Business Giving Strategies » book

Strategy for Good: My Book is Coming February 2011!

Susan Hyatt — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 15:25:32 +0000

Everyday I wake up excited and have new energy – life is GREAT! The book on business giving I have been working along on for 4-5 years now is fast becoming a reality and will be released in February 2011! So hard to believe after all the hours of self-doubt about whether I knew enough to be writing a book in the first place and of guilt and frustration that it was moving so slowly and not “done” yet. Also, I increasingly was embarrassed because I felt like I had somehow not fulfilled my commitment to the great thought leaders I interviewed from 40+ companies for this book after they had so generously shared their time and company perspectives on community involvement with me. That spiral goes nowhere but down…and becomes quicksand!

Somewhere along the way, I guess I have “grown up.” I realized the clock is ticking in so many ways so what was I waiting for? What I have to say can never resonate with everyone but it can add value to many who are wanting to do more good in the community but need some guidance and ideas to deepen what they are doing. So, to not release these words to the world when they could be of service to others is stingy and hoarder behavior. Better to be “imperfect” and out there actively working to motivate and inspire people in companies to take more intentional action than staying stuck in my own head within the four walls of my office. That approach certainly doesn’t leverage ANY social change!

I now feel and totally believe my time is NOW! Writing my first book – writing ANY book – is of course a labor intensive process. And, luckily, I finally shed the self-defeating behavior of staring at the manuscript alone in my office thinking I should be able to pull it all off “perfectly” on my own – before I asked for “help” or let anyone read it. When I started reading things I wrote some time back but had not seen for a while, I was often pleasantly surprised. Wow – that sounds good! Of course some other sections immediately went on the needs upgrading list… When someone offers to help out now, I still do a momentary gulp…and then lean in and say thanks, that’d be GREAT!

I DO have something important to say and I finally believe it myself! I am so excited to share my perspective and years of experience and best practice study! And it is all coming together so quickly now as the book will be released in February 2011! It takes my breath way! Stay tuned!

Help! Strategic Business Giving – The Book Cover

Susan Hyatt — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:38:32 +0000

I am in the process of finishing up my book, Strategic Business Giving: How Smart Companies Grow Their Bottom Line by Giving Back. It will be published this fall by Love Your Life Publishing. Christine Kloser, owner and author herself, has had her graphic artist working on my book cover. And I remain confused which direction to go…

Which of these do you like? I would appreciate your input. Please leave me a comment. Thanks!

Cover - Option 1

Cover - Option 2

My Book Update

Susan Hyatt — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:36:48 +0000

I have been writing on a book about business philanthropy for a couple years now and the end is finally in sight! The book should be published in the early fall finally. I can’t tell you how pleased I am with its progress recently. What a project though - I am a bookoholic myself and have a whole new appreciation for authors. This has been really hard mental work! I interviewed 50 inspiring business leaders including Gary Hirshberg – Stonyfield Farms, Gary Erickson - Clif Bar, Leslie Sheridan - the Added Edge, Amy Hall – Eileen Fisher, Jessie Newman – Rock Bottom Foundation, just to name a few. I am so grateful to everyone that gave me their time to talk about their company’s approach to community involvement. They were all so inspiring.

Here is the overview of my book:

Giving back to local communities is a growing expectation for businesses coming from both outside and inside company walls. Community involvement is no longer a “nice to do” but a “need to do.” Don’t be one of those companies that just tosses dollars at issues for a tax write-off. Instead, use this proven, step-by-step process to maximize your company’s give-back efforts. Business Giving shows you how to create all-win solutions that demonstrate your values, benefit the causes you care most about, and boost your bottom line. Your company can be engaged in heartfelt ways that positively impact your business goals, operations, and profitability.

This lively, accessible how-to resource guide will give you:

Best practice examples, tips, and insights on effective community involvement from over 50 business thought leaders;
A self-assessment tool to audit the status and effectiveness of your company’s give-back efforts;
The 8 essential steps of effective community involvement to take your strategy and organizational systems to the next level;
A menu of dozens of proven ways to engage with nonprofits and NGOs through contributions and commerce; and
Food for thought suggestions to help generate even more ideas about ways to support the causes you care about—regardless of your company’s age, size, or profitability.

So that is what I am up to. Choosing a title is driving me nuts! I want this book to be really accessible and easy to read – so want to stay away from something too academic as then it sounds like a snoozer. So wish me luck - I think I am finally close…

Send me your email to get notification when the book is released so you can be one of the first to get a copy. Let Me Know!