“Giving Back” Episodes: How to pursue purpose and passion

How does your work integrate with your overall purpose and your passion projects? Is it possible to have both — and to use them both to make a difference in the world? Even after retirement from a successful career, our guest this week has been able to answer a resounding “yes” to those questions. 

 

Bert Waugh Jr. and his wife, Susy, began taking street youth into their home in the 1970s. In 1991, Waugh founded Transitional Youth, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, outreach, and support to young people who otherwise would be living on the streets. 

 

Tune into the full conversation — as part of our holiday “giving back” episodes — for more on how Bert got started with helping kids transition from living on the streets, what makes his organization different from others, why his focus is on youth mostly in the 18-24 age category, what others can do to help youth in need, and more.

 

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn: 

 

• How Bert got his start with helping youth who have spent time on the streets, and how that informed the beginning of his organization, Transitional Youth

• Why the 18-24 age group is so particularly vulnerable compared to other age groups — and why Bert feels so passionate about helping them 

• How Bert’s organization infuses more love throughout its work 

• The role of drug testing — and second chances — within the Transitional Youth organization

• How Bert measures success at his nonprofit, and why thinking “one at a time” can be so helpful

• How Bert celebrated his 80th birthday in a unique way

• What made Bert want to continue working and making a difference, even after he retired from a successful career

• Bert’s experience after 2007-08 — and how he almost lost everything

 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

• Transitional Youth website

• Bert Waugh on LinkedIn

• “The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change” by Jon Gordon and Damon West

• Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox 

• 40 Strategy

• Contact 40 Strategy

• Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn