There is no end to the number of good causes that can benefit from your time and expertise. In the past, I’ve had a tendency to volunteer my time too freely to community-based projects. When I started my own business, I discovered the true value of my time. I am a big believer in good causes, and it took me time to realize that I must be selective and careful in how I choose to engage.
Pam Slim, one of my mentors and inspirations in building a freelance life, cautions her readers about this in her book Escape from Cubicle Nation. As ambitious, driven people, we know how much of an impact we can make, especially when it comes to good causes in our communities. It’s important to feel connected to missions that make us feel alive. It’s equally important to make sure that we have the reserves to give ourselves to the ideas that matter most to us. To do that, we need to treat our time as irreplaceable. After all, it is.
Christa Avampato 