Elite Impact Education Platform

Don's Thoughts

January 12, 2024 | Volume 15

What is a Thriving Community?

A question that people often ask me is, “What keeps you up at night?” It’s the profound awareness of the millions of children and people in desperate need of salvation and safe, attainable housing. It’s a daunting reality to know they each long to be a part of a thriving community. This understanding fuels my determination because I am acutely aware that we have the capacity to do more. Our potential for increasing our impact is immense and with it, we can extend our reach to help more people.

This leads me to the idea of a thriving community. What exactly is a thriving community? It is a place where people are Living Fully, have meaning to their lives, are pursuing goals, have opportunities for prosperity, and have deep relationships and connections. Creating thriving communities allows us to execute on our Impact Mandate and march toward our ambitious BHAG.

DLP Capital’s thriving communities enrich the lives of those who live in them, offering more than just a safe, clean, and affordable place to call home. We create places where people want to build a life, not just live a life. Our goal is to create communities that people want to call home for the next 8-10 years, while raising their families and building lifelong friendships with their neighbors.

We believe that a thriving community starts with safe, attainable housing, but that is only the beginning. DLP Capital’s eight elements of a thriving community are:

Attainable Housing: This means offering rents below 30% of the area median income. In doing so, we aim to alleviate the burden of sacrifices often inherent to higher costs of housing. These sacrifices can include the basics of wellness, nutrition, education, transportation, and leisure.
Banking, Lending, and Investments: People in thriving communities have access to financial literacy, real community banking, loans, and the opportunity to invest in profitable opportunities that produce solid returns and distributions that support people’s lifestyles.
Companies that Create Jobs: Thriving communities have jobs available that support the residents within the community. Job creation is primarily the product of entrepreneurial small businesses.
Deep Connections: A thriving community has people who are happy and fulfilled. This comes from a deep connection with other people–family, friends, and neighbors–in addition to a deep connection with God.
Education: Education, especially that which provides skills valued by society, is critical for a thriving community. One of the baselines of education is third-grade literacy levels.
Family: A thriving community caters to and provides opportunities to deepen relationships with families. Thriving communities have people building extraordinary families, lives, careers, and legacies.
God, Church, and Ministry: God is present and belief in God is abundant in thriving communities. This presence and these relationships are deepened through church, Bible study, and ministry opportunities.
Healthcare and Nutrition: People are physically and mentally fit in thriving communities. This requires access to healthcare, wellness, and nutritional food, and to access to education around health and wellness.

Get Your Free Signed Copy of “Building an Elite Career”

My newest book, “Building an Elite Career,” is a remarkable guide for anyone seeking to thrive in a high-growth organization. In it, I walk readers through the Elite Execution System, a proven method that has driven growth at DLP Capital and many other organizations. The book is more than just a career guide, however. It’s a blueprint for success in the entrepreneurial world. I present exciting new roles and challenges which encourages readers to stay focused on their organization’s big goals. If you’re interested in diving in, click here to request a free signed copy and we’ll send one out to you!

Get my FREE signed copy

Bible Study in 2024

I’m excited to share a new personal journey I’ve embarked upon. As many of you know, my faith is integral to who I am. It guides me in every aspect of my life, from my personal relationships to my work at DLP Capital. Recently, I’ve decided to delve deeper into my faith by undertaking a comprehensive study of the Bible.

I’ve chosen to read the Bible chronologically, and I’m using the Full Story program on YouVersion to guide me through this journey. I have greatly enjoyed the first few weeks, although I still struggle a bit with the lineage in Genesis.

The Full Story program on YouVersion has been a fantastic tool for this endeavor. It smoothly navigates the Bible’s timeline, making the complex task of reading it chronologically much more manageable. Additionally, it offers supplementary resources and study aids that enrich my understanding of the text.

If you choose to join this program, please request me as your friend in the YouVersion app.

"When Helping Hurts" by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

Recently, I read a profound book called “When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. This compelling piece dives into the complexities of poverty alleviation and challenges traditional approaches to charity.

“When Helping Hurts” asserts that poverty is not merely a lack of material resources but also a lack of spiritual, social, and emotional well-being. The authors argue that many well-intentioned efforts to help the poor often do more harm than good as they foster dependency and erode the individual’s dignity.

The book emphasizes that effective poverty alleviation involves empowering those in need, recognizing their abilities, and fostering their independence. It calls for a shift from paternalistic attitudes to a partnership-based approach, where both parties learn and grow together.

At its core, this book encourages the reader to rethink our strategies in helping the less fortunate. It challenges us to replace short-term handouts with long-term solutions that respect the dignity of the individuals we seek to help.

In a world where poverty is prevalent, this book provides incredible perspectives on how we can make a meaningful difference. It’s a must-read for anyone engaged in charitable work or interested in understanding the nuances of poverty alleviation.

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

DLP Capital’s Core Value of the Month: Leadership

In embracing our updated core value, "Leadership: Servant Leadership," we commit to leading with high standards and deep devotion. This leadership style is not about exerting power or authority but, rather, about serving others and empowering them to reach their full potential. It's about setting a benchmark for excellence and dedication in everything we do. We believe that leadership is not just about giving orders but about setting an example, and that begins with maintaining the highest standards ourselves.

Our approach to leadership is characterized by humble confidence. We strive to build deep relationships based on trust, respect, and mutual growth. As servant leaders, we guide our team through the metaphorical forest, clearing the path and illuminating the way forward. We foster a culture of accountability and a founder’s mentality, encouraging each member to take ownership of their work and to constantly ask, “What else can I do to achieve the desired results?” This mindset empowers our team to strive for excellence, take initiative, and continually seek ways to contribute to our collective success.