Volunteer Where You Want to Grow

VOLUNTEER where

YOU WANT TO GROW

Evangelist Neechy Dumas

f you’re passionate about something, you’ll do what it takes to ensure that you meet your goal. The thought of SERVING, PAYING YOUR DUES (whether via finances or acts of support), VOLUNTEERING, etc., may sound harsh or unnecessary to some, but it’s at the core of many success stories. In every area that I’ve gained success, I’ve also volunteered or donated my time, in that very same area. I started my journey as an interning assistant (i.e., without pay) for a faith-based television program. I served in this capacity diligently for many months and within a short while, I was then PAID to do the same work, had access to more platforms and eventually became a television and radio producer for the network. I don’t know of anyone who jumps out of the womb as a success story. The Bible even tells us to “despise not small beginnings” (Zech. 4:10). There is a building process. Many of those who you see with great popularity or in mainstream environments NOW, will tell you how they served someone in their beginning stages. If you’re anything like me, you’ve come to the realization that you don’t have any more time to spend, scratching your head, stressing or trying to figure out the solution to a problem that someone else has already conquered; and can share that knowledge with you. Volunteering… serving…donating your time, all of it helps to build strong business relationships. And, once they see that you are serious about investing in your future, they will naturally pull you along to the finish line with them. By serving in the areas, you want to excel in, you’ll get valuable exposure to influential people and information that will help prepare you for future opportunities. I recall a time where I’d actually made it to being in FRONT of the camera, but I still volunteered for one of the female television personalities. During one of the tapings, a popular Gospel artist saw me carrying her bags and said: “Wow, you’re carrying her bags?”. Me: Absolutely. Because I understand servanthood. Servanthood will carry you where money can’t place you.

IHere are a few examples where this may be helpful: 1. Let’s look at the person who wants to open his/her own restaurant. He/she could find great wisdom by volunteering alongside a well-established chef or restaurant owner. He would learn the “best practices” of sanitation, storage, health codes and customer service from someone who has already conquered the blueprint on how to run a successful operation. 2. In the world of acting, we often hear of an UNDERSTUDY. Being an understudy may be frowned upon. But many in this environment earn a weekly paycheck and gain the opportunity to be around fellow actors and artists. During this process, the understudy often forms strong relationships with decision makers that they normally wouldn’t have been able to connect with. These relationships often open the door to be cast in major roles by the same director. And here’s an example from my PERSONAL story; 3. I’m an established clothing designer. I’ve made custom attire for red carpets, elaborate celebrations and the like, but I’ve never made a high-end couture gown! That’s something that I’d like to learn and eventually offer as a part of my design menu, when the studio opens back up. Recently, I reached out to a local high-end alterations shop and asked if I could come in and work. They agreed but the hourly pay was much less than my normal rate. Why would I volunteer to sit in an environment that resembled a sweatshop and have someone tell me what hours I could and couldn’t work when I was already a successful designer? Because KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE is priceless! I can honestly say that I would not have been able to gain the knowledge, growth and credibility if I hadn’t volunteered in the areas that I did. Faith in God, hard work and dedication do pay dividends and I encourage each of you to volunteer where you want to grow.