One of my goals of learning more about business and achieving financial independence is to have the ability to make a signficant impact on my community. New Haven is the perfect place to mark a mark on the community. It is a city that is rich with great non-profits that focus their efforts on a wide range of social endeavors. I often wonder what kind of impact some of the great business people could make on society, if they focused on making a social impact instead of larger profits. Many professionals start this journey when they are nearing retirement and already have more than enough money get by. The people I admire most, are the ones who give back and are catalysts for change throughout their entire lives and start this process at a young age.
An easy way to start this process is by volunteering. It is a much more rewarding experience to give a full day of your time than to mail in $20 to any given cause. There are some great opportunities in the New Haven area where anyone can get involved. You can find out if you have what it takes to be a teacher by teaching a business lesson to Elementary School children through Junior Achievement. You can be an announcer/scorekeeper at the annual Special Olympics Softball Tournament that takes place every September. You can learn a new skill and sign up as a Volunteer Income Tax Preparer. Several organizations will train you and there is no experience required. You will then help people in lower-income groups by preparing their tax returns. If anyone wants more info on any of these opportunities, let me know and I can get you in touch with the people who run them. Hopefully years from now I can look back and be able to say that I made some small dent in making my area a better place to live.
