The most selfless acts are the most rewarding. Secret Service should extend to your customers, team, and also the community in which you do business. I have always marveled at the companies who shared their success with their communities and the pride it inspired in the people who worked there as well as the customers who chose to do business with them.

Since we opened, I knew that being involved in the community and giving back was going to be a critical part of the way we do business. I believe that giving back to the community also attracts employees who share these values. It surprises me that more businesses do not operate with similar philosophies. Although a certain amount of time and money is needed, the benefits far outweigh everything else.

First of all, you and your employees gain the sense of being an integral part of the community. Your staff and the entire organization are truly providing something of significant importance. Second, you cannot duplicate or quantify the amount of exposure this gives your organization and the light in which it is seen by the public and many potential customers. Such service will also increase the number of employee candidates who want to be part of such a company. Obviously many community involvement events also present good media opportunities. When it’s all said and done, building a strong community involvement presence generates trust, credibility, good will, name recognition, and employee and customer loyalty. Consider the following examples of corporate philanthropy.

Taken from: Execution The discipline of Getting things Done