Leaders: Are You Investing Back Into Your Community?

I can talk a lot about what sets certain business leaders apart from others. Traits like vision, passion, and resilience are all telltale indicators of successful entrepreneurs, but something way more powerful than that is a leader's commitment to their communities.

Your community is the reason your company exists in the first place. You created your company with your community in mind, and they're the ones who help support and sustain your business. I believe it's important for leaders to give back to their communities as a way to show their appreciation and pay them back for all they've helped them accomplish.

Don't forget where you came from — all the mistakes you made, all the people who didn't have your back at the beginning, and all the failures you experienced along the way. Humility is an essential part of entrepreneurship. I never would have made it to where I am today without the community of people who helped me get here, and giving back to them is incredibly important to me and a big part of what drives my work.

Charity and generosity are a huge part of who I am. It's why I made the decision to be Chairman of the Board for The Arora Foundation, whose mission is providing educational opportunities and resources to underprivileged and marginalized communities across the world. The Arora Foundation specifically helps children pursue their academic goals regardless of their demographic backgrounds or financial situations. I also serve as Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Just Funky Foundation, an award-winning non-profit organization passionate about creating opportunities for students everywhere.

If you're a leader looking to give back to your community, here's how you can make an impact.

Focus on Your Local Area

Supporting others doesn't always have to mean looking for opportunities in other countries. I always suggest finding ways to invest back into your own city or neighborhood. Look for volunteer opportunities, choose a cause that's important to you and donate money to that organization, or you can even start your own foundation to help your local residents. 

Mentor Other Entrepreneurs

There is nothing more rewarding than helping other people realize their potential. As business leaders, a huge way we can make a difference is mentoring young, aspiring entrepreneurs who hope to one day make their own imprint in the world. We can have a major influence on the next generation of leaders, which is a very important contribution we can make on the world.

Offer Services You're Good At

If you have a particular knack for something, you can offer that service for free to help someone in need. If you're good with your hands, that could mean helping to build playgrounds in your neighborhood for the local kids to have somewhere to hang out. On the other hand, you can also offer up whatever services your company specializes in to help other businesses or individuals across the country. 

It's not important how you choose to give back, it's just important that you do. Start investing back into your community today.