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Don't Sell Yourself - Give it Away

Early on in my banking career, I needed a way to get my name out there. Fortunately, I work in a small town where word travels fast. But there were still a number of folks who didn't know who I was.

The cheapest and what I truly feel is the best way to begin establishing your presence in a town, a community, a field, or whatever, is to give your skills away for free - volunteer.

These opportunities didn't present themselves right away. But over time, I was asked to serve on various committees and board for a number of organizations. Before kids (when I had all the free time in the world) I agreed to literally EVERYTHING I was asked to be on, much to my wife's chagrin.

How's this work? I was on the Finance Committee for the UCBA. There was another guy on there I had never met and didn't know, though he seemed business savvy and intelligent. Fast forward a few years, and he's now got the insurance on my house and cars.

He never initially told me he was in the insurance business or gave me a business card. He was simply serving and as our paths crossed again later (on another volunteer board), I approached him about his insurance rates.

If you're new, or want to grow, give it away at first. Invest in your community and it will invest in you.
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