Creativity in Service
One of my favorite parts of life is finding creative ways to serve people. There are countless people to serve and unlimited ways to serve them. Opportunities are everywhere, but we have to look for them.
One of the coolest opportunities I have is the occasional speaking gig at a local high school business program called Orbis. Orbis is different than a traditional classroom experience. It runs more like an ongoing workshop that aims to put kids in real-world situations while forcing them to think non-linearly. There's a lot of project work in a team setting with an entrepreneurial bend. It's the program I wish I had when I was their age!!!
As my relationship with Orbis and its leaders has grown, so too have the opportunities to serve them. Like most things, it's really about relationships. I absolutely love their leaders. They are special people doing extraordinary work. I call them friends, and I'd dare call them heroes. I admire them deeply and would jump off a cliff for them if it would help their cause.
This is where the "finding creative ways" part comes in. Sometimes, all it takes is making it known that you're willing to serve. Once we go on record as being interested, it's funny how many fun ideas and opportunities rise to the surface. I recently met with a group of Orbis students interested in starting a business. They are interviewing a handful of business owners in the community to gain knowledge and get tips for their upcoming venture. Fun opportunity!
After spending 45 minutes with them, I ran into a few of the Orbis leaders on my way out the door. That was when they pitched me with a new idea. In their regularly scheduled work time, they welcome local business leaders into the room as an "adjunct professor." This person's role is simply to show up and add value to whatever individual or group requests it. These guests each bring their own experiences, gifts, and passions, and the students have the opportunity to leverage them for their projects. How cool is that!?!
The process is simple. The Orbis leader sent me the link to a shared spreadsheet listing every working block for the rest of the semester. Under each block are three slots for guests to self-select. While browsing the spreadsheet to find dates for my calendar, I noticed some of the other guest names. These are prominent business leaders in our community. Big, important, powerful people who are probably some of the busiest people alive. Yet, they sought access to this spreadsheet, scheduled blocks of their time, and will soon share their gifts with these students. What a fun blessing!
I absolutely love this about these local business leaders. Despite being where they are in life and business (tremendously successful and probably quite busy), they still seek creative opportunities to serve others. I can't put words in their mouth, but I suspect they know the secret: generosity always wins!
Today, I encourage you to find creative ways to serve people in your life. It will bless you far more than it does them!