On dreaming small and connecting dots
Hello friends,
…wait, what does this article say? Let me wipe the pollen off my phone screen…
Ok, much better. Last Saturday recorded the highest pollen count in Atlanta in 35 years?! Can that be right…wait, too much pollen on my phone again to read this…let me brush it off…
Ok, what’s this say again?
“Allergy sufferers in Atlanta suffered more than usual on Saturday after the metro area shattered its pollen count record, hitting the highest pollen count in 35 years, according to Atlanta Allergy And Asthma. The center tracks the daily pollen count for the city and on Saturday that total pollen count was 14,801. For comparison, on the same date one year ago, March 29, 2024, the pollen count was 1,646…”
Huh.
I was just thinking that we needed one more thing to worry about.
So you want to give a TEDx talk…
I was honored to be asked to join the Goodie Nation board last year by founder and CEO Joey Womack. I have been a fan of his TEDx talk since he gave it three years ago, and his vision for closing the relationship gap is a significant factor in why I excitedly joined his team.
Since I gave my TEDx talk in February (the video should be out soon), I decided to grab Joey and talk with him on my podcast so we could share our experiences with anyone who might be interested in improving at public speaking or one day giving their own TED talk.
Connecting the dots on my “why”
For those who know me, my professional life might seem a bit…eclectic. I run a private equity fund holding company, work with a handful of nonprofits, and have published a few books. It’s a mix that sometimes raises eyebrows, and honestly, it’s a fair question to ask: What’s the thread that ties it all together?
The answer is fairly simple. Ever since 2013, I’ve tried hard to map everything I do to my personal Purpose: to have an outsized positive impact on the world. It fuels everything I do, whether working to scale a business for growth, supporting a nonprofit to expand its reach, or writing books to espouse the virtues of purpose-driven leadership.
My journey to this realization wasn't a straight line, but it’s led me to a fascinating space — the intersection of for-profit and nonprofit worlds. Too often, we see these as distinct and even opposing forces. For-profits are painted with a broad brush of chasing profit, while nonprofits are seen as solely driven by altruism. But the reality, and where I find the most exciting opportunities, lies in the space between.
Think about it: what if for-profit companies operated with a greater sense of social responsibility, embedding "heart" into their business models? This isn't just about external impact, like environmental sustainability or community engagement, although those are crucial. It's also fundamentally about how they treat and inspire their teams. When employees feel empowered and believe that their work has meaning, the impact is immense – both on their individual lives and on the business itself. An inspired team is a powerful engine for growth.
And what if nonprofits embraced more of the strategic thinking and growth-oriented approaches of successful businesses — the "hustle" — to amplify their impact?
My latest book, Dream Small, was born from this very idea. The goal of Dream Small is to help people find meaning in their work and contribute to something larger than themselves. I hope that by reaching people at scale, whether through this newsletter, my books, or even my recent TEDx talk, I can play a small part in shifting that mindset.
An Example
I’ve seen firsthand the power of this intersection. For example, at one of Purpose Group’s portfolio companies, Gerald Printing & Liberty Imaging, I witnessed how a for-profit company, by prioritizing both its Purpose and the well-being of its employees, was able to drop its annual employee turnover rate by over 75%!
I’m not sure if there’s a more powerful way to show that employees are feeling more fulfilled in their jobs than measuring how long they stay with the company.
This experience, and others like it, have solidified my belief that we need to break down the silos between these sectors.
So, what does this look like in practice? It’s about for-profit companies genuinely considering their social and environmental impact and fostering a workplace where employees feel inspired and valued. It’s about nonprofits embracing innovation, efficiency, and sustainable revenue models to better serve their missions and reach more people.
Whether investing in a company with a strong social mission or helping a nonprofit scale its services, it all comes back to that central purpose: leveraging my skills, relationships, and influence to create positive change. And if things break in the right way, an outsized, positive change.
It’s an ongoing journey, and I’m constantly learning. But I believe that by fostering a greater understanding and collaboration between the for-profit and nonprofit worlds, we can unlock incredible potential for good. And that’s a space I’m excited to continue exploring.
The point
Part of my hope is that everyone finds Purpose in their work. Perhaps Dream Small can help you on your journey. I’ll share one Amazon review:
Everyone is always talking about dreaming big, but in this fable, Jeff Hilimire shares anecdotes that show how everyday people can make a difference every day by dreaming small. The simple acts of buying someone a cup of coffee, sharing a smile, or giving a compliment go a long way and have a never-ending ripple effect.
As always, I hope you're happy.
