Andy Nguyen Remarks from the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce Professional Development event

Hosted by the Asian Business Council

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August 30, 2022

 

Many business people I know tell me that they don't have time to get involved in the community. What they really mean is that they see no or little value in being involved with the community, in which they live and/or work. Truly, people make time for things they perceive to have high personal value to them.

 

I'd like to share with you three benefits that you can get out of community involvement.

 

1) Community involvement creates customer stickiness: 

 

People do business with people they trust and will keep coming back as long as the trust is there. By getting involved with the community, you'll meet and build relationships with people who share your interests and values. Eventually, mutual respect and trust are established. When needs arise, these people will turn to you and stick with you, provided that you and your business can fulfill their needs.

 

2) Community improvement improves your vision and capabilities: 

 

Getting involved in the community will lead you to move beyond your comfort zone. Most people don't get involved because they don't want to get out of their comfort zone, but in order to grow, we must.

 

Being involved with the community means you will get to meet and dialogue with new people. Your social and communication skills will improve. You'll learn to connect with people you don't know. You'll learn how to deal with difficult people. You'll meet people with different cultures, perspectives, and expertise who can help you with your own struggle or challenges. Ultimately, through community involvement, you'll become a better, more confident, and more effective person, leader, and business executive, or business owner.

 

3) Finally and most important, Community involvement is good for your soul: 

 

All people seek happiness. This is a natural law, which means like gravity, it doesn't care whether or not you like it or agree with it. It just is! True or lasting happiness comes from the fulfillment of one's life purpose. A great way to find and fulfill one's purpose, whatever it is, is through the service of others, in some form or shape.  Community involvement provides you with the opportunities to learn, to humble yourself, and to serve others.

 

Think of your being as an electrical car and your soul as the battery. Your four tires are your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual beings. The rotation of the tires charges your battery or your soul. There are many activities you can do to put your car in motion, but most rotate only one to three tires at a time… but rarely all four simultaneously. Serving others through community involvement is one of the few activities that rotate all four tires, or dimensions, of your being. 

 

Many feel uncomfortable at the thought of getting involved. That's because one or more of their tires have low pressure. Driving on low tires is uncomfortable. Getting involved can help you identify which dimension of your being is low so you can pump it up.

 

There are many other benefits.  They are too numerous to name, but the keys to fully realize these benefits are twofold: 1) A sincere desire to learn and improve oneself, and 2) A sincere interest in other people and their needs.

 

I hope that my message will move you in some ways to get more involved with our community with intention and purpose.