Podcast Summary
From modest beginnings to significant impact: Starting small can lead to big change, persistence and a focus on doing good are key to success.
Starting a nonprofit or making a difference in your community can be a challenging endeavor, but with determination, hard work, and the right support, it can lead to incredible growth and impact. Luke Mickelson's Sleep in Heavenly Peace foundation is a prime example of this. Starting modestly with just a few chapters, the organization has now grown to 309 chapters and has provided beds for thousands of underprivileged children. Luke's entrepreneurial background and the exposure he received on "Returning the Favor" helped propel his foundation's success. His story serves as a reminder that with persistence and a focus on doing good, even the smallest initiatives can grow into something significant.
A chance encounter leads to a discussion about growth and impact: Encounters with individuals involved in charitable work highlight the show's impact on both givers and receivers, emphasizing the importance and growth of the organization's mission.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has a long-standing history of serving Michiganders, from past generations to the present day. During a conversation, the speaker reminisced about a chance encounter with the podcast guest at an airport years ago. They discussed the early days of the guest's hobby-turned-charity, which started as a small operation building wooden bunk beds for those in need. The speaker admired how the organization had grown over the years to address the needs of both those in need of a bed and those wanting to give back meaningfully. The speaker shared how these encounters with people involved in the show highlight the impact it can have on individuals and communities. The conversation underscored the importance and growth of the organization's mission to provide essential resources and opportunities for giving back.
Building beds for children in need: Empowering youth through hands-on projects can lead to meaningful outcomes and instill valuable skills.
Empowering young people through hands-on projects can lead to remarkable outcomes. I once served as a youth leader and discovered a family in need, with children sleeping on the floor. Instead of just buying or donating beds, I decided to engage my boy scouts in building them. The experience brought joy to the children and taught them valuable skills. It's fascinating how a simple bed, a universally understood concept, could bring such excitement. The boys didn't realize the significance of their project, but they were creating a practical solution for kids who had never slept on a bed before. This project not only served the community but also instilled a sense of accomplishment and learning in the young scouts.
Finding joy through helping others: Observing others in need and taking action to help can bring joy and fulfillment, even during personal struggles.
Even in the midst of personal struggles and existential crises, finding opportunities to help others and appreciate what we have can bring joy and fulfillment. In 2012, Luke Mickelson was at a crossroads in his life. He was on the brink of buying a water treatment company but felt something was missing. He was also dealing with his own faith crisis and trying to be a good father. One day, he witnessed a group of Boy Scouts building beds for children in need. This experience resonated with him and inspired him to build a bed for a child in his own community. The experience of building and giving the bed brought joy not only to the recipient but also to Luke and his family. This simple act of service reminded Luke of the importance of appreciating what he had and helping others, ultimately leading him to start a charity to provide beds to children in need.
The impact of giving a bed to a child in need: Giving a bed to a child in need can create a deep connection and leave a lasting impact on both the giver and receiver.
The simple act of providing a bed to a child in need can have a profound impact, not just on the child, but also on the giver. The speaker, who initially thought he was just solving a problem by giving away a used bed, was moved by the experience of delivering it to a family in need. He was surprised by the number of people who wanted to help and the depth of their generosity. When he met the child, Haley, and saw her living conditions, he realized the importance of a stable home and a safe place to sleep. The experience made him appreciate the value of his own possessions and the importance of helping others. The speaker also learned that the time and effort spent on making a difference in someone's life is worth it. The memory of Haley's reaction to receiving her own bed and the emotional response of her mother stayed with him long after the delivery. The experience taught him that giving is not just about the recipient, but also about the giver and the connection they share.
The joy and fulfillment of selfless service: Serving others brings personal satisfaction and joy, creating a powerful motivator and reward. This 'currency' is deeply ingrained in our language and culture, and can lead to meaningful impacts in the lives of those in need.
The act of selflessly serving others can bring significant personal fulfillment and joy, beyond the initial virtue of the action itself. This was evident in the story of a man who left his job to start a non-profit organization, Sleeping in Heavenly Peace, which builds and delivers beds to children in need. He discovered that the satisfaction he gained from making a difference in the lives of others was a powerful motivator and reward, which he described as a form of "currency." This concept was further emphasized by the thousands of unpaid volunteers involved in the organization, who found joy and fulfillment in their service to others. The man also recognized that the word "bed" is deeply ingrained in our language and culture, and the absence of a bed can lead to mysterious consequences. Overall, this discussion highlights the importance of recognizing and embracing the personal benefits of selfless service, beyond the initial act of charity.
Take care of yourself before helping others: Prioritize self-care, understand the benefits, and experience the satisfaction of volunteering to stay engaged.
While making a difference in the world is a powerful motivator, it's essential to prioritize taking care of oneself first before helping others. The speaker uses the analogy of putting on one's oxygen mask during an emergency to illustrate this point. He also emphasizes the importance of volunteers getting something meaningful out of their service experience to keep them engaged. The speaker shares that while there is a significant number of people who express interest in starting a chapter, only a small percentage follow through due to the realization of the work involved. To encourage more people to complete the process, the organization has tried to provide more information about the benefits of volunteering. Ultimately, the speaker believes that experiencing the satisfaction of serving firsthand is the most effective way to understand its value.
Running a non-profit is as challenging as a business: Finding the right team and being passionate about the cause are crucial for running a successful non-profit organization.
Running a charity, or a non-profit organization, is not easier than running a business. The mission to make a difference in people's lives can be just as challenging as any business venture. The speaker, who has experience in both the business world and running a non-profit organization, emphasizes the importance of finding the right team and being passionate about the cause. He also shares his personal story of leaving a high-paying job to pursue his passion for making an impact in people's lives through his non-profit organization. Despite the risks and challenges, he couldn't give up on his passion and eventually had to make a decision to fully commit to it. The experience of running a non-profit organization has been both rewarding and challenging, but he wouldn't trade it for anything.
Making tough decisions in family-owned businesses: Acknowledge gut reaction, stay open to solutions, let go of resentment, discover passion, consider community needs
Difficult decisions cannot be avoided indefinitely. When faced with a tough choice, it's important to acknowledge your gut reaction but also be open to navigating the situation. This was the experience of the speaker when they had to choose between their career and a family matter in a family-owned business. The situation was complicated, and it took several months to find a solution. Ultimately, the speaker learned to let go of resentment and be grateful for the experience, which helped them discover their passion and purpose. This moment of decision was a turning point in their life and a reminder that every decision should be made with the greater mission in mind. The speaker also learned valuable lessons from attending nonprofit training, which helped them make decisions based on their community's needs.
Preventing mission creep in nonprofits: Clearly defining and communicating a nonprofit's mission helps prevent mission creep and ensures focus on the organization's core purpose, maximizing impact.
Staying focused on the original mission is crucial for nonprofits to avoid "mission creep." Mission creep occurs when a nonprofit's goals expand beyond their initial purpose, often due to the good intentions of volunteers who want to provide additional resources. This dilutes the organization's impact and can make it difficult to manage. When starting a nonprofit, it's essential to define the mission clearly and communicate it effectively to prevent mission creep. The speaker's experience with Simple Humanity Project (SHP), which focuses on delivering beds to children in need, illustrates this concept. Despite facing pressure to add other items or religious elements, the organization has remained committed to its core mission. When researching other bed-building nonprofits, the speaker found few and learned that some had shifted from building beds to buying them, which can also hinder a nonprofit's growth. Therefore, maintaining a clear mission and resisting the temptation to expand beyond the core purpose is vital for nonprofits' success.
Staying true to the mission is crucial: Maintain authentic mission, resist mission creep, align passion with career, and follow passion for positive impact.
Maintaining a clear and authentic mission statement is crucial for any organization, whether it's a foundation or a production company. Mike Rowe, who has experience in both, emphasized the importance of staying true to the original mission and not succumbing to mission creep. He shared his experience with Dirty Jobs and how the show's mission to explore the country and find hardworking people remained the same despite external pressures to expand. Additionally, aligning one's passion with their career can lead to success, regardless of the size of the paycheck. Mike shared how his foundation's mission to build beds for children and his career in celebrating skilled labor and hard work are closely related. He also highlighted the importance of addressing issues like childhood vaccination rates and emphasized the significance of passion in driving one's work. Overall, staying true to the mission and following one's passion are essential for any organization or individual seeking to make a positive impact.
Focus on impact, not expenses in nonprofits: Invest in employees and projects for maximum impact, prioritize transparency and open communication with donors, and collaborate or learn new skills to contribute meaningfully to a cause.
Nonprofits should focus on the impact they can make, rather than keeping expenses low. This means investing in employees and projects that will help them achieve their mission effectively. The speaker emphasizes the importance of transparency and open communication with donors about these investments. Additionally, for individuals who are passionate about a cause but lack the necessary skills, the speaker suggests finding ways to collaborate with others or learning new skills to make a meaningful contribution. The anecdote about a man wanting to start a nonprofit to feed Filipinos, but not being Filipino himself, illustrates the importance of understanding the specific needs and context of the community being served. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of prioritizing impact and transparency in nonprofit work.
Being realistic about financial viability when following a passion: Find a niche, stick to it, consider audience needs, and make conscious decisions to allocate resources effectively.
While having a passion is important, it's essential to be realistic about the financial viability of following that passion. Mike Rowe shared his experience of encountering individuals with well-intended ideas but lacking the resources to execute them. He emphasized the importance of finding a niche and sticking to it, especially in humanitarian efforts where there may already be numerous organizations providing the same service. Unintended consequences can arise from good intentions, and it's crucial to consider the specific audience and needs before taking action. Rowe also highlighted the importance of making conscious decisions about the mission and audience of a project to ensure resources are allocated effectively.
Balancing children's needs and parents' actions in charity work: Focusing on children's needs, even if it means enabling parents, can lead to significant improvements in their lives.
While working in a charity organization, there's a constant struggle between focusing on the children and dealing with the parents' potential misuse of resources. The speaker shares stories of encountering both extravagant and impoverished families, and emphasizes the importance of keeping the focus on the children's needs. He believes that providing opportunities for a better situation can lead to significant improvements in a child's life, even if it might seem like enabling the parents. The speaker acknowledges the ethical dilemmas that come with running a nonprofit, but ultimately believes that the primary mission is to help those who can demonstrate their ambition and capability to use the resources effectively.
Helping Local Kids Sleep Better: The Mission of Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Volunteer-led Sleep in Heavenly Peace aims to ensure no child sleeps on the floor, collaborating with social work organizations and seeking more local chapters to address child homelessness.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is an organization dedicated to ensuring no child in a community sleeps on the floor. This mission, owned by volunteers, requires a focus on helping local kids and dealing with the challenging realities of limited resources and difficult situations. SHP encourages collaboration with social work organizations and other service providers for better vetting. The organization's mission statement empowers volunteers to take action locally to solve the problem. SHP is seeking more people to recognize child homelessness as a significant issue in their own towns and to start local chapters to address it. The organization is exploring partnerships to provide resources and support for these chapters, and local communication and collaboration are essential for effective problem-solving. For individuals considering getting involved, SHP encourages them to find their local chapter, learn about their specific needs, and take action to help solve the problem in their community.
Feeling frustrated can lead to action and positive outcomes: Frustration can inspire action, leading to unexpected opportunities and positive outcomes. Do something, no matter how small, to make a difference.
Feeling agitated about the state of things around you can be a catalyst for action, even if you're unsure of your abilities or the outcome. The interviewee shared a personal story of building a bed in response to his frustration, which led to a larger movement of building beds for children in need. He encourages others to take that first step and do something, no matter how small, as it may lead to unexpected opportunities and positive outcomes. The interviewee's actions inspired hundreds of thousands of beds being built for children across the country, and even earned him an Emmy award. So, if you're feeling stuck or frustrated, take inspiration from this story and just do something, no matter how small it may seem. For more information on how to get involved and help provide beds for children in need, visit shpbeds.org.
