogs enable charities and their supporters to deliver heartfelt appeals to our computers and phones. While these services can increase awareness of a charity and its cause, you should not give based on emotional appeals of these vehicles. You must take at least a few minutes of your time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help, to ensure that it comes from a legitimate charity. And if you aren’t 100% sure who and what is behind the appeal, then you should visit either Charity Navigator or the charity’s own website to make your online donation.

Give without strings attached: Funders of all types increasingly give gifts that are targeted to specific programs or services. While it is understandable that givers want to fund projects that have a tangible, heartwarming end result, this hamstrings charities. First, it makes it difficult for a charity to change direction mid-project should it finds a more effective course. Second, charities have to scramble to find the funds to cover their day-to-day costs, such as the electric bill. So, while it isn’t particularly exciting to give towards a charity’s general operating funds, it is crucial if you want your favorite charity to be successful.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.