Dear Tammy: I'm working so hard, even after hours, to make my travel agency business succeed. At the same time, I'm getting a ton of requests to help some organization in the community or to be on the board of a good cause.
I'm not a bad person, but I just don't have time for this. How can I say no and not look bad?
Tammy: Don't say no. Make the time to get involved in the community because it's a win-win for everyone.
In this world of uncertainty, so many people need reassurance and confidence in travel as well as just in humanity. They need to know that there will be people there to help them in times of need. Giving back is vital to a successful business.
Here are few things that I have been doing at Elite Travel for my communities.
I have organized events for my birthday where I have raised funds for local charities. Hundreds of people attended, and we raised money for Friends of Joshua in Tampa, Florida, a safe haven/foster care home for children.
Next, I took community involvement one step further by starting an organization called Itsmybag.cool, which was founded with one principle in mind: No child or the things they own should be cast aside.
I have raised awareness about children who are taken from their homes and into foster care programs with all of the things they owned in a garbage bag. I asked my community to help me by just collecting used suitcases with wheels for these children. So far, we have collected over 15,000 suitcases nationally.
Travel agents like Ann Johnson, with Travel Makers MD, has also helped me in the Baltimore region and distributed these suitcases in her area.
I collaborate with other travel agents on this as well. Other agencies in the area are used as drop off locations and help me raise the awareness and collect suitcases.
We are in the travel industry and it is so befitting and easy for us to ask our travelers to help us.
[READMORE]READ MORE: The Home-Based Travel Agent's Keys to Success[/READMORE]
Community involvement helps everyone and is a must for any successful business. People in the community get to know you and see the positive work that you are doing. It's important to remember that you have the ability to give back and should take the time each week to give back to the community that has given to you.
So find the time to do this and stop saying no. You won't regret it.
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