hurches and local chapters of national organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.). You see, they can be of any size as long as someone benefits. And, in the long run, that’s both of you; the business and the charity. You spread good will and establish yourself as an upstanding member of the neighborhood. You don’t have to give outrageous amounts either. In fact, it might bSo, why are you in business? If you answered, to make money, you’ve got it all wrong. That may be one of your reasons, but it shouldn’t be the main goal. You might think I’m crazy, but hear me out. To begin with, you be wondering what makes me qualified to judge your business? Fine, I’ll tell you.

As a professional marketing consultant with a degree in advertising, I’ve been advising businesses since opening my own advertising agency in 1976. That adds up to three decades and about 7000 businesses. During that time, I learned what it takes to keep a company running. Therefore, with those credentials under my belt, please allow me to pass on a few words of wisdom.

The purpose of business is to: (a) fill a need or (b) solve a problem. You do it by offering a product or service to the customer. Name any business that ever existed and you’ll find that this is always true. If there is no need fulfilled or problem solved, there are no customers and hence, no business. But there’s more, far more and it always goes back to the customer. Every successful business owes it’s well-being to their customers and where do those people come from? Hopefully, you responded with, “the community.” It’s the place where you live and work. So, if you improve that, you’re adding to the richness and vitality of your own environment.

So how does one go about giving back? The obvious choice is to fund local charities. You know, like the children’s sports clubs (soccer, etc.), groups (Girl Scouts, etc.), churches and local chapters of national organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.). You see, they can be of any size as long as someone benefits. And, in the long run, that’s both of you; the business and the charity. You spread good will and establish yourself as an upstanding member of the neighborhood. You don’t have to give outrageous amounts either. In fact, it might be

been advising businesses since opening my own advertising agency in 1976. That adds up to three decades and about 7000 businesses. During that time, I learned what it takes to keep a company running. Therefore, with those credentials under my belt, please allow me to pass on a few words of wisdom.

The purpose of business is to: (a) fill a need or (b) solve a problem. You do it by offering a product or service to the customer. Name any business that ever existed and you’ll find that this is always true. If there is no need fulfilled or problem solved, there are no customers and hence, no business. But there’s more, far more and it always goes back to the customer. Every successful business owes it’s well-being to their customers and where do those people come from? Hopefully, you responded with, “the community.” It’s the place where you live and work. So, if you improve that, you’re adding to the richness and vitality of your own environment.

So how does one go about giving back? The obvious choice is to fund local charities. You know, like the children’s sports clubs (soccer, etc.), groups (Girl Scouts, etc.), churches and local chapters of national organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.). You see, they can be of any size as long as someone benefits. And, in the long run, that’s both of you; the business and the charity. You spread good will and establish yourself as an upstanding member of the neighborhood. You don’t have to give outrageous amounts either. In fact, it might b

do it by offering a product or service to the customer. Name any business that ever existed and you’ll find that this is always true. If there is no need fulfilled or problem solved, there are no customers and hence, no business. But there’s more, far more and it always goes back to the customer. Every successful business owes it’s well-being to their customers and where do those people come from? Hopefully, you responded with, “the community.” It’s the place where you live and work. So, if you improve that, you’re adding to the richness and vitality of your own environment.

So how does one go about giving back? The obvious choice is to fund local charities. You know, like the children’s sports clubs (soccer, etc.), groups (Girl Scouts, etc.), churches and local chapters of national organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.). You see, they can be of any size as long as someone benefits. And, in the long run, that’s both of you; the business and the charity. You spread good will and establish yourself as an upstanding member of the neighborhood. You don’t have to give outrageous amounts either. In fact, it might b

e people come from? Hopefully, you responded with, “the community.” It’s the place where you live and work. So, if you improve that, you’re adding to the richness and vitality of your own environment.

So how does one go about giving back? The obvious choice is to fund local charities. You know, like the children’s sports clubs (soccer, etc.), groups (Girl Scouts, etc.), churches and local chapters of national organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.). You see, they can be of any size as long as someone benefits. And, in the long run, that’s both of you; the business and the charity. You spread good will and establish yourself as an upstanding member of the neighborhood. You don’t have to give outrageous amounts either. In fact, it might b

hurches and local chapters of national organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.). You see, they can be of any size as long as someone benefits. And, in the long run, that’s both of you; the business and the charity. You spread good will and establish yourself as an upstanding member of the neighborhood. You don’t have to give outrageous amounts either. In fact, it might be better to donate $200 each to five charities than $1000 to one. That way, more benefit.

As a good example, see what one company is doing right on the Internet. Visit thenurseschoice.com and look at their program for fundraising. And if you happen to be a member of a local charity, you could apply on their site for a donation. Or if you’re a nurse, there is a special program just for you. But it’s their way of giving back and an object lesson for all you business people out there. Let your success spread to the community and everyone wins.