Humberto RamosPM Consultant| NSNMéxico D.F., Distrito Federal, Mexico
Many enroll Volunteering, with the ultimate aim to make their Résumé look nice; but with few intentions to really exert a voluntary altruistic work.
The presence of “good causes” in our “professional profile", makes us feel good, and sell more; we believe that we are more appreciated. But when much “ado About Nothing”... I mean, when we say that we are Volunteers, just to look nice at pictures, but with little or nothing real work involved. Then it is a lack of honesty.
Volunteering is born from a profound personal reflection. We cannot impose someone else volunteering because volunteering is the result of an honest conversation with ourselves. Many of us go through life wondering: What do I need to be happy?, May it be: fight for money to arrive first place?, friendships?, love and liking to people?. However we do not realize that the straight path to happiness is to fight for the others happiness.
How often we are grumbling about the bad state of the roads?, the poor state of education in the country?, the poor state of medical services?, etc. However, how often do we contribute directly to improve those thing that we complain about?
Going to Work or School as a “model citizen” is not enough to improve our World. Hardly anyone will accept that they are doing less than it is possible to get things right. It is easy to believe that we do everything almost perfect. But everything in our world is not just perfect, right? If we ALL think that doing what we are doing so far, is enough, then we will only get to stay the same as today. For things to improve we need more than “standard good citizenship”
As a professional interested in things improve, I cannot agree that Metro lines continues to be built with poor quality, or that food wasting continues. Or that my neighbors reach maturity age almost illiterate?. Why allow to continue immortalizing the bad practices that lead to things so poorly constructed, dangerous and soon stop working, generating more costs and less economic momentum in our society?
I can contribute by promoting the culture of good project management. Why keep doing things the “Chilazo” way (“there-it-goes way”), unprofessionally, if they can be done professionally?
Compassion and empathy are values that are difficult to feign or pretend. Being a Volunteer is to stop being just an opinionated spectator. When you only judge without acting, you are poisoning your soul. Even more, you''re part of the cause of the situation that you complain about (“Sois la ocasión de lo mismo que culpái“: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz)
Give voluntarily, is to become a, full, responsible human being. Accountable of ourselves, our actions, and our environment. It is an advanced state of assertiveness. To become a genuine voluntary and not just glorify our personality
We do not need to be wealthy to be able to give. By giving volunteer work, we suddenly realize we earn more than double with a single effort, because we enrich our soul; improving the life of someone else; and also we contribute to spread and expand the spirit of brotherhood and humanity.
A beloved teacher made us memorize the following verse. At that time I was not aware of the great truth that enclosed, I share it below:
"Voy con las riendas tensas
y refrenando el vuelo,
porque no es lo que importa llegar pronto ni solo,
sino llegar con todos y a tiempo".
"I go with the tight rein
and holding it,
because it is not what matters to arrive early and alone,
but with all and on time".
León Felipe Saving Changes...
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Rosalinda BernabeProduct Management ServiceNow Integration Program| SMBC GroupNorth Carolina, United States
Dear Humberto, I do agree with your sentiment that volunteering should really involved active participation with the intention of providing value to the organization which that person is volunteering.
However, like everything else in life, there are many factors that limit a person''s contribution to the betterment of society/organization. Politics, beaucracy, disorganized volunteering committee, and many others.
Also, that person could only have so little time to contribute, say one hour in one month, so they are constraint by their schedule which each person does need to fulfill their responsibilities to the employer [who pays for salary so that they can live], family, friends, fun [a responsibility for yourself so that you are not burn out].
So, in order to be efficient and make use of limited time, some volunteers will combine it with another objective, which like you said is looks good on that person''s career/resume, having fun while volunteering.
I used to think that volunteering for free is CRAP, first, a person must contribute to thyself, second to their loved ones for how can a person justify helping others, when your own family needs you.
Volunteering for free is not really free, the organization, for example PMI, gets the benefits of free expertise/efforts on our side and we get to try our skills and even improve ourselves. Once, we improve ourselves [or even not], each person is also motivated to get affirmation from their surroundings, therefore, they will write it up, or tell it to their circle of friends.
In this society, the true nature of altruism is given in a time most needed, by another person in which a person in need did not expect to get it from. So, we try to do good by volunteering but not only to the recipient of the activities but also to ourselves.
Haven''t you notice that nothing in life is really, truly, motivated by selfless acts? This happens at a moment in time, when the person who gave it felt that the recipient needed it most and was moved by circumstances.
Besides, a volunteered activity can be seen as beneficial or superficial depending on that person''s frame of mind. - Rosalinda Saving Changes...
Humberto RamosPM Consultant| NSNMéxico D.F., Distrito Federal, Mexico
Rosalinda, I am delighted that you took the time to read me. I guess that we both agree that Volunteering is a state of mind… a state of being… I consider volunteering as an advanced state of assertiveness… because you are not just been Assertive with what happens to you, but with what happens in your surroundings, and eventually with what happens in the world.
If one can combines what brings meal to your table and what you know is good to society, then it is nirvana. However, I agree with you that daily minimal action in our life, can also be considered as part of that state of mind of high assertiveness (Volunteerism). For example, not contributing with what is wrong, not letting trash on the street, doing little thing for others.
To be assertive is not to work for free, but doing what one considers good for ourselves, without damaging others. Then advancing in the assertiveness scale, one can do what is good for your Company without damaging others, and so on.
I do not mean that showing off that one is a volunteer is pure narcissism, but showing off without being a real Volunteer. Showing off that one is committed to volunteerism is important, because is an invitation for other to consider volunteerism.
Giving expecting to receive nothing it’s a great gift to our souls. And that also cannot be considered working for free, because we are getting something in return… but not money. Saving Changes...
