Power of Community

By Caitlin Kaufmann, Breakthrough Academy.

Breakthrough Academy team member Caitlin Kaufmann talks about the growing role of corporate social responsibility, and why it's hardwired in us as tradespeople.

November is a special month, for many reasons. As the pace of life slows here in North America, it gives us a little more time to breathe, reflect upon the year and give thanks for what we have.

Thanksgiving Day in the United States, as well as the fact that November was recently designated National Gratitude Month, undoubtedly compounds these feelings of gratitude—at home, in business and life in general.

Giving back as an entrepreneur is both rewarding professionally and personally, and for those working with the trades, giving back to communities and the world is somehow wired within us.

As roofers, it's almost ingrained in the nature of this sector to give shelter, one of the fundamental basics, to all.

When I joined Breakthrough Academy (BTA) five years ago as its first employee, one of the many reasons the position appealed to me was their value of  corporate social responsibility and a philosophy to build strong and healthy communities.

I am very passionate about volunteering, in particular in the arena of the prevention of human trafficking, so the fact that BTA was aligned with my passion for helping those in need, sealed the deal.

Last year I was honored to be able to join some of our BTA team and members during our annual Referral Adventure Trip. This trip has been specifically designed to help strengthen our community and give us the ability to say thank you through experiences.

Only last year's Referral Adventure Trip was a little different. With assistance from Mike Sherbakov, founder of the Greatness Foundation (committed to affecting positive change through the power of community, leadership and business) and Baja Bound (building houses for the working poor of Baja, Chula Vista), we decided to venture further afield.

We took 50 BTA staff and members to rural Mexico for just under a week, where we built two homes for two families who had been living in very challenging conditions.

It was a life altering experience and the largest give-back project BTA has ever done.

While we were there, we also had the opportunity to give our love and time to three orphanages, provide food to 20 families in a migrant camp, and deliver meals for over 150 families at Campo de Esperanza—a camp focused on empowering families through education, sports and community.

Being able to witness and take part in it first hand was impactful. When the mother of one of the families entered her new home, she was overwhelmed. While it was a simple structure, it was her dream home.

We all gained a fresh perspective from that trip; one that has altered our lives in some way. For me, I came to realize to not sweat the small stuff.

As entrepreneurs we have the influence and often the means to make an impact, even if it's in a small way. The ripple effect, within our business lives as we inspire others, and in the bigger picture is not often seen, but can be felt.

While COVID-19 has impacted how we hold events this year as we go digital, we continue look at ways to shift the world to a better place; afterall, community is the glue that binds us together and breaks through barriers.

For more information on BTA and to find out about our events visit www.btacademy.com.

Learn more about the Breakthrough Academy in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.

About Breakthrough Academy

Breakthrough Academy (BTA) helps contractors build profitable and efficient companies through proven processes, coaching, and community networking. We are currently working with over 300 business owners across North America, managing over $900 million worth of revenue.

In 2020, BTA was ranked as Canada's 106th fastest growing company by The Globe and Mail's Report on Business; the third consecutive year on a growth list for the brand (32nd in 2019, 16th in 2018).