Author of this article & Our CFO & Volunteer
Patrick S. Leyland
In making the world a better place for others, I am helping to make it better for myself. If some of us are doing well and the rest of the population is not, their struggles will affect us.
Intrigued ?
Introduction-Beata Leyland
Volunteering, helping others, and sharing our own talents teach us more than we think.
In order to work in an ethical way, you need to practice ethics in your everyday life.
In a time which is challenging for many I’ve asked our crazy busy CFO, Patrick to share some hand-on experience about volunteering as he truly has great examples to share which can inspire all of us to donate time, money and learn or relearn how to be ethical again.
Why do you Volunteer?
Which initiatives are especially dear to you?
Such a busy person like you should watch Netflix after work instead of adding it to your agenda as many people would say.
I volunteer because I want to make the world a better place.
We all have limited time on this planet, and I am a firm believer that our purpose in life is to leave the world in better condition than we found it.
But I also volunteer for selfish reasons.
In making the world a better place for others, I am helping to make it better for myself.
If some of us are doing well and the rest of the population is not, their struggles will affect us.
As to which initiatives are most dear to me, I would say
helping Ukraine abroad,
democracy at home( USA),
and helping those struggling with addiction.
What benefits of Volunteering do you see, and which programs are you a part of?
There are many benefits to volunteering, such as
learning new skills,
new cultures,
and the satisfaction of knowing that you help to make a better world for those that will follow us.
My main motivation is to become the best version of myself.
It cannot be about the people/animals you are helping as they might not appreciate your efforts, and you can be discouraged.
Instead, I go into the volunteer situation with the attitude of “I am here to give something, and I’ll get in return whatever I get”.
That way, I am not setting myself up for any future resentments.
Currently, I am a part of a few programs.
One of them is called Balakun, which is a project to help Ukrainian people connect with the outside world and practice English.
This is a free project that only costs me 1-2 hours per week.
At the moment, I am mentoring a woman in Kyiv, but I will soon take on a second student as they have more demand from students than supply of mentors.
Another project is a part of our spiritual community, in which I volunteer only occasionally on the weekends at the moment.
I wouldn’t say I am overly religious, but I am a part of a religious body and think it is important to acknowledge that we are not kings of the universe, but rather a tiny spec of it.
Keeping our egos in check is important.
Lastly, there is another organization I am a part of, but will not name it here.
We help each other overcome a certain issue which plagues many of us, but many people feel ashamed to admit.
We are fully self-supporting and try to live by the values of honesty, willingness, and open-mindedness.
This organization first taught me to act my way into right thinking rather than think my way into right actions.
I learned over time put my hand up for service before I can think about it as I can talk myself out of anything.
What does “ethical way of working” mean for you?
It means putting the values learned in other spheres of my life into all my affairs, including work.
The values of honesty, willingness, and open-mindedness apply in the business world too.
Many people are cynical about ethics in the business world, and rightly so, but it doesn’t mean we should give up.
What I learned working in property management is that treating others fairly, responding in a timely fashion, and admitting when you cannot do something for a client goes a long way.
The most important thing though is the follow up, which is what you do for the client after the deal has been made.
How many times have you been sweet-talked into something and as soon as an issue comes up you hear “not my problem”?
These are the things that make clients come back to you or recommend you to others.
Do you want people promoting or boycotting your business?
What would you say to someone who wants to start volunteering and doesn’t know where to start?
We cannot bear the entire burden of the world on our shoulders, so start small and pick one or two issues you care about and be honest about your capabilities.
If you can donate money, make sure you choose a sustainable amount that you can give every month so that the other party (perhaps a charity) can rely on you.
Be open to possibilites.
Both animal charities I give to every month are from people who approached me in a parking lot.
I picked a small amount to give but can give every month regardless of my financial situation.
If it’s time you can donate, try to start small and see if you like it. Don’t wear yourself out as you are more prone to quit.
Also, be open but set boundaries to what you are willing to do when the opportunity comes act before you can talk yourself down.
Balakun was advertised on a YouTube channel that I follow and put my name on the list and got a call back from them.
When the war in Ukraine broke out, I was living in Europe and had a spare room in my flat and said yes to hosting refugees before I could say no.
Both opportunities have been very fulfilling.