Megan McInnis

INTRO
Today I’m talking to Megan McInnis, executive director and president of Doing Good, a terrific non-profit organization that has recently started producing a TV show which enhances and compliments their message. It features volunteers who make a difference in other people’s lives throughout the world and who flourish in the enjoyment that comes from giving. Megan and I talk about what shifted her into inspiring and empowering people to impact our world.

BUMPER
I am Tajci.
At 19 I was a superstar and I was lost inside. I left it all behind, switched continents and started all over. Years later I found myself lost again. This time in the American dream.
This is a story about awakening. About living the life you were created for. About going inward and discovering the joyous and purposeful person you and I are both meant to be.

This is “Waking Up In America.”

TAJCI
So Megan, thank you so much for being on my show!

MEGAN
Thank you for letting me be here! I’m so excited!

TAJCI
So, do you remember where we met?

MEGAN
At FilmCom this year, which is held every year here in Nashville.

TAJCI
Yea, it’s an awesome, awesome thing. So, I mean there was a lot of filmmakers from all over, and it’s a really beautiful way that Nashville brings people together. And I hear that that’s very specific to Nashville. We’re in “O” Gallery, and I had Olga, the owner of the “O” Gallery on my show and she was saying how this gallery, this place came to life because of the community. So Nashville… it’s Nashville thing.

MEGAN
Oh definitely! Yes. I think everywhere you go within Nashville there is another pocket of community and then it’s like a big small town wherever you go in the city, because it is a city, but it’s got small town charm.

TAJCI
So out of all those people, all those booths, yours drew me tremendously. What do you think why, why did that happen?

MEGAN
I have no idea, but I’m eager to know, other than the big logo that we have, with the big thumbs up, I’m not sure.

TAJCI
Yes! A part of is “Doing Good’. I am drawn to anything that says “doing good’

MEGAN
Oh good, we need more people like that in the world, I think.

TAJCI
And then, of course it was you. I can’t… you were a big part of it, because not only there is doing good, but there is Megan. You just radiated this beautiful energy, this beautiful, okay let’s together do good.

MEGAN
Thank you so much. Well I think that’s what we should all be aiming for… is that we can all do something together and do it, and go in the right direction and make a difference and impact somebody in a good, positive way.

TAJCI
So tell us a little bit about “Doing Good”

MEGAN
“Doing Good” is a brand new, 501c3 non profit and… so it’s a non profit organization just like every other that you think about. It’s just a new business model. And so what we do is act as the marketing and PR department for volunteerism in general.

TAJCI
In general. So you are kind of a big umbrella for all the ‘doing goods’

MEGAN
Yes! For all those people who are doing good. And that brings up a good and an important point is that we are really trying to focus on the people rather than the organizations themselves. We do believe that it’s important to know, you know, who you are volunteering with and what organization do what in your local communities but in all honesty, every community has to deal with hunger and homelessness, and literacy, and more. And so generally it’s like, I think I’ve mentioned to you before Maya Angelou’s favorite quote for me is that “We are more alike, my friends than we are unalike.” And so I think that when we come together as a community and we talk about the cause being either hunger or literacy or education, then frankly we can encourage people to do more. If someone by chance happen to find out about volunteering for an organization and that one organization doesn’t have an opening that one day, we don’t want anyone to be discouraged.

TAJCI
Right!

MEGAN
So we do believe that it’s important to just realize there are options out there and frankly just go out there and do something it doesn’t have to be big.

TAJCI
Yea. You know, I seem to always sign up for a job at my kids’ school that’s already taken.

MEGAN
Yes!

TAJCI
And then, I’m like, oh! But it’s really… one thing that struck me when we talked about this before the cameras started rolling, is you mentioned that you went out into the community and you asked questions and you really did an extensive research, right and got some really good partners on board.

MEGAN
Oh, I think it’s important. I was new to Nashville, I had driven through here before and, I’m from Tennessee originally, so of course I knew it was a good place, but I didn’t know people here. So when I first came to town I just started meeting with literally everyone who would talk to me and so I sat down one on one with a few hundred people and just asked them questions about what works and what doesn’t, what do they like about volunteering here and what do they not like, and it’s amazing the kind of information that you get when you talk with people one on one. You know, it’s not an electronic survey, no offense to any electronic survey companies, but I do believe it’s important just to really get on people’s level and meet them wherever they are comfortable and talk about what’s important to them. And frankly, if you are out to make a big impact, then you need to start there.

TAJCI
Yes and I love, I love that approach, you know, asking and listening. I think so much in our world is happening because people feel like they are not being heard.

MEGAN
Oh you are right!

TAJCI
And for you, I mean, it’s a couple of hundred of one on one, that’s a lot of your time and effort and I think that’s what we all desire. We all desire to be heard, but we also desire to connect with someone, especially when we are called to volunteer.

MEGAN
Right!

TAJCI
And you mentioned something, you loved volunteering from behind the conference table.

MEGAN
Yes, I do! We all have our strengths, we all have our weaknesses and I enjoy putting a hammer to the nail, and building a house, and I enjoy being out there with the dogs and giving them hugs when nobody else will, and I enjoy feeding people and doing… but not everybody is a hands-on volunteer.

TAJCI
And it’s perfect because it really sounds like ‘wake up to your life that you are created for and in that purpose access the gifts that you have and find a way to volunteer. Thank you! So we will come back to that and talk about that when we come back.

BREAK


TAJCI
So we are talking about doing good from behind the conference table. I’m really curious how that happens, what that really means.

MEGAN
I think that can mean something different to everybody, but for me, I come from the world of marketing and PR. I worked for Disney in marketing and PR, Disney Institute, for their film program and frankly, I’m comfortable in that setting and I think it’s a matter of each person finding what he or she is good at or enjoys and sometimes they are not always the same thing.

TAJCI
Right, oh yes.

MEGAN
But that’s okay. That’s okay, and so, you know, if it’s a matter of just brainstorming and idea with somebody, you know, I have a volunteer next week to brainstorm an event with me and with the artist that will be involved.

TAJCI
So sounds like to me you were, you are that person with the vision, you are the person that has the quality of… I know who to call, I know how to build a team and I know how to make them do stuff, is that kind of right?

MEGAN
I think that that would be giving me entirely too much credit.

TAJCI
You are a leader, I mean, this is… you went out, you created a great team around you, partners, sponsors, all of this…

MEGAN
But it took some time

TAJCI
Absolutely

MEGAN
It took time and talking to people to find out… because everybody, like especially when I first moved to town, everybody else knew what was going on, I didn’t. And so, it took me going out of my comfort zone to call up and meet random people whom I didn’t know

TAJCI
Which is another characteristic of a great leader. You went out and listened.

MEGAN
Yes. Well that’s important part for anybody, I don’t care who you are and what you do.

TAJCI
True.

MEGAN
But, I think in time what ended up happening was the right people came together at the right time in different ways, so that that way, frankly, each group involved, or each individual involved could be involved in ways they wanted to. You know, I really think, for example that it’s important for creative people to volunteer creatively, you know, not…

TAJCI
Oh thank you. Thank you! You mean like I can sing or write a song.

MEGAN
Share your talents

TAJCI
Oh beautiful! I don’t have to feel bad that I’m not out there building houses…

MEGAN
Exactly! You can do what you want to do. And you know, for regular people, like me, you know, if it’s accounting or finance that really does it for you, or book keeping, great! You have no idea…every single organization out there needs that person… Or ten. So, it’s just a matter of plugging in and finding where your skill set fits with who needs you at the time.

TAJCI
When we traveled around the country, we always asked for volunteers at the concerts because we wanted the community to come together. We wanted to give them something to do.

MEGAN
Sure.

TAJCI
Because there is a lot of people who sit there and say, I don’t know… except for sending a check to my favorite charity, I don’t know where to go, I don’t know where I’m needed and I don’t know where I can be of use. And there are certain people, certainly people that, you know, I am one of them where I feel like I would be more of a burden in an organization, because I am not… I don’t naturally think of bringing lasagne. And so, I would like, look at someone like you and say, tell me what to do and I would love to do it.

MEGAN
Sure, yes of course! And non profits all over the world are begging for people to ask them that question. So if somebody is brave just call the non profit that you want to volunteer for directly and say, what is it that you want and what is it you need, and see if maybe there is an interest there that you might match up with.

TAJCI
Yes.

MEGAN
Another way to do it is to go on to the website called volunteermatch.org or if you are lucky enough to be in one of the few cities in the United States with a Hands On Network chapter, then visit your local website there. So, they are called typically “Hands on Nashville”, “Hands on Atlanta,” etc. But simply go onto those websites and click on the passion that you have or the skill sets that are being asked for and see if anything intrigues you. You know, I will say Nadine Riany, who was a former Nashville’s volunteer of the month, retired from a career in bio medical research, so she had so much science knowledge in her head, but she just wanted to make a difference. So she called up a park center so she could help people with mental illness. It doesn’t mean that necessarily one thing connects to the other, but she had an interest. She had a personal interest in that. So she started out folding towels, and eventually she said, I don’t want to fold towels. She finally found herself teaching math and helping students one on one there.

TAJCI|
I want to know what made you do what you are doing today. How did this idea of ‘doing good’ came about?

MEGAN
I just looked around and needed some good news one day.

TAJCI
Why?

MEGAN
I was going through a lot, that frankly is probably no different than everybody else on this planet. I was going through a divorce and during that time I was also let go from my job. But the two combined I just looked around and wanted some good news. And there was none anywhere and that was ridiculous, I thought. And to me it just made sense to start a TV show, ’cause everybody, not everybody, but so many people have access to television and it’s right there in their home, it’s easy for people to use and, you know, why not bring the family together to watch something positive about volunteers.

TAJCI
Great point you bring up. When you are in that place… and you loose a job… you might not even loose a job, you are just having that hard day, and I know a lot of viewers, you are right, lot of people go through that, a day when you just need to be picked up. And most of us are not going to go to your volunteering center.

MEGAN
No

TAJCI
Cause it’s a hard step to make. Most of us will curl up with a blanket on the couch, eat some chocolate, or ice cream, let’s be honest, and watch TV. And you are right. That is so common and that’s the place… What was the first step you took?

MEGAN
Looking for a website domain names ‘Doing good’.

TAJCI
Brilliant! So you took an action.

MEGAN
Yea. And it began as a book, and I only got so far with that even though I did make some progress and I do think I will return to that one day, because I think that if we can take a step back, it’s important to reach people where they are. It doesn’t matter if they have internet access, doesn’t matter if they have a TV or not, I think as long as you reach people where they are, whether it’s in print, on radio, on TV or online right now, that’s where we are trying to reach people. And in time we’ll get to a book, we’ll get to the other means as well. But yea, the TV show I think is what I have found really pulls at people’s hearts and what makes them excited and they just look at me, you can see their lightbulbs go off and say, oh we need something like that so much.

TAJCI
Cause everybody likes the human story. Everybody likes to connect on the emotional level with another human being.

MEGAN
Right!

TAJCI
And you said it so beautifully, you quoted Maya Angelou, in those stories we can realize how much more we are alike than different.

MEGAN
Right. Exactly. And it’s worldwide. It doesn’t have to be just in a certain state.

TAJCI
So, when we come back I want to talk a little bit of what this new shift, what you are doing now, how that, what that brought into your life.

BREAK


TAJCI
You got the career you wanted, so there wasn’t like this… we talk on this show ‘waking up from somebody else’s dream.’ It sounds like you already lived your dream.

MEGAN
I was happy. I was happy and I made it a point to be sure to work in the world that I enjoyed and in an environment that I thought was supportive and where I wanted to be and where I can be creative. That’s why I worked at Disney for a while. So, I think that’s what everybody should do ideally and not everybody gets to, so I’m fortunate that I was able to, but yea, there came a point where I just thought what else do I love and I loved volunteering. And so at that point I thought, you know, I’m going to see what it’s like to work in the non profits, because I’ve heard it’s very different than volunteering. And it is. It’s a job.

TAJCI
Great point. So it’s a job in non profit world.

MEGAN
Yes, and there are so many places to go to look for jobs, just like many people are familiar with Monster.com go to OpportunityKnocks.com or Idealist.org and you can find jobs that are in the non profit world right where you are. Or hopefully close by.

TAJCI
And then, you started working for non for profits and then you had your.. you lost that job, yes? And then you had your shift, your ‘waking up’

MEGAN
For Doing Good.

TAJCI
Yes… was there anything that this new chapter brought into your life that was a bonus, that was a little bit more of what you were, maybe you didn’t have before?

MEGAN
You know, I worked for the largest non profit in the country, which shall remain nameless, but I did, and it was great and I enjoyed it and it was fabulous. I wouldn’t change it for the world. However, typically what happens is the larger the non profit, the heavier they are on staff and lower they are on number of volunteers. So… the shift you can really see that balance give way… whenever you look at a startup, we, for example are a 100% volunteer, you know, hopefully we’ll get one or two salaries here before long.

TAJCI
And what do the volunteers bring into that?

MEGAN
For me it’s the volunteers with whom I interact every day. And they are who inspire me to keep going.

TAJCI
Yes, and since they are not paid, I assume that they are driven by pure love and passion and emotions.

MEGAN
Yes and that’s a conversation that every non profit should have with, or government agency that uses volunteers, but everybody should go through that initial conversation of what are you looking for as a volunteer, what are you wanting to get out of it, and how much time do you have to contribute, because those and so many other questions are important to be answered so that that volunteer can be put into the right fit.

TAJCI
And… so now these people that you are featuring on the TV show, is that what the TV show is going to be about, is about?

MEGAN
It’s definitely about people, yes. The volunteers who are out there are making it happen every day.

TAJCI
And I love that concept. It’s truly beautiful because, you know, for me again, that’s where the waking up is… it’s in giving that we receive, in connecting with that, really that basic human need to serve and to also see that we can make a difference. It just heals all over, right?

MEGAN
Right! So many people are volunteering already and I think it’s important to recognize those people who might not realize that they are volunteering, like you’re mom of children who are in school, it’s so easy to forget and not think about or not give yourself credit for. We want to highlight people like you who, or like any of your viewers frankly, who are out there making a difference in their own way. And I think people forget that there are government agencies that use volunteers and also people neglect that churches and temples are often non profits. Not all, that’s just the way it is, but yea, if you teach Sunday school or if you assist a rabbi, then you are volunteering. So I think people can start where they are. That’s all they need to do, just start where they are. If they know that they have an interest, it doesn’t have to be a passion, can just start with an interest. Or maybe they have one thing that they know they can give, maybe they realize that they can read a book and so that would be perfect for the people who are blind, who need audio books, to have those volunteers go and simply record those books.

TAJCI
Yes that’s so beautiful!

MEGAN
Oh it’s so impactful! And how many people and families will benefit from them doing that. So it’s just a matter of looking a little bit further.

TAJCI
Yes, so I have so many questions and so little time, but so much information is on DoingGood.tv.

MEGAN
Exactly! Yes.

TAJCI
And you know, things like how can we volunteer as a family. Another thing is that I struggle with it, and you are right. I am busy. I have three children. My life is so full, so for me to, for you to point out that I already, these things that I forget… I really am grateful for that. Then I can be more mindful and more present in those moments which will then amplify those moments.

MEGAN
Good. I’m so glad. And so we are trying to reach people like I said earlier online. And anybody can be a part of our conversation on Facebook, Twitter at DoingGoodTV. So search for us that way, we will soon have an Instagram account. We have one, it’s just not going yet. And also on the LinkedIn Company page. So, be a part of… I hope that every viewer, every listener out there could be a part of Doing Good because everybody can make a difference.

TAJCI
It takes so little to be doing good. And perhaps sometimes it only takes a shift on how we look at things that we are doing, or shift on, to see where can we do just a little bit more, and then really, make the ripples of change in the world.

MEGAN
It’s all there is.

MUSIC


TAJCI
Music is obviously a big part of not just my way of volunteering, but also awakening. I believe music is power to really touch deep within and emotionally encourage people to do good. So, Megan brought Debbie. Debbie is a wonderful Nashville artist. Welcome!

DEBBIE
Thank you!

TAJCI
And you’re going to  share with us a song. It’s called “Fly”. A beautiful song! Tell me a little bit about it.

DEBBIE
Well, “Fly”… I’m actually a jazz recording artist. I sing a lot of jazz but “Fly” is more of adult contemporary song that I wrote for my children to encourage them to have courage to believe in their dreams and not get discouraged when they fail.

TAJCI
Yes, and you know, it sounds like it’s… it sounds to me it’s a great song for what Megan did in her time of despair. She had courage to fly and now look at what she is creating.  And you said you are a jazz singer, and you contributed your jazz songs to the big fundraiser?

MEGAN
Yes, we held an online fundraising campaign, crowd funding that everybody knows about now. It was on IndieGoGo.com where we raised over $9,500 to fund the sizzle reel which is what is key to selling the TV show. So thanks to her generous donation of a couple of songs and the same thing with a few other musicians, we were able to raise that money.

TAJCI
Debbie thank you! And we are going to see the song with the kids that you recorded with

DEBBIE
The high school choir that my daughter was in. I brought them in to give them that experience and also to give back to their school.

TAJCI
So, have courage. Get out of your comfort zone and Do Good. Thank you so much ladies.

MEGAN & DEBBIE
Thank you!

“FLY” – PERFORMED BY DEBBIE
Always believe in yourself.
Always believe anything’s possible.
As you stay true to who you are,
you will be surprised by miracles.

And you will fly,
you will fly,
you will fly,
you will fly,
you will fly.

TAJCI
To replay this episode and find out more, visit us at WakingUpinAmerica.net and we have a surprise over there for you, tools to help you to wake up to life that you are created for. Thanks for watching. See you next time.

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