Business Principles That Make an Impact.

J.W. Oliver Jr.

In a world driven by the familiar words and acronyms of “Profits, ROI, EBITDA, Bottom Line, and Exit Plans.” We can easily miss the greatest values a business can have:

• Generosity

• Transformation of Teams

• Global Impact

While making a profit is essential to owning or operating any business, we can quickly discount the impact we can have on our teams as well as the impact we can have on an organization and communities.

At Support DDS and Zimworx, we recognize this interconnectedness. Since day one, we’ve worked hard to integrate our mission statement and our core values not just as a framed placard on the wall, but into our culture and leadership. They are the guiding principles woven into our DNA and mission statement:

“TRANSFORMING LIVES WHILE MAKING A GLOBAL IMPACT.”

ministries around the Globe. As virtuous as that sounds, when we began it was easy as 0% of Zero was… .Zero! Ha, I like to always add that because it was true. But what was once a dream to make an impact has blossomed into an organization of now 1,000+ team members and an annual donation forecasted to exceed seven figures for the current year. We will make an impact on four continents with many initiatives and sustainable projects through various local and international ministries.

The core of a meaningful life and legacy is a vision for generosity and an understanding of what it means to be a blessing to others. The value of giving must first be modeled, and then taught so the next generation embraces generosity. Only when it becomes second nature can you truly begin to make a difference.

By not making the bottom line our bottom line, we’re not only building a stronger company, but we’re taking the steps and also contributing to a better world. No cause or contribution is too small because we understand that everything has to start somewhere. We did and we’re still learning and growing every day.

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE GREAT TO GET STARTED, BUT YOU HAVE TO START TO BE GREAT.”

Traditionally, the insourcing and business support industry has always valued efficiency of effectiveness, perfection over progress,

and processes over the people who actually make them work. We realized early on that sticking to this old way of thinking would only ever deliver short-term gains, and limit the immense impact we could have for our clients and in our communities. So we chose to focus our energy and “invest” in the one place we know makes us unique: Our teams!

That is where it all begins. We wanted to make a difference. We wanted to see lives changed. We wanted to transform communities. We wanted to see the message of Christ taken to our teams. Our goal was to create a “GOOGLE-ISH” environment in places like Costa Rica, Zimbabwe, and now Zambia. (My only previous knowledge of any of the “Z” countries was Stevie Wonder’s reference to Zimbabwe in his hit song “Master Blaster.”)

What did we do to make a difference that separates us from a “traditional” business? Well, lots of cool things.

We opened “The Grind” coffee shop, a place where team members can enjoy a great “cuppa joe” at discounted prices. We have an active Workplace Wellness (Pastoral Care) program that offers marriage support, financial counseling, spiritual guidance, and emotional support. It’s very easy to get sucked in and forget why we were put on this earth, and our Workplace Wellness team is always on hand to spare a shoulder, encourage our teams, and share the word.

In 2023, we opened The Wellness Center fully staffed with our own internal Doctors and Nurses, to provide care, assistance, and peace of mind. With the cost of healthcare skyrocketing all

around the world, the Wellness Center is open to all our team members completely free of charge, with 24/7 access to care.

Our team members also get the chance to give back in their own personal capacities. They are the main drivers in our community reading programs for elementary kids. Each week we offer new volunteer opportunities at orphanages and abused kids’ homes so they can choose when and where they feel they can make the biggest impact outside their workspace.

Given that we offer insourcing services to clients worldwide, some of our members finish late into the evening. We didn’t want them to worry about getting home safely, so we have a fleet of late-night transport for our teams. Regardless of what time they finish, they will always be able to get home safely.

We even hired a CFO (Chief Fun Officer) to handle in-office and team-building activities like our “Office Olympics”, weekly

in-office yoga, self-defense classes, organized team hikes, movie theater rentals, gym memberships, and more… It’s not just about fancy posters on the wall with our mission statement and values, we actually live them out! We want our people to feel empowered, not like cogs in a machine.

I realize small businesses and even large ones may not be able to donate 51%, integrate Christ into the office, or hold office Olympics, but you can DO SOMETHING! The most important thing is that your team members see and feel that they are not only a part of the organization but that they are the organization and that their joy and well-being are appreciated, over and above their contributions between 8 to 5.

Whether you have in-office or remote/virtual staffing, treating your employees as TEAM MEMBERS, integrating them into your culture, having them enjoy coming to work, and celebrating them can transform your company from just another place to work to a coveted organization to join. This is a critical key to long-term retention. It will become your foundation for attracting and retaining the best talent while also giving them the support and environment they need to pursue and ultimately achieve their personal and professional goals.

BIG, START SMALL.”

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be Transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2

J.W. Oliver is the Visionary and Managing Partner for Support DDS and Zimworx. They currently employ just over 1,000 team members in Africa and Costa Rica while supporting over 2,500+ Dental Practices in North America and Europe. They have a bold vision of reaching 20,000 team members by 2032. His passion is helping businesses leverage remote/ virtual teams to elevate existing teams, grow, increase productivity, improve bottom lines, and regain control over their time.