The Spirit of Volunteerism

In his post, We're All Volunteers, Steve Farber asks, "What inspires your own sense of volunteerism?"

This question resonates with me on several fronts:

1. As a volunteer: I do quite a bit of volunteer work. I know my own passions, so I try to find the opportunities that quench my own thirsts.
2. As a volunteer leader: When I was with AOL, and Real Fans Sports Network prior to that, we worked with hundreds of volunteer community leaders. One of the keys for success was to find out the passions of each leader and then develop the tools/space for them to thrive.
3. As an employer: Steve's post today stems from a comment on his Sleep Country post. Sleep Country USA has a turnover rate of 6%, down from 200% four years ago. Again, the key is finding the passion/strengths of each individual and putting them into a position for success. Don't play a fleet-footed center fielder at first base.
4. As an entrepreneur: The first few months of my new business, this was a volunteer position. In many ways it still is, but the passion to see people connect, collaborate, and then celebrate their new relationships continues to drive me beyond expectations.

Do you tap into your spirit of volunteerism daily? If not, what tools/space need developing to allow you to tap into your passions?

Technorati Tags: Volunteers, Passion, Sleep Country USA, Steve Farber

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