Get involved. It’s a phrase we often hear, but we don’t often do. And there’s a reason why we don’t get involved: It requires extra work.
I made a decision early on in my career that being involved in the communities we serve was going to be an integral part of our operations plan. It is now part of our company culture.
As a media company, we are in the communications business. With that in mind, all of us in the industry should be leaders in communicating with our customers — not only our advertisers but our readers, viewers and listeners, too. Communicating through our own media channels isn’t enough today. Unfortunately, most residents today can’t name the publisher or editor of their local newspaper or the manager of the local TV or radio stations. I didn’t want to be that person, so I made a concentrated effort to get involved in dozens of community groups. I believe that it was an integral part of our company’s early success. I also quickly learned that I can’t do it all myself, so I made community involvement part of our employee job descriptions. I tell everyone who interviews with us, if they don’t want to be involved in the communities we serve, then this is not the job for them.
Many years ago, when I was the publisher of a newspaper in Boone, my friend Chris Moffitt suggested that I join the Kiwanis Club. So I did, and it was one of the better decisions I made there. Chris sold me on the importance of being involved locally and explained how it was a vital part of his business operations. He also pointed out that his competitors down the street didn’t get involved in any community organizations, and that they seemed to be doing just fine. That was a great and humble point. None of us have all the answers, but we all should do what we think is right, what fits our own plans, and what we can realistically commit to.
Meanwhile, it is important to note that there is a difference between being involved and being committed, whether that be in work or personal relationships. Former tennis star Martina Navratilova may have defined it best when she said, “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed.”
Which one are you?
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 | 
