We are honored to republish an episode published in February.

It is the #PERFECT interview to share with you as celebration on this International Day of Charity, as we pay tribute to the remarkable Mother Teresa, whose unwavering compassion and dedication to serving the less fortunate inspire us to be kinder, more giving souls.

Mother Teresa, often called the "Saint of the Gutters," dedicated her entire life to alleviating the suffering of the poor and destitute in the streets of Calcutta and beyond. Her selflessness and boundless love exemplify the true spirit of charity.

As we remember her on this special day, let us also reflect on the power of charity in our own lives.

As my guest, Lisa Bilodeau so joyfully explains, charity isn't just about giving money; it's about giving from the heart. It's about lending a helping hand, offering a warm smile, or simply being there for someone in need.

In the spirit of Mother Theresa, please share this message far and wide as you Lift As You Climb.

In this episode, we build a framework for how everyone of us can proudly, confidently claim the title of PHILANTHROPY.

My guest and philanthropist SHEroe, Lisa Bilodeau explains the main "T's" of philanthropy:

Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony, and Ties

Time. You are researching about something; you're connecting with other people. You're volunteering. Perhaps you're taking stuff somewhere. 

Talent, you are skilled in some things. You can help somebody,0 help a group, an organization, help one person, whatever your skill is. Walking alongside somebody is talent in action.

Treasure can be money, can be services, goods, resources.

Testimony is sharing about the organizations or the places you hear or the people who have needs with others. Sharing this podcast is a good example of testimony.

Ties are our networks, centers of influence, family, friends, colleagues, etc. 

About Lisa:

Lisa Bilodeau, one of leaders of the giving circle 100 Women Who Care Burlington, is a philanthropist at heart. She gives her time, talent, and treasure to lead this group of women, volunteers as a Board Member for Lupus Ontario, and is a Little Free Library Steward.

 

With each of these endeavors, she brings her marketing background and experience to promote charitable groups within her community, advocate for fellow Lupus warriors, and promote literacy and community connections.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-bilodeau-b2960b32/

https://www.instagram.com/ireland_drive_lfl/

100 Women Who Care Burlington

Philanthropic women who meet quarterly, contribute locally, and connect personally to benefit well deserving charities.

https://www.instagram.com/100_women_burlington/

Little Free Library

https://littlefreelibrary.org/

Our mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries.

Our vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.

Lupus Ontario

https://www.lupusontario.org/

Lupus Ontario is the largest provincial voluntary organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with lupus.

Funded in 2004 when The Ontario Lupus Association and the Lupus Society of Hamilton amalgamated, we have been dedicated to helping lupus patients learn about and cope with this life-altering and sometimes life-taking autoimmune disorder. Our volunteers and staff have been providing support, furthering education, improving public awareness, advocacy and research for over 30 years.

https://www.instagram.com/lupusontario/

About the Host:

 

Isabel Alexander

Your Next Business Strategist and Transformation Catalyst

 Isabel Alexander's journey from modest beginnings to global recognition epitomizes entrepreneurial resilience and innovation. With over five decades of experience spanning diverse industries, she has become a driving force in shaping economic landscapes worldwide. Noteworthy accomplishments include founding a multimillion-dollar global chemical wholesale business and earning accolades such as Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

As a mentor and advocate, Isabel empowers women entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Lift As You Climb Movement and podcasts, guiding them from startup to maturity. Serving as Chief Encore Officer of The Encore Catalyst, she dedicates herself to coaching and educating emerging entrepreneurs. Her involvement in organizations like RenegadesReinventing.com and Femme on Fire underscores her commitment to leadership and business development.

Additionally, Isabel's advisory roles with government bodies and trade associations, such as Chair of the Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters, highlight her influence in shaping trade policies and fostering international relations.

Driven by her mantra, "Lift As You Climb," Isabel embodies the ethos of mutual growth and empowerment. With dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, she values her extensive family and embraces global connections through travel and professional engagements. Isabel Alexander's narrative serves as a beacon of inspiration, illustrating how visionary leadership and strategic advising can drive global entrepreneurship and economic independence forward.

Founder:

The Encore Catalyst Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/TheEncoreCatalyst )

and

Chief Encore Officer, The Encore Catalyst (www.theencorecatalyst.com) – an accelerator for feminine wisdom, influence, and impact.

also

Author & Speaker ‘Who Am I Now? – Feminine Wisdom Unmasked Uncensored’ https://whoaminowbook.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelannalexander/

 

Thank You for Listening!

It means so much that you listened to this podcast! If you know of anyone else who might find this show valuable or entertaining, please share it on your favorite social media platform.

If you have questions about this episode, please send me an email at Hello@TheEncoreCatalyst.com

 

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Isabel: 00:00:53

Welcome everyone, and today.

Isabel: 00:00:57

I know I say this all the time, like I think this is gonna be my favorite

Isabel: 00:01:01

interview, but I already really think that this one has some very special status

Isabel: 00:01:07

because I love the fact that meeting Lisa and learning with her through her

Isabel: 00:01:15

has allowed me to really be the student and admit, I know so very little about

Isabel: 00:01:23

different ways and different opportunities that you and I can make a difference

Isabel: 00:01:31

and Lift As We Climb and have an impact out there in the world, in ways that

Isabel: 00:01:38

we don't even realize are possible Yet.

Isabel: 00:01:41

Today with my guest Lisa Bilodeau we're gonna explore a couple of

Isabel: 00:01:47

the ways and trust me, she has more than a few activities and ways

Isabel: 00:01:53

that she is lifting and climbing!

Isabel: 00:01:56

Welcome to the podcast, Lisa, and thank you.

Lisa: 00:02:02

Thank you so much, Isabel.

Lisa: 00:02:03

I'm so happy to be here.

Lisa: 00:02:04

Happy to chat, with you and have people listening to this and

Lisa: 00:02:08

hopefully, take some inspiration coming out of this on how capable

Lisa: 00:02:12

every person is to do lots of things.

Isabel: 00:02:15

It is just the best part of making friends and hanging out with

Isabel: 00:02:20

people that inspire me is that I get to learn from them and with them

Isabel: 00:02:25

and really enjoy that education cuz there's never anything better than

Isabel: 00:02:30

hanging with a really cool girlfriend.

Isabel: 00:02:35

I love that too!

Isabel: 00:02:37

Speaking of girlfriends.

Isabel: 00:02:38

I was very fortunate after moving back from the United States, I've been

Isabel: 00:02:42

in the US for about a dozen years.

Isabel: 00:02:44

Came back repatriated to Canada, and a friend welcomed me back and said, by

Isabel: 00:02:50

the way, you've been away for a while.

Isabel: 00:02:52

I think you need to meet some really cool people.

Isabel: 00:02:56

I'd like to invite you to come as a guest to a group that I belong to.

Isabel: 00:03:02

It's a Giving Circle.

Isabel: 00:03:04

And I think you're really gonna like this.

Isabel: 00:03:06

And I thought, what's a Giving Circle?

Isabel: 00:03:08

I don't know.

Isabel: 00:03:10

But that was , the beginning of meeting Lisa at 100 Women Who Care Burlington.

Isabel: 00:03:18

And rather than me convoluted, I'm Ask Lisa to explain what's a Giving Circle and

Isabel: 00:03:27

what does 100 Women Who Care Burlington do right now to make a difference?

Lisa: 00:03:33

Yes, it's, it was wonderful to meet you there and get connected.

Lisa: 00:03:36

And I have to say, Giving Circles are amazing for so many reasons, but one

Lisa: 00:03:40

of them is the connection to people meeting new like-minded individuals,

Lisa: 00:03:46

but who might be very different than you and have different worlds than

Lisa: 00:03:50

you basically circle in so it widens your own network and circle of people.

Lisa: 00:03:55

Giving Circles have been around for a long time, but they've really become

Lisa: 00:03:59

prominent in news and sharing with people in the last five years or so.

Lisa: 00:04:04

Basically, a Giving Circle is literally just a group of people that are getting

Lisa: 00:04:09

together to pool their resources.

Lisa: 00:04:12

Could be money, could be things, could be time towards something.

Lisa: 00:04:15

It doesn't have to be super organized or it can be.

Lisa: 00:04:18

The group that we are a part of together is A Hundred Women Who Care Burlington.

Lisa: 00:04:22

And this is an initiative that's been across North America and now into

Lisa: 00:04:25

other countries for about 10, 12, 15 years, somewhere in that range.

Lisa: 00:04:30

And basically the premise is very simple, which is wonderful and how

Lisa: 00:04:34

it's simple is why I first got involved is that, we as our women's group meet

Lisa: 00:04:40

four times a year for one hour meeting.

Lisa: 00:04:42

That's it.

Lisa: 00:04:43

Very simple.

Lisa: 00:04:44

And what we do is the members have committed to donate

Lisa: 00:04:48

to a charity of choice.

Lisa: 00:04:50

And how we get to that point is the members nominate charities

Lisa: 00:04:54

that serve our community.

Lisa: 00:04:56

So this is the part that's really exciting to me too, is that when you do

Lisa: 00:05:01

a Giving Circle that's directed to your community, you learn about your community.

Lisa: 00:05:07

You meet people from your community.

Lisa: 00:05:09

All these, national and provincial and, state organizations are amazing and

Lisa: 00:05:14

they need our help, but this has really grassroots at the level where you are.

Lisa: 00:05:19

So when our members nominate charities, we do a draw.

Lisa: 00:05:22

So it's a luck of the draw.

Lisa: 00:05:23

We choose three.

Lisa: 00:05:25

The nominating member can bring the charity partner with them to present.

Lisa: 00:05:30

They only present for five minutes.

Lisa: 00:05:31

And trust me, they're not writing a grant.

Lisa: 00:05:33

It's a very simple nomination form.

Lisa: 00:05:35

We're trying to take out all the extra stuff that charities need

Lisa: 00:05:39

often have to do to jump hoops to raise money, make it simple.

Lisa: 00:05:43

And then the group votes on the charity of choice for that night, and then every

Lisa: 00:05:49

member donates their a hundred dollars per meeting is what it is, or you can

Lisa: 00:05:53

do it in teams, , to the chosen charity.

Lisa: 00:05:56

So the goal is that at the end of the night, that charity gets $10,000 if you

Lisa: 00:06:00

have a hundred women or if you have 150 women, $15,000, whatever it is for the

Lisa: 00:06:04

number of people you have in the group.

Lisa: 00:06:05

And that's an incredible impact.

Lisa: 00:06:08

And we get to learn about all these people.

Isabel: 00:06:12

You're absolutely right.

Isabel: 00:06:14

The benefit of being part of a Giving Circle like the one that I am with you

Isabel: 00:06:23

is that I am meeting people I haven't met yet, but we have something in common

Isabel: 00:06:28

to start with; that we are interested in giving back and making a difference.

Isabel: 00:06:34

, but we're all coming from different backgrounds, different professional,

Isabel: 00:06:38

, experience, different ages.

Isabel: 00:06:41

I loved this opportunity to be first virtually, when we were not meeting

Isabel: 00:06:46

in person, but now in person to make new friends and they're already vetted

Isabel: 00:06:52

cuz I know they have a good heart.

Isabel: 00:06:54

And I love the fact that I, as I say, knew in this community after being away

Isabel: 00:07:00

a long time, got to know what was going on, what was happening in the heart of

Isabel: 00:07:06

the community, what organizations were serving, what needs, what populations.

Isabel: 00:07:12

And really, for me, I should be paying you more because I just feel so good

Isabel: 00:07:19

about participating in this, even when I don't have, a huge bank account.

Isabel: 00:07:26

I'm not Melinda Gates, so knowing that my money added to the rest of the people in

Isabel: 00:07:34

the group really has a meaningful impact that week, and I think that's awesome.

Lisa: 00:07:40

Absolutely.

Lisa: 00:07:41

This is the other thing is that, a lot of people, talk about charity and

Lisa: 00:07:44

the things that they might be connected to, but really anything that we do that

Lisa: 00:07:50

is the act of giving back, promoting the welfare of others is philanthropy.

Lisa: 00:07:54

And oftentimes people think of this idea of a philanthropist

Lisa: 00:07:57

is a Melinda Gates or something?

Lisa: 00:07:59

No, a philanthropist is a kid who puts together a lemonade stand

Lisa: 00:08:03

to raise money for something.

Lisa: 00:08:04

A philanthropist is somebody who gathers, their clothing together,

Lisa: 00:08:08

extra clothing and stuff, and they donate it to a thrift store or to

Lisa: 00:08:13

a compassion society or whatever.

Lisa: 00:08:15

Philanthropy is anything that is empowering other people who

Lisa: 00:08:19

have needs, and that's really what we are at our heart.

Lisa: 00:08:23

So we, in this particular Giving Circle, have chosen dollars to be able to connect

Lisa: 00:08:29

to them, but we don't want the dollar amount to, impede or anyone from joining

Lisa: 00:08:34

us, which is why we also have teams.

Lisa: 00:08:36

So it's either one member is a hundred dollars, they donate four times, or you

Lisa: 00:08:39

can have a team of two; 50 bucks each time, or team of 4; 25 bucks each time.

Lisa: 00:08:43

Also, if you're under 30, you can do $50 or a group of 25.

Lisa: 00:08:47

We don't wanna make there be impediments to joining that because people are often

Lisa: 00:08:53

choosing donations, but like you said, it's this impact together is incredible.

Lisa: 00:08:58

Everyone uses something to help others, even when we may not recognize it.

Lisa: 00:09:03

So this is a part where if somebody's thinking, "Hey,

Lisa: 00:09:05

I am not sure what I can do.

Lisa: 00:09:07

I don't know that I know enough people, or I don't have the money,

Lisa: 00:09:10

or maybe I'm not skilled in that."

Lisa: 00:09:12

Listen, everybody has Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony,

Lisa: 00:09:17

or Ties that they can use.

Lisa: 00:09:19

Those are really the main "T's" of philanthropy, right?

Lisa: 00:09:23

Time.

Lisa: 00:09:24

You are researching about something, you're connecting with other people.

Lisa: 00:09:28

You're volunteering.

Lisa: 00:09:29

Perhaps you're taking stuff somewhere.

Lisa: 00:09:32

Talent, you are skilled in some things.

Lisa: 00:09:34

You can help somebody help a group, an organization, help one person,

Lisa: 00:09:40

whatever your skill is there, right?

Lisa: 00:09:41

Walking alongside somebody.

Lisa: 00:09:43

Your Treasure can be, money, can be things.

Lisa: 00:09:46

Your Testimony , is basically things like this.

Lisa: 00:09:49

Sharing about the organizations or the places you hear or the

Lisa: 00:09:54

people who have needs with others.

Lisa: 00:09:55

Hey, this is also one of the things that's amazing in a

Lisa: 00:09:58

Giving Circle is this network.

Lisa: 00:10:00

We walk away and we tell our friends, we tell our family,

Lisa: 00:10:02

Hey, I heard about this group.

Lisa: 00:10:04

I had no idea this even existed.

Lisa: 00:10:06

I didn't even know this was a problem here.

Lisa: 00:10:08

And then somebody else says, "oh, I have something else I can give to that group.

Lisa: 00:10:12

I have a connection.

Lisa: 00:10:14

I have a resource, I have an item."

Lisa: 00:10:16

It's more than just the money and that's where our Ties are, right, where

Lisa: 00:10:19

we really connect to people as well.

Lisa: 00:10:22

And those are all very important for all of us.

Lisa: 00:10:24

They're part of how I live my life, but honestly, I think most people actually

Lisa: 00:10:29

live their life with those things too.

Lisa: 00:10:30

They might just not recognize it.

Isabel: 00:10:34

How fabulous are you that you make us aware that we

Isabel: 00:10:42

are philanthropists already.

Lisa: 00:10:46

Yes.

Isabel: 00:10:47

And that there are more ways to make a contribution

Isabel: 00:10:51

than to write a big check.

Lisa: 00:10:54

Absolutely.

Isabel: 00:10:54

I love this perspective, and that's a whole purpose behind

Isabel: 00:10:58

this podcast, Lisa, is to give people ideas and give them the

Isabel: 00:11:04

courage, , and sort of the impetus on where to start and how to start.

Isabel: 00:11:09

And if I understood you correctly, anybody could start their

Isabel: 00:11:15

version of a Giving Circle.

Lisa: 00:11:17

A hundred percent.

Lisa: 00:11:18

If you know, let's say for example, you're a bunch of moms who are at

Lisa: 00:11:22

your kids', , hockey event every week you're sitting, you're watching

Lisa: 00:11:26

the game, everybody, you're chatting together and one of you knows of a

Lisa: 00:11:30

family that needs new hockey equipment.

Lisa: 00:11:34

Can't afford it.

Lisa: 00:11:36

All the women, all the moms there, perhaps dad's, sorry, could be whatever.

Lisa: 00:11:40

and parents sitting there, grandparents, they could decide, Hey,

Lisa: 00:11:43

we're gonna pool our money together.

Lisa: 00:11:45

We're just gonna give 20 bucks or something, and gift this

Lisa: 00:11:48

family to give them a need.

Lisa: 00:11:50

That is a Giving Circle!

Lisa: 00:11:51

One shot done!

Lisa: 00:11:53

It's literally that easy.

Lisa: 00:11:55

Now, that, of course, I said was a monetary thing, but any kind of stuff.

Lisa: 00:11:59

That's what that is.

Lisa: 00:12:00

You can make it as organized as you want or not.

Lisa: 00:12:02

It's basically pooling your resources together to make an impact.

Isabel: 00:12:08

Wow, this is really great because it's opening up for me.

Isabel: 00:12:11

I, I grew up on a farm in Western Quebec, it was very common.

Isabel: 00:12:15

It was just a way of life there that the neighbors would get together if

Isabel: 00:12:20

somebody was putting up a new barn or if there was an illness and they

Isabel: 00:12:25

needed people to take off the crop.

Isabel: 00:12:27

One of my favorites was as a child, standing observing women gathered around

Isabel: 00:12:32

a quilting frame, having a quilting bee.

Isabel: 00:12:35

And the finished beautiful work of art, was donated to be raffled

Isabel: 00:12:41

to raise money for something.

Isabel: 00:12:43

So I see where you're going here.

Isabel: 00:12:45

We don't have to just put it in a little box.

Lisa: 00:12:48

No.

Isabel: 00:12:48

Say it has to have a registered charitable 501C whatever kinda thing.

Lisa: 00:12:55

Correct.

Isabel: 00:12:55

And that there are other ways and don't let anything stop you from giving.

Lisa: 00:13:02

That's the wonderful thing too, is like giving is

Lisa: 00:13:05

is what you have at the moment.

Lisa: 00:13:07

And it constantly changes based on your stage of life, your interests,

Lisa: 00:13:12

and what you're capable of.

Lisa: 00:13:13

So for example, I'm involved in several volunteer endeavors.

Lisa: 00:13:16

, and That's great.

Lisa: 00:13:18

, but part of the reason I am in that now is I'm actually disabled, but

Lisa: 00:13:22

I am in a very good health place.

Lisa: 00:13:23

I was in advertising for 20 plus years and loved my job is very

Lisa: 00:13:28

demanding, exciting, everything.

Lisa: 00:13:30

And then, I discovered through a series of tests, being

Lisa: 00:13:34

very ill that I have lupus.

Lisa: 00:13:35

So lupus is an autoimmune disease and it's systemic.

Lisa: 00:13:38

So basically, I can't turn it off and something triggered it.

Lisa: 00:13:42

Usually stress related.

Lisa: 00:13:43

So some significant events of my life.

Lisa: 00:13:45

And what my body does is it produces all these extra antibodies that then

Lisa: 00:13:50

my body thinks, oh, , they're like antibodies, like a virus, you know, like

Lisa: 00:13:54

when you have the flu or you get covid or something and it wants to attack them?

Lisa: 00:13:58

The only thing is that those antibodies are actually not bad and my body attacks

Lisa: 00:14:03

itself, so attacks my organs, so my lungs, my heart, skin, other stuff.

Lisa: 00:14:06

So it's pretty shitty to be honest.

Lisa: 00:14:08

It's not a great thing and I'm much better about it now.

Lisa: 00:14:12

But in getting that it stopped me cold.

Lisa: 00:14:15

I had to give up my career.

Lisa: 00:14:16

I had to stay at home.

Lisa: 00:14:18

I had to basically make my job every day was to stay alive,

Lisa: 00:14:24

and that was really hard.

Lisa: 00:14:26

Really hard.

Lisa: 00:14:26

So when I was doing that, I couldn't participate in groups.

Lisa: 00:14:31

I didn't get to participate in family events.

Lisa: 00:14:34

I literally had to see doctors and specialists and get medication and teach

Lisa: 00:14:39

myself and figure out advocacy and I got amazing people and that's great.

Lisa: 00:14:43

And I got better.

Lisa: 00:14:43

So during that time, I couldn't give of myself in other ways.

Lisa: 00:14:48

Right?

Lisa: 00:14:48

We all have periods in life where shit happens.

Lisa: 00:14:52

Or you know, you got young kids at home, or you're helping with aging parents,

Lisa: 00:14:56

or you're moving and making a major life change what you know, what have you.

Lisa: 00:15:02

As I got better and healthier and I tried to go return back to that work life.

Lisa: 00:15:08

It's not conducive for my illness to be able to be in that crazy setting.

Lisa: 00:15:12

So I realized I couldn't do that.

Lisa: 00:15:14

And so I am permanently disabled.

Lisa: 00:15:16

I have some mobility issues, , a lot of pain and stuff.

Lisa: 00:15:19

So I love having Zoom calls like, this is great, but I realized as I got

Lisa: 00:15:24

healthier, while, I couldn't do some of those other things I had done before,

Lisa: 00:15:29

I could now invest my time in the volunteer endeavors that I'm a part of.

Lisa: 00:15:33

So I have a couple of three different things that I'm involved in, but all

Lisa: 00:15:36

of them, I do the majority from home.

Lisa: 00:15:39

So I work with who I am and what I have access to.

Lisa: 00:15:47

This is, , so appropriate for my audience, It's not appropriate you

Lisa: 00:15:54

have to go through this difficulty, but how you've risen above it

Lisa: 00:15:58

and lifted yourself actually, I guess, is that in our vernacular.

Lisa: 00:16:03

, but most of my audience are b aby boomers who are in that

Lisa: 00:16:09

transitional period of their life.

Lisa: 00:16:11

They're reinventing.

Lisa: 00:16:13

They are - and I wrote the book , literally I published

Lisa: 00:16:17

for my 65th birthday.

Lisa: 00:16:19

"Who Am I Now?

Lisa: 00:16:21

Feminine Wisdom.

Lisa: 00:16:22

Unmasked and Uncensored."

Lisa: 00:16:25

and so this is exactly the message that what we did before and how we did

Lisa: 00:16:30

it and how we thought we were valued in the world continues to change as we

Lisa: 00:16:37

continue to evolve and grow, and it's up to us to seize that and figure out.

Lisa: 00:16:46

I'm not saying it's easy, right?

Lisa: 00:16:48

Oh, no,

Lisa: 00:16:49

I'm not, you know, making light of that.

Lisa: 00:16:51

But it's, it is a choice.

Lisa: 00:16:53

You made a choice that you wanted to find a different way to

Lisa: 00:16:58

lead a robust, fulfilling life.

Lisa: 00:17:02

And judging by, the beauty behind you, your art and the smile on

Lisa: 00:17:07

your face, you have succeeded!

Lisa: 00:17:10

As you and I talked off air before we started the interview,

Lisa: 00:17:15

I have a fondness and you have a fondness for the letters pH.

Lisa: 00:17:19

In your case, philanthropy.

Lisa: 00:17:22

In my case.

Lisa: 00:17:23

pHuck.

Lisa: 00:17:24

PHuck Lupus!

Lisa: 00:17:26

Oh, a hundred percent.

Isabel: 00:17:28

But thank you.

Isabel: 00:17:30

For fighting it and, winning.

. Lisa: 00:17:33

Well, yeah.

. Lisa: 00:17:34

And I feel like I'm winning today, which is amazing.

. Lisa: 00:17:36

But I have to tell you, like, just even in the ways that I'm doing so much better

. Lisa: 00:17:39

than I was, there are days where I swear all day long and other days where I cry

. Lisa: 00:17:44

all day long, like we, we all have that.

. Lisa: 00:17:47

And those are valid and important.

. Lisa: 00:17:50

The struggle that I had, and I think this really relates to what you're saying

. Lisa: 00:17:53

about, particularly your audience here.

. Lisa: 00:17:55

I felt so much purpose in my career and I loved it, and I did find purpose

. Lisa: 00:18:01

and suddenly when I had to stop, not by my choice especially, although

. Lisa: 00:18:05

I feel like it would be similar, especially as you retire, it is your

. Lisa: 00:18:09

choice, but it's such a massive change.

. Lisa: 00:18:11

I struggled to find my purpose and even when I was very ill and my purpose

. Lisa: 00:18:18

literally was to stay alive and get better, that was my purpose and I had

. Lisa: 00:18:24

to think about it like, this is my job, because otherwise I was feeling

. Lisa: 00:18:28

so lost and unworthy and I, so now I feel so much more purposeful in these

. Lisa: 00:18:37

philanthropy endeavors that I have.

. Lisa: 00:18:40

But I also remind myself all the time, I'm not defined by that.

. Lisa: 00:18:45

I still have purpose being me.

. Lisa: 00:18:46

It's hard sometimes to remind myself, but I do.

. Lisa: 00:18:50

This is where I can also be thankful for the journey in my life.

. Lisa: 00:18:53

So, while I agree.

. Lisa: 00:18:55

Absolutely.

. Lisa: 00:18:55

pHuck Lupus, but I'm thankful for the process that I've been through for it

. Lisa: 00:18:59

because it still makes me who I am.

. Lisa: 00:19:02

And one of the things that's come out of that is I actually am on the

. Lisa: 00:19:05

board, I'm a director at large for Lupus Ontario, which is a, charity

. Lisa: 00:19:09

advocating for lupus warriors.

. Lisa: 00:19:12

We raise money for research, very significant research.

. Lisa: 00:19:16

We have support groups, we have lupus clinics.

. Lisa: 00:19:19

We support public awareness and advocacy basically.

. Lisa: 00:19:23

And I joined that just in the last year and I am using my marketing skills.

. Lisa: 00:19:28

So I'm getting back into the communication and marketing that I love,but I am with.

. Lisa: 00:19:33

again, like-minded people who understand my journey, my process, and I be

. Lisa: 00:19:39

able to advocate with them to Lift other lupus warriors up, to walk

. Lisa: 00:19:44

alongside them while they're unwell, to hear and learn from their stories.

. Lisa: 00:19:49

They Lift me up.

. Lisa: 00:19:49

I hear about their stories or I'm learning something

. Lisa: 00:19:52

new all the time from people.

. Lisa: 00:19:54

I love, love, love that I can be part of that group and I love

. Lisa: 00:19:58

that I can be on meetings in my bed, like, cuz let's just be real.

. Lisa: 00:20:03

. The accessibility of having

. Lisa: 00:20:08

Covid sucked.

. Lisa: 00:20:09

Totally.

. Lisa: 00:20:10

But some amazing things came out of the time.

. Lisa: 00:20:12

And accessibility for technology for those of us that are disabled or have

. Lisa: 00:20:17

mobility issues, something incredible.

. Lisa: 00:20:20

So some days I'm at my desk and I'm doing great things and I'm moving around

. Lisa: 00:20:23

and other days I'm in bed all day.

. Lisa: 00:20:25

And if I take a meeting, . That's how it is.

. Lisa: 00:20:28

Always look at least okay.

Isabel: 00:20:30

I love this fact because it's raining and kind of crappy here today,

Isabel: 00:20:34

where we are, for everybody listening in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and

Isabel: 00:20:38

we're having a very mild winter, but it's a wet and kinda yuck one.

Isabel: 00:20:43

And I was thinking I wanted to stay in bed today, but I knew I had to get

Isabel: 00:20:47

up because I wanted to talk to you.

Isabel: 00:20:48

We could have done it

Isabel: 00:20:49

I just recently had this conversation with one of my guests where she said,

Isabel: 00:20:54

you know, the "P" that happened, the "P" for pandemic that happened, which we

Isabel: 00:20:59

thought was the most awful thing while we were in it, or many of us did, really

Isabel: 00:21:06

gave us more focus on two more important "Ps" and that's passion and purpose.

Lisa: 00:21:12

Absolutely.

Isabel: 00:21:13

And I thought, well, you are right, of course...

Isabel: 00:21:16

I'm kind of Pollyanna, another "P"....

Isabel: 00:21:17

I'm looking for...

Isabel: 00:21:19

I will dig to find that pony in the pile of horseshit.

Isabel: 00:21:22

I won't give up till I find it!

Lisa: 00:21:24

Amazing.

Lisa: 00:21:25

So I love that.

Isabel: 00:21:27

Well, hey, you're welcome to it please.

Isabel: 00:21:30

You reminded all of us that there are more ways to be a philanthropist than just

Isabel: 00:21:38

having a bank account with zeros in it.

Isabel: 00:21:41

You said time and talent and treasure and ties and I was just thinking what

Isabel: 00:21:47

you're doing now with Lupus, um, sorry, what is the organization called?

Lisa: 00:21:51

Lupus Ontario.

Lisa: 00:21:52

Lupus Ontario.

Isabel: 00:21:53

Your talent is making such a significant difference

Isabel: 00:21:57

there, so that's fantastic.

Isabel: 00:21:59

Yeah.

Isabel: 00:22:00

I'm really loving it and I am getting quite a bit out of it as well.

Isabel: 00:22:03

I think that's

Lisa: 00:22:04

the interesting thing too, right?

Lisa: 00:22:05

Anytime we choose to do something to Lift up someone else...

Lisa: 00:22:10

Again, in a small way or a big way, whatever it is...

Lisa: 00:22:12

We often get so much back.

Lisa: 00:22:15

So we're not necessarily doing it for that, but we get so much

Lisa: 00:22:19

back, we get connections, we get lifted as we are climbing,

Lisa: 00:22:22

basically that is it all the time.

Lisa: 00:22:23

And then sometimes we do that to get lifted because we need the lift...

Lisa: 00:22:27

Right?

Lisa: 00:22:28

And that's not bad.

Lisa: 00:22:29

Because again, everybody's kind of going together and I love that, you know, I

Lisa: 00:22:36

can bring some knowledge or experience to something and then somebody gives

Lisa: 00:22:39

me a totally different insight and it makes me think about it differently

Lisa: 00:22:42

or then they encourage me further and like that lifting as we climb is huge.

Lisa: 00:22:47

And when we are doing things for and with others, we continually keep moving up.

Isabel: 00:22:55

You have just summed up why I actively pursue opportunities to be a

Isabel: 00:23:02

mentor , because the reciprocity is, you know, it's amazing, it's exponential.

Isabel: 00:23:10

I may start out with somebody coming to me saying, could you spend some time with me?

Isabel: 00:23:15

Could you teach me?

Isabel: 00:23:17

Could you help?

Isabel: 00:23:17

Can you guide me?

Isabel: 00:23:19

And I end up walking away with a ton of new ideas, new

Isabel: 00:23:25

inspiration, , new education.

Isabel: 00:23:27

You're right.

Isabel: 00:23:28

Reciprocity is part of philanthropy as well, right?

Isabel: 00:23:31

I just wanna let everybody know, don't worry, I'm gonna make sure

Isabel: 00:23:36

that in the show links, you'll have all the information for all

Isabel: 00:23:40

the organizations and opportunities that we're talking about today.

Isabel: 00:23:45

You can get the reciprocity of this ex experience and go out and

Isabel: 00:23:49

do some of these things yourself.

Isabel: 00:23:51

Get started.

Isabel: 00:23:52

Create a group, do something, right?

Isabel: 00:23:55

, if I might, I just wanna tell you about

Isabel: 00:23:58

think this also gives people other ideas.

Isabel: 00:24:01

I'm a Little Free Library steward, so what that means is I've created a little

Isabel: 00:24:05

library that's on my property at my, at the sidewalk right in front of my house.

Isabel: 00:24:09

. And I fill it with books that people can come by and take free books.

Isabel: 00:24:13

In doing this, I created an Instagram and Facebook page for it.

Isabel: 00:24:16

I'm an avid reader, so I just started reading and I wanted to

Isabel: 00:24:19

expand more of what I was reading.

Isabel: 00:24:21

So I started this with just a couple ideas of mind and then end

Isabel: 00:24:24

up creating quite a community.

Isabel: 00:24:26

I connect with other stewards, I connect with people who are looking to donate or

Isabel: 00:24:31

looking to read or I connect with authors and promote them and that kinda stuff.

Isabel: 00:24:36

But one of the greatest joys about it was one of the reasons I decided to do

Isabel: 00:24:39

was I'm at home so much of the time and I wanted to be able to do something from

Isabel: 00:24:44

here and be able to step outside my door cuz I can go some days and not leave my

Isabel: 00:24:48

house if I'm not well or I don't have appointments to get out in and stuff.

Isabel: 00:24:52

So I did that.

Isabel: 00:24:53

What I found is this incredible community that I didn't expect to find.

Isabel: 00:24:59

We launched it during Covid and people started coming.

Isabel: 00:25:02

They weren't going other places.

Isabel: 00:25:04

They were going for walks.

Isabel: 00:25:05

I met new neighbors I never would've met.

Isabel: 00:25:08

I get people dropping off notes with their books , and talking about stuff

Isabel: 00:25:13

or coming by and engaging with me.

Isabel: 00:25:15

I get to see outside my window.

Isabel: 00:25:16

People stop by with their dogs and their kids.

Isabel: 00:25:18

I have this little sticker basket and this one family, they come

Isabel: 00:25:21

by almost every day just so their kids can take one sticker out.

Isabel: 00:25:25

And I've gotten to know them and engage with them.

Isabel: 00:25:27

And this is the thing is I really thought I was just sharing books with

Isabel: 00:25:31

others, but I have gotten so much more from all of these people in this

Isabel: 00:25:37

community that I just hadn't anticipated.

Isabel: 00:25:40

And it's been so fulfilling and so lovely.

Isabel: 00:25:43

And again, I don't have to go out there every day.

Isabel: 00:25:46

I go out when I have time and I have energy and I engage

Isabel: 00:25:50

with people and I love it.

Isabel: 00:25:51

But this is something you have probably books on your house you could donate.

Isabel: 00:25:56

You probably have it, right, exactly.

Isabel: 00:25:58

Things that you can share with others.

Isabel: 00:26:00

Look for these kinds of things because cuz like public libraries

Isabel: 00:26:03

don't take those kind of donations.

Isabel: 00:26:05

I love public libraries.

Isabel: 00:26:06

Let me be clear.

Isabel: 00:26:07

Love, love, love them.

Isabel: 00:26:08

, but these kind of little boxes, and some people have little

Isabel: 00:26:11

pantry boxes or care things.

Isabel: 00:26:13

Just look for these opportunities around you.

Isabel: 00:26:16

When you're out walking in your neighborhood or you're driving by

Isabel: 00:26:19

somewhere, look for these little moments of where you might be able to make a

Isabel: 00:26:24

difference or partake with those things.

Isabel: 00:26:27

You might get those items or things.

Isabel: 00:26:30

It makes a huge difference in just our daily world.

Isabel: 00:26:35

I already know, Lisa, that I wanna ask you to come back again on the show, because

Isabel: 00:26:42

I think what you're opening up is an opportunity for people to be a little more

Isabel: 00:26:47

creative and have a, broader perspective on, philanthropy and giving back because

Isabel: 00:26:54

there are just so many different ways.

Isabel: 00:26:56

So to the audience, I invite you to please flood my email,

Isabel: 00:27:02

Hello@TheEncoreCatalyst.com with ideas or maybe something you've

Isabel: 00:27:08

seen, that you know went, oh, maybe someday I should do that.

Isabel: 00:27:13

Or, gee, my neighbor's doing this.

Isabel: 00:27:15

Whatever it is, let's get a library together of ideas of how

Isabel: 00:27:21

we can all use what we've got.

Isabel: 00:27:25

Like you said, use our time, use our talent.

Isabel: 00:27:28

Use our treasures.

Isabel: 00:27:29

Use our ties, and make this world a better place because God knows

Isabel: 00:27:36

there's been a lot of reasons to think the planet should implode

Isabel: 00:27:43

. Yes, but you know what?

Isabel: 00:27:46

I don't believe that's true.

Isabel: 00:27:48

, I think that's what we are fed by the media because it sells more advertising.

Isabel: 00:27:56

And you know, I love marketing and advertising.

Isabel: 00:27:59

It runs in my blood too.

Isabel: 00:28:00

But what I would like to hear is more of the good things that are

Isabel: 00:28:05

happening, the good deeds that are being done, and to Lift people's spirits.

Isabel: 00:28:12

So there's another way of lifting.

Isabel: 00:28:13

Right?

Lisa: 00:28:14

Absolutely.

Lisa: 00:28:15

Absolutely.

Isabel: 00:28:17

I had intended to ask you what philanthropy means to you.

Isabel: 00:28:23

I think we kind of indirectly got that, but is there anything

Isabel: 00:28:27

else you'd like to add to that?

Isabel: 00:28:30

Your thoughts on what is philanthropy for you?

Lisa: 00:28:35

I think I have covered most of that, but there's just one aspect that

Lisa: 00:28:38

I think would be important for people to think about and it's more about

Lisa: 00:28:43

modeling it for young people especially.

Lisa: 00:28:48

When you model excitement for giving back and you're talking about it with

Lisa: 00:28:51

your family and friends, it helps sets the stage for lifelong philanthropy.

Lisa: 00:28:56

So the more , and again, you can start at any point in your life, right?

Lisa: 00:29:00

And again, I think everybody has started.

Lisa: 00:29:02

You just don't recognize it that way.

Lisa: 00:29:03

But when you model that, the younger people are who start to do

Lisa: 00:29:08

things to help others, the more it continues for the rest of your life.

Lisa: 00:29:12

And that's very important.

Lisa: 00:29:13

It's partly why I'm involved.

Lisa: 00:29:15

My mother, my aunt, my grandmother really modeled this giving back idea.

Lisa: 00:29:21

My sister does and it was through organizations and churches and friends.

Lisa: 00:29:26

If somebody needed a meal, there was always a place at our table.

Lisa: 00:29:29

Just seeing that it made sense that I would just do it because to me

Lisa: 00:29:34

it was just a part of who you are.

Lisa: 00:29:38

I'm so glad you brought that up because you flooded me with a memory of my mother.

Lisa: 00:29:43

Didn't matter what time in the meal it was happening, if somebody else

Lisa: 00:29:48

arrived, she always could make room.

Lisa: 00:29:50

She always had enough food and, people were welcome to stay and

Lisa: 00:29:55

eat as many meals as they needed.

Lisa: 00:29:57

You're right, it's an attitude that can be cultivated at an early stage and age.

Lisa: 00:30:05

, it's never too late.

Lisa: 00:30:06

Never too late to do it.

Lisa: 00:30:08

, as I like to say, you're not starting from scratch, you're starting from experience.

Lisa: 00:30:13

Yes.

Lisa: 00:30:14

That's great.

Lisa: 00:30:15

Absolutely.

Lisa: 00:30:16

Yeah.

Lisa: 00:30:17

And by your examples we all have a lot of experience and resources

Lisa: 00:30:21

through our lifetime education, careers and connections, that

Lisa: 00:30:28

if you really think about it, we got a lot from which to draw on.

Lisa: 00:30:34

And everybody has value.

Lisa: 00:30:36

Everybody has something in them to contribute to someone else.

Lisa: 00:30:41

So if you are listening and you think that, what could I do?

Lisa: 00:30:44

What could I give?

Lisa: 00:30:45

Who am I?

Lisa: 00:30:47

You are you.

Lisa: 00:30:48

You are valuable.

Lisa: 00:30:49

You have value to share with others.

Lisa: 00:30:53

Every single person does.'

Lisa: 00:30:57

I love you!

Lisa: 00:31:00

You are a new light in my life, and today I learned you have a lot of watts

Lisa: 00:31:08

shining brightly and touching a lot of darker corners and lighting them up.

Lisa: 00:31:14

Thank you for that, Lisa.

Lisa: 00:31:15

I'd like to, I think, give our audience some time to absorb this

Lisa: 00:31:23

and start to think about, Hmm, what have I got already to start with?

Lisa: 00:31:29

And then I'd really love to have you come back and let's continue this conversation

Lisa: 00:31:36

of about creating what I hope is a tsunami effect of good philanthropy in the world.

Lisa: 00:31:44

I don't think there's any bad philanthropy.

Lisa: 00:31:46

Is there?

Lisa: 00:31:46

I don't know.

Lisa: 00:31:47

No, I don't think so.

Lisa: 00:31:48

I'd love to come back.

Lisa: 00:31:49

Thank you.

Lisa: 00:31:50

Thank you so very much.

Lisa: 00:31:51

So don't forget everybody the show notes, follow, , and.

Lisa: 00:31:57

I just feel touched and blessed.