How do YOU give back?

Today I'd like to focus on giving back.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, what are YOU giving thanks for and how do you give back to those around you. I know we all give to our favorite charities, in some instances many times during the year. I just want to share with you one small piece of my giving back and hope that it will inspire you to think outside the box and find your own creative way.

I am still in the growing stages of my business. Many of you know that I constantly talk about building strategic alliances and working with others as best you can to help each other succeed. I have had the wonderful help of many photographers in the area. Without sitting here promoting their businesses, let me just rattle off a few names you may know: Justin Thomson, Larry Berman, Gabrielle Franks, Ken Schaffer, Dan Barry, Darci Doran, Randee Rosenfeld, Gary Cooper, Nigel Jackson, Steve Watkins and the Patch photographers, just to name some.

These people have donated a lot of their time and effort to help me. Now I want to give it back. In today's times, it is especially hard to work with direct dollars. You know what I mean.

So how can we give back? Do we make cookies for the postman at the holidays? Do we bake a cake for a neighbor? Do we make a special Halloween treat for a local child?

Here is what I am doing. I am starting a group called the “Triple Lenz”. We will meet only two times a year. It's not extravagant. If it's at a local pub/grille/or bar it will be a cash bar and the members will order off the menu and each pay for their own food. If it's in a meeting room, I will provide coffee/tea stations. So what is going to make this a give back situation?

First, I am securing the venue. I'm going to have a few drawings at each meeting of items that a photographer can use in his/her business, even if it's just a hobby for them. More importantly, I'm going to put people in a room together that share a common goal, that maybe have never met before, or that can work together on projects to help each other succeed. Isn't that what we all want?

Now, not just anyone can come into the Triple Lenz. You have had to do some type of barter exchange with my company to get in. Now, we have a win win for everyone. I get to work with people that play nice in the sandbox (which is what I preach all the time) AND I get to help make dreams happen for all of us.

I have even created a special page on my website where eventually, these photographers and filmmakers can post photos that link right back to their own web pages.

I think we will grow this exclusive group, I will get the help I need and I will build relationships among local area professionals and hobbyists that can grow into fantastic things down the road.

What are you going to do to give back this year?

As always, for any and all information, you can contact me anytime at www.4astar.com

Make it a great day, and get to the “Balcony Blogger Challenge” to see what else you can do to make a change, maybe in yourself. Find it through pinterest at my web page, or scroll to an older post here on Galloway Patch.