Kenneth (Ken) Blanchard says, “None of us is as smart as all of us.” In some places, Jim Rohn gets the credit. Finally, Rod Collins wrote a book titled Nobody is Smarter Than Everybody.
That research makes me think that the first person to coin the term was somebody other than those three. So, I gave up looking for someone to give full credit to.
Even our founding fathers didn’t assign the responsibility of writing the Declaration of Independence to one person. It was a committee of five people. Thomas Jefferson did most of the work, but before bringing it to the Continental Congress in 1776, four often-forgotten others contributed to the writing: John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, and Roger Livingston.
Many people reading this think, “Nothing ruins something like a committee.”
But I submit the case of idea generation: the more people you include in brainstorming, the better you will be at coming up with ideas.
As 2024 comes to a close, my brother Justin, co-owner of Willmar Electric, and I were considering where to donate a portion of our profits. Beyond bonuses and profits, we feel it is vital to invest in charitable causes. Our purpose statement is “People Making a Difference For People. “
So, this year, we asked for feedback from fourteen other people. The results are a potent reminder of God’s hand.
(Keep in mind that over the course of the year, dozens of co-workers bring us worthy causes, and in several cases, we have supported those causes earlier in the year.)
Ideas submitted cover a wide swath of causes.
- A global sports movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.
- A home dedicated to helping transplant patients cope with physical and emotional hardship.
- A group helping to relieve the suffering of hunger by providing food assistance.
- A charity set up to help and encourage families going through the rough oceans of a sick child.
- A group set up to empower older adults, widows, and orphans through education, health care, and sustainable living skills.
- A charity for welcoming our refugee and immigrant neighbors.
- People keeping families together by creating pathways for the church to come alongside vulnerable children and families in a Christ-centered ministry.
- Camps that proclaim Jesus and reflect his love through a high-quality experience.
- A place that offers services and resources at no cost to women facing decisions about an unintended pregnancy
- A place that believes every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.
After getting all these suggestions, we were glad we asked. We would never have figured out how to help such a noble list of causes on our own. By using this list, we will touch the lives of the hungry, special needs, sick, weak, elderly, widows, orphans, immigrants, needy, underprivileged, youth, families, and more. The number of people suggested is breathtaking.
It is worth noting that in many cases, the person who suggested the charity is a volunteer for the charity or has personal experience with the organization. They have firsthand knowledge of the good work they do.
We know that the resources Willmar Electric is left with at the end of the year aren’t ours; they are God’s. He has entrusted us with making wise use of them. Thankful we asked for help in making a difference.
