Being an advocate is a big deal at Carry Courage. It ties into our core company value of being compassionate. 

I want to talk about why I think it’s important, give some examples, and explain why I think everyone should be an advocate.

But first, let’s define it.

Noun, 1: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

Noun, 2: one who pleads another's cause, who helps another by defending or comforting him

Verb: to publicly recommend or support.

For this post, we’ll use all of the definitions! 

Why be an advocate?

I believe that it is important to live for causes bigger than ourselves and our little world. My passion for this is rooted in my personal faith in Christ. Many other faiths and walks of life also believe this, and for a good reason. Living only for ourselves can become stale, sad and limiting. 

Choosing to look beyond ourselves and use our voice, time, talents and resources to help other people not only adds meaning and vibrancy to life, it is true to the heart of our Creator. 

What cause are you passionate about? To get your creative juices flowing, let’s look at a few case studies.

 

Examples of advocacy

One that I love to rally around is Norboo. This might not surprise you if you’re familiar with my content. :) 

This maker of hand-crafted purses chose to extend their business model to teach sewing skills to a group comprised mostly of single mothers in a remote village in Tibet. By doing so, they gave these women a chance to earning a living, when they otherwise may have been stuck in poverty. Not only do they make beautiful purses and wallets, they improve lives in their community. This couldn’t resonate more with the ethos of Carry Courage.

Because of that, I decided to partner with Norboo as a distributor. This allows them to make a higher profit margin than selling their products locally. More profit for a great cause, and everyone wins! 

Another example of advocacy is a service that offers financial guidance for women considering separation or divorce. It’s a scary place to be in a relationship that is deteriorating. Even worse, if your husband is the breadwinner and you are unsure of your financial standing.

Healing House Solutions helps women figure out how to build their financial hope amid those circumstances–charting a way to take the next step in life, with financial clarity. 

More than just a financial plan, they offer relational advocacy during what can be a scary time. Amy, the owner, shared a story with me that I found extremely enlightening. One of her clients was so fearful and beaten down that she couldn’t articulate what she needed initially.

Amy was able to talk her through it. At the end of the session, she could speak and say, "This is what I need." That, to me, is a beautiful example of being an advocate for someone who desperately needs a voice but can’t find it. 

 

How do I become an advocate?

Being an advocate can take many different forms. It starts with discovering a cause you are deeply passionate about. What is a group of people, cause, or policy issue needs change? 

The next step is to find ways to publicly support that cause. Maybe with your time volunteering. Perhaps through donations. Or educating others on the cause and its needs and beneficiaries. 

The good news is, there are no shortage of causes that need a champion (or many champions). The challenge is picking one or two and going all in.

I firmly believe that looking out for the good of others is a necessary pillar in supporting a meaningful life. Would you agree?

I’m always delighted to hear from you. Let me know in a comment the cause or organization that you support or are considering supporting.

Thank you for reading!