00:00:00 Thanks for joining us on episode 750, one of the inspired stewardship podcast. I'm Braden Douglas. I challenge you to invest in yourself, invest in others, develop your influence and impact the world by using your time, your talent and your treasures to live out. Your calling. Having the ability to lead with impact is key. And one way to be inspired to do that is to listen to this,
00:00:27 the inspired stewardship podcast with my friend, Scott Mader. I guarantee you're going to start to your eyes will open to a whole bunch of different areas. And then, then from there you look at which causes are you really passionate about? And for some people it might be justice, others. It might be, you know, a quality environment, but I would say for me,
00:01:04 is that get really focused in on a niche. Welcome, and thank you for joining us on the inspired stewardship podcasts. If you truly desire to become the person who God wants you to be, then you must learn to use your time, your talent and your treasures for your true color in the inspired stewardship podcast. We'll learn to invest in yourself, invest in others and develop your influence so that you can impact the world And today's interview with Braden Douglas,
00:01:39 right? Did I share with you what impact really looks like in the real world? Braden shares his top resources. If you want to make an impact, and we talk about what he wants his legacy to look like, and what's coming in the future. One reason I like to bring you great interviews. Like the one you're going to hear today is because of the power in learning from others.
00:02:00 Another great way to learn from others is through reading books. But if you're like most people today, you find it hard to find the time to sit down and read. And that's why today's podcast is brought to you by audible, go to inspired stewardship.com/audible to sign up and you can get a 30 day free trial. There's over 180,000 titles to choose from.
00:02:25 And instead of reading, you can listen your way to learn from some of the greatest minds out there. That's inspired stewardship.com/audible to get your free trial and listen to great books. The same way you're listening to this podcast. Brighton Douglas is the founder of crew marketing partners. One of the fastest growing marketing and creative agencies in Canada founded in 2007 crew has won numerous awards for their service and brand leadership.
00:02:55 Braden started his career in brand management over at Frito lay and Procter And gamble. But throughout his life, his passion has been helping leaders make a significant impact in the world. He currently volunteers with leader impact as a member of the global advisory board, where he plays a key role in mentoring leaders, speaking and developing content. Braden lives outside of Vancouver,
00:03:20 British Columbia with his wife and two kids. Welcome to the show Brighton. Yeah, Thanks Scott. It's a pleasure to be here. So in the last three weeks, we've talked a lot about what impact is, what does it look like, but let's unpack a little bit more, you know, again, kind of practical in the real world environment.
00:03:40 What does impact really look like or mean for leaders and, and how can leaders begin to drive forward towards making a real impact? Yeah, I think that, you know, obviously that's a question we get a lot. And so even for me as an organization, we've put impact into our strategic plan even at work. And so for, you know,
00:04:02 personally, you know, I have that, you know, those goals and stuff were impact saying, what are the causes? Who are the people that I'm going to be intentional with and really writing those down, really making those very clear. We're saying here are the, the people in the causes that I care about. It's my wife, it's my kids,
00:04:19 it's leaders at work that I'm being intentional to build into. Here's the nonprofit organizations that this year I'm going to really be intentional with with their, my time or money. And usually it's both and saying, okay, here's, here's how this is going to work. And at work we have in our strategic plan. So we, we carve out and we accrue a certain amount of money for us.
00:04:41 It's, it's 10% of operating profit that we set aside and say, this is going to be impact funds. And we use them to build into causes, sponsorship organizations that we feel really called to, that we love that we think is a good fit strategically. And we make it a big part to say, yeah, that's who we are, that's who we're going to be.
00:05:04 And so on a very practical level, it's it's planning and it's saying, yep, here's what it looks like. Here's how we're going to do it. And then we have criteria of the types of organizations. So we have criteria around how we're going to accrue money, how we're going to allow employees to volunteer, to have time, how, which organizations fit because we get requests a lot,
00:05:27 a lot of requests and every organization, the leader will get those because, because they have resources and they have, they, you know, they have people see it. And so we say, you know, we have a criteria that is the organization has to fit strategically with where we're going as an agency for us. It's food is a big one.
00:05:45 That's, we're a food and beverage marketing agency. And so it's, you know, around food, we personally it's, you know, faith based organizations that we think are doing things that are innovative, that are unique, that are as a culture employees, we have employees that have passions and, and they bring up stuff. And so we want to be able to support them,
00:06:04 to encourage them to have impact in their own lives. And so we kind of have this criteria and, and then when they say we give a gracious, no, when it doesn't fit. And we just say, huh, you know what? We've got a criteria. Here's what it is. You know, we love what you're doing. Keep up the great work.
00:06:19 But this year it's not something that we're going to be invested in, which is always hard. It always feels bad as a, you know, as a Christian to say no, but I find that a gracious no is a better than a week. Yes. Yeah. And, and again, you know, I've been in a couple of different environments throughout my life and some of them,
00:06:40 for instance, you know, give lip service to the idea of employees volunteering outside of the organization. And you know, other things like that, others actually put resources behind that. You know, so, you know, you can take X number of hours a month, a week, a quarter, a year, whatever it is, you know, to volunteer and that's not counted against you in any way,
00:07:02 shape or form, you know, you'll get paid for that day or whatever. And it is interesting to see again, back behind that, are we saying, we're going to do it, are we actually putting resources and money and effort behind it to make it happen? Whatever that looks like? You know, here's a, and I would say, it sounds like all men,
00:07:22 you guys have this dialed in it, it has taken years. And we still have that same debate Scott about, we don't want it to be lip service. But the problem that we find is that, you know, even though our company is growing, we have, you know, maybe 50 employees or so, but we've got, it's really difficult sometimes is that,
00:07:40 Hey, if we don't deliver as a company, like all the fun, like it all goes back in the box, like it game over. And so you have to perform. And so it's great to have all these things that you're doing, but if you have no money to be able to give, well, guess what, you're not going to be making much of an impact.
00:07:54 And so performance, you want to be able to, it it's a balance and it's a constant moving stick where you just have to, you know, really understand how does that work. But we find is as long as we have the dialogue, as long as our intentions are there and that we have plans that if those plans do change, for some reason,
00:08:12 it's, it's okay. But we want to make sure that it doesn't always just get compromised. And so sometimes you do have to take a step of faith and just say, you know, it doesn't feel like we can afford this right now, but we're going to take a step of faith and just make it happen. And it, you know what,
00:08:26 this is why I love guy, that he makes it work, you know? And it's like, it doesn't mean you're going to be super rich and you're going to get, you know, a triple portion right away or whatever it is. That's not the reason you do it, but it's because it's the right thing. But he he'll take you. Yeah.
00:08:41 Yeah. It works. It may not work out the way we thought it was going to work out, but it usually works out. Absolutely. So one of the questions that I like to ask every guest is if, if somebody really to make an impact, you know, that the way I love to call it is they want to make a dent in the universe.
00:08:59 What are some of the top resources or principles that you think folks need to focus on learning? Well, number one is you start, it's like a bullseye. So think about a dark board right now in your mind. And for me, if you want to make a dent, you start at the closest concentric circle and that is going to be the people in your life.
00:09:23 And so if you're not, if you are not having an impact in your family, for example, you're not going to have it outside of that. And I think that a lot of times it's easier to work in the masses than it is sometimes, you know, the closest to you. But for me, it's about you work close and then you go to the next ring and then you go to the next ring.
00:09:44 And then the next ring, it's this concentric circle, this idea of, of impacting it ripples out. But you need to start with your family and the relationships that are close to you. And so be intentional with those, whether it's your neighbors, it's employees, it's friends, it's people that are really close and say, how am I building into their life?
00:10:02 How am I inspiring them to greater things? What do they really want? Well, what's the vision for their life? Have you asked them that question and how are you helping them get there? And I think that's, if you can start there, I guarantee you're going to start to your eyes will open to a whole bunch of different areas. And then,
00:10:21 then from there you look at which causes are you really passionate about? And for some people it might be justice, others. It might be, you know, a quality environment. But I would say for me, is that get really focused in, on a niche and understand what really fires you up. We get passionate about it can be evangelism, can be whatever it is,
00:10:45 but then go really go deep on that one thing, don't spread yourself too thin. So you start with the closest relationships and then you go with the, the, the causes that you're really passionate about and go deep on that. And so I think it's much more effective for people to be engaged with one or two nonprofits and organizations, whether it's like,
00:11:06 Hey, if you're, if you're really into church ministry, go deep on that and be awesome. And if it's something else that it's another organization or another, cause go deep on that. But don't feel like you got to just do everything because somebody asks you to write. And because every nonprofit, whether it's a church or a UN organization, they will ask because they need volunteers.
00:11:28 But I would much rather have, you know, a sold-out passionate volunteer than kind of like a weaker one. That's like, yeah, okay. I'll show up and maybe do some parking or something like you really want to make sure it's like, yeah. Be invested in this like, awesome, fantastic. Let's do this. And I think, and I think if people could really get those two things,
00:11:47 they're going to start to see the dent gets bigger as you go along. So Brighton, if you could travel into the far future, you know, 50 years, a hundred years, 150 years, whatever it is, and look back on your life, what impact do you hope you've had on the world? Oh man. Scott, that's a great question.
00:12:10 And I think these are the, this is the easy question of the show, right? I guess it's very, it's very simple. You know, I would say my hope is that one day you will meet people that, that come up and say, man, I, my, I started to think differently and change the course and look what I've done with my life because of what you've maybe said,
00:12:35 maybe it's the book, maybe it's speaking, you know, peace. I just want to be able to use, you know, what I've been given, which is a bit of a voice, an idea of, you know, using business, using kind of who I am to be able to help others think about having an impact that extends it. And if I can be a part of this movement through leader impact that really helps leaders get that vision,
00:13:02 get this going really start to, you know, move in the right direction. Like that's pretty awesome because I think the effects of that, you know, are huge. And I think that's where the ripple, you know, really goes is that if more leaders became leaders of impact, then that's where I think that the world is going to change. And if I can help be a bit of a voice into that and be part of other leaders who think it great,
00:13:27 I would love that. So you've got the book out, you've been doing the other work that you've been doing, but what's coming next for you. As you continue on this journey to living out your call and making an impact yourself. Well, I think, you know, this book, you know, even with leader impact, what started in Canada 15 years ago is now in the U S it's around the world.
00:13:53 It's really unique to see how it's grown and people doing a better than, than where it started. And that's where I love it. It's, you know, in Atlanta right now, like there is like blowing up. It's fantastic in Chicago. And so it's like all and what it is, it's at the very start. So, you know, if you're listening to this right now,
00:14:13 you might be thinking, Oh man, like, I love this concept. It's saying, Hey, we need you. Like, we need people like you to really start this, you know, within a church, start a leader, impact group yourself, get that board together because that's where you start to really see a movement grow. And so as part of the global advisory for liter impact,
00:14:33 I have a chance to, to speak into how things are going. You know, I'm doing, you know, a lot of different, you know, seminars and speaking of assignments for people in groups, in Asia, Africa, Australia, UK, us Brazil, like it's pretty phenomenal to see leaders like really, you know, catching on and being like,
00:14:59 okay, yeah, I want this. And I'm and I'm going. So I'm, you know, I've got a day job. I have a, I run a marketing company. And so my, my staff gives me a hard time because my second job is leader impact, but it's kind of like, this is giving of myself. This is kind of what I'm doing.
00:15:14 And you know, and it's funny, it doesn't, it doesn't lead to more business for the agency, which is ironic. People think, Oh yeah, you've probably it. And it's not the reason I'm doing it. I, for me, I really want to, I think we're on something that there's a bigger vision for leaders. And I really hope that they really kept,
00:15:32 you know, get a hold of it because it will change their life and the lives of people they care about more profoundly than they realize. And that's why I think, you know, be yourself just better. It's like you, you can do this. Like, there's, this is not just like pie in the sky, a little motivation. It's saying,
00:15:48 if you actually start to walk this out in practical ways and make this, you know, who part of who you are, like the, like the effects are phenomenal. And I hope it's going to really inspire people to, you know, to be in their roles, do it better, do it uniquely. And some people might have to change their,
00:16:07 you know, change the roles if they're in the wrong situation. But my hope is that you are where you are. You're planted there for a reason. And now it's time to bloom. You can follow Brighton Douglas on Instagram is Braden J Douglas, or find him on his [email protected] Of course I'll have links to those in the show notes. He's also active on LinkedIn as Braden Douglas.
00:16:31 And you can find out more about the [email protected] forward slash book Brighton. Is there anything else you'd like to share with the listener? You know, Scott, I think that, you know, even as we've been talking, you know, through these times, I'm, I really want every listener to realize that they have a purpose and a passion that can really make a difference in people's lives.
00:16:59 And if they think about people first and differently, it's not just about big data. It's not just about stats. It's about, these are all, those are real people with real lives that they can have an influence on that for me is, you know, is where it can start. And that's the movement that, you know, that I really hope really takes off is leaders becoming leaders of impact because they can really change the world.
00:17:24 And I hope that they do Awesome. Thanks so much for coming on the show. We've loved having you here and again, check out the book leader, impact, check out Brayden. Hopefully if you get a chance to hear her speak or attend one of these seminars, that would be fantastic. And thanks so much for coming on the show. That's awesome.
00:17:43 Thanks Scott for having me. Okay. Thanks so much for listening to the inspired stewardship podcast as a subscriber and listener, we challenge you to not just sit back and passively listen, but act on what you've heard and find a way to live your calling. If you enjoyed this episode, please, please do us a favor. Go over to inspired stewardship.com/itunes
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