More Sponsorships, More Donations, Cant Do It.
As time went on, new friends were made and with new friends come new circles of friends, organizations, causes, opportunities, responsibilities and etc.
As I some how kept everything working and moving forward, I was still constantly growing my network of friends. People notice when your name comes up often and when people recognize you. This is where opportunity and requests come your way on a regular basis. With opportunity comes the expectation of contribution.
Your new friend is wonderful but now needs help with making his event or fundraiser well attended. With it being highly attended, it is likely that contribution will also be high. If you are going, others will know that this is a must attend event. If you are sponsoring or donating, your friends are more likely to donate.
As you become ingrained in the community , people push you to remain involved by giving back and contributing so that you will still be considered community minded and a part of the club or inner circle.
Will you sponsor our great event, will you show support for our cause, will you be an attendee at our event, will you show your face, will you talk about this on social media, will you drag your friends along, will you tour this organization and learn more, will you check out this “free” lunch to learn more, will you open your heart and your wallet, will you put together a team, will you sponsor another student at your business?
All of these sound very innocent although they always end up being tied to some form of monetary giving. If you do not give, you are quietly shamed in some way. If you bring your friends, you best set the example and give youself. If you are building awareness, you best be giving and setting an expectation. If you are going to ask for organizations to give they expect that you are also giving. If you are asking others to attend, you best be in attendance regardless of whether it costs hundreds of dollars to attend that you do not have.
I keep saying yes. My calendar is so full that I have to turn people down and pretend that I was at events. More opportunity. More friends. More awareness. People keep seeking me out. I keep smiling. But I am mentally breaking down and dying inside.
