Finding “That One Thing”: Tyrone Hodges on Story, Impact, and Shared Experience

Hey Tyrone, thank you so much for joining. I’m really looking forward to hearing about your journey and what lights you up. So if we can start, please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your nonprofit journey and what led you into this work. It, it’s gonna be long, uh, but I’ll keep it sharp. Uh, my name is Tyrone Hos.

Um, my journey, I always say started in the beginning when I was born. Um. I was raised with three sisters, my mom and my father. And so it was he and I against the world. I put it that way. And so every day I, I saw him, he would, um, tell me that I had that one thing. So my project is called that One thing.

And the reason it’s called that one thing is because my father instilled in me every, every day I saw this man, he instilled in me, uh, a few things, but for the sake of this conversation, he instilled in me that. [00:01:00] Everybody has that one thing, that you have it, and the most important thing you could do is find it.

But the very most important thing you could do is share it with the world. He said, so many people died without sharing who they are with the world, that that’s the value in who we are, our experiences, our story. So I created this whole premises based upon that, this whole platform and the brand based upon that.

So initially it started. Uh, let me fast forward. It started after I heard that for years. It started after I got married, my beautiful wife and, uh, I had purchased a home, uh, got her through school and I’ve always been known to be a connector and I was always involved in the community. My background is really information systems, so, uh, she came to me one day and she said, Hey, I need a favor.

And I said, sure. She said, can we move to North Texas? I’m originally from Houston, so North Texas is a no for me. So, but that’s where her, her mo, her mother was from North Texas. So I said, [00:02:00] sure. You know, I quit my job information systems and I packed my bags with my six month old daughter and we hit the road and we moved North Texas and purchased her mom a home.

Uh, that didn’t work out too good, as you may imagine. But during that time, I had purchased a historical building and start, I’m aggressive, so I purchased a historical building. I really didn’t know what I was gonna do with my life. Was I gonna go back to school to get my MBA or what, what I was gonna do?

But I purchased a hi historical building and uh, I start just redeveloping it, taking it back to its original state. I put businesses, it was downtown, so I put businesses on the bottom. And built loft apartments on the top. And so I was donating a, a portion of the building the Loft apartments to an organization that was tied with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

That was my way of giving back. And so, uh, I ran into some issues with the building and me being the connector and, and trying to know, you know, I have a few friends. I said, well, you know, I just, [00:03:00] I don’t need funding. I just need somebody’s experience, somebody’s story. And so if somebody could share their story with me, it could help me get through this issue I was dealing with.

I didn’t need finance. I just needed somebody to help me get through this issue. And I called a few people and I could, we could never disconnect. Hey, sure, Ty, let’s just get together with a cup of coffee. I’ll walk you through it. That never manifested itself, so I kept asking myself, I was really stressed.

Kept asking myself, what is that one thing? What am I missing? I call myself doing what’s right. I’m donating a percentage of the building to an organization, but I was more focused. I’ve never been just concerned with Tyrone. I’ve never been focused on me. I’ve always been focused on everyone else. So I kept asking myself, what is that one thing?

What am I missing? I just need somebody to share their story with me, their experience. Nothing happened. So I said, well, how can I get everyone to share their everyday life experience for the benefit of someone else? So with, that’s when the light bulb came on. So I started research and I built this whole [00:04:00] platform and the brand around that idea of a shared experience.

So just imagine, um, our platform, um. Allows businesses and nonprofits to connect on a broader scale to host, uh, share what we call share day events. So if you find a share day event on our passion map, you can shop or eat there, and money will be donated to a local calls. So that’s your experience, your simple one hour experience at a restaurant.

Benefiting someone else. Or if you see a product without a unique brand on it representing a cause when you purchase that, you know, hey, I purchased that. My experience benefit a certain cause. So I, I built this whole unique platform around that. That is amazing. I wanna hear so much more about that. So what are some of the like examples throughout this work that you’re doing that really light you up and keep you motivated today?

Oh, so what lights me up is really the young consumers, um, okay. You know, they have [00:05:00] completely reshaped our world. Um, yeah, they no longer byproducts. Uh, they’re buying stories, shared experiences, and visible community impact, you know, uh. So that’s what kinda kind of lights me up. The real issue is many businesses and nonprofits are still operating under the old playbook of sponsorship and one-off donations.

Um, you know, so that’s what really lights me up. Uh, the other is creating a technology space and brand where we can share our everyday life experience for the benefit of someone else and leaving our mark on the world. Yeah. So that’s what, like, that’s amazing. And I, I totally agree with you. I feel that.

The next generation is helping and really, uh, creating almost like that innovative approach on how we can show up in this space. The, the nonprofit sector, I think does need to pivot a little bit, and the platform that you’ve built sounds like a really great way to bring in that innovative and unique [00:06:00] opportunity for folks.

So how do people, um, get involved in your, your platform? Like, can you walk me through that process? Yeah. So first of all, let, can I back up? Of course. So, uh, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Like I did research. We’ve done a lot of research. We’ve been working on this platform for some years, and we found that 90% of the younger generation, they don’t, they’re not interested into a sale like I’m gonna sell.

They’re inter interested into impact. What is my purchase with you? How is it gonna impact? That’s why organizations like Tom Shoes does so well. Um, you know, just what is, what is my purchase or, uh, how is it gonna benefit my community? Even when they go for, they go to apply for a job, they ask the, the business, Hey, how are you making an impact?

Before they even, that’s bold. You know, when I came up, somebody wanted to gimme a job, Hey, I’ll take it. But they’re bold, uh, and they ask, how are you making an impact in. Community. So [00:07:00] with all that said, so if anybody wanted to get in involved into to our platform, it’s really simple. They could just go to that one thing.com.

If you are a business or a nonprofit or an association, you can sign up nonprofits, uh, they could sign up. Uh, with us we have a vetting process. It takes like 10 seconds to get vetted because we have a partnership with Candid, where we vet the nonprofits. And the reason we did that because we wanted to help, uh, businesses mitigate risk.

Uh, when they’re making a donation to a nonprofit to say, Hey, this is a, a reputable nonprofit. It’s not just any nonprofit. So yeah, just go to that one thing.com. Yeah. What a great way to show up and like, think differently about how you give back. I love what you’re building. Um, how long have you guys been around for?

I’ve been really, we’ve been working on this, I would say this new platform for roughly 10 years. Cool. Um, but the idea came about 15 years ago. Uh, when it, when I really found that one thing and started sharing it, so, yeah. That’s amazing. Um, what are some of the [00:08:00] challenges that you’re finding in this sector or in this work specifically?

I like coming up with new innovative ideas and trying to bring people on board, I imagine can bring its own challenges. Right. And I’m curious, what are, what are some of those hurdles I guess you’re trying to overcome? Um, the biggest shift is navigating, um, the biggest shift. I’m navigating, it’s helping organizations understand how dramatic dramatically consumers behaviors have changed.

Uh, people want brands that tell a real story, you know? Yeah. Or share experience. So that’s the real challenge here, to get them to understand that it’s more than just making money, it’s about impacting your community. Um, that’s where we come in. We help organizations move from transactional giving to experiences people can actually feel and be a part of.

So, yeah. That’s cool. And I think you’re right. People want to be part of that story, that impact that [00:09:00] difference. And if they can do that in their day-to-day lives through the organizations that they already support, feel good about what they’re supporting, it just, it almost like creates a nice ecosystem for your own, um, the, the way that you operate through life.

Right? So I think that what you’ve offered or have established is. Such an interesting way to approach this. Is this just based in America? We’re a, a global No, so we can we, I mean we, we can go global. I mean, uh, yeah, so we have a unique map tied in with, of course Google Maps so we can go global with it.

Um, I have all of my intellectual property in place, so yeah, we’re, we’re lined up to go global with it. Um, and you know, just businesses being able and the problem that we see, you know, we can talk about issues, you know, especially with the nonprofit High. I love talking about issues. Yeah. Uh, one of the problems that we saw was, uh, for nonprofits that they focus too much on fundraising, so we wanted to kind of help them with that.

Uh, you know, with setting up events like [00:10:00] this, it takes three to six months on any platform and they’re paying a ton of money for, uh, an employee to be able to go out and find local businesses in the area that will host fundraising events. So I wanted to streamline that and make it more, um, affordable and, and make it a way that is.

You can sit at your desk and you can create a fundraiser, find the local businesses in your area, and create a share day event, which is a fundraising event in less than one minute. So you can find a business and if they’re on our platform, which we call community ambassadors, you’ll be able to uh, select request a share Day, and you can set that up in less than one minute.

And that business will get that request and they can approve it or deny it. And so I just kind of wanted to make sense of. How, which gives them more opportunity to focus on their programs. Mm-hmm. For sure. Versus, versus spending a ton of money just fundraising. And once the fundraiser is up, then they’re in the negative, you know?

So I wanted to create that. And it gives like everybody an [00:11:00] opportunity to get involved, I think, in a, in a way that isn’t just necessarily like financial contributions as a business, you can say, like you can get involved in different avenues that way. I love that. And I’m an event, my background in nonprofit events, so yeah, we’ll have a, a volunteer component, uh, as well.

Oh, nice. To it. So you can request a vol volunteer. Or, and it works both ways. So a business can request to host an event from a nonprofit or a nonprofit can request to host an event, uh, from a business. So they work both ways. So just think about disasters that hit especially in America. Mm-hmm. And these, these local restaurants are, are looking for ways to support that.

Like the floods here in Texas and they, so they could just go to the platform and find a local, um, nonprofit that has, that has been feted. And, uh, request to host a a share day event based upon whatever calls they want. So, love it. Love it. So, I’m curious [00:12:00] with, I know we’ve been talking a lot about Share Day and, uh, the organization, you’re really.

Champion. A champion. And I’m wondering, uh, I know you’re part of the nonprofit hive community, obviously. Yes. I love it. Yay. And are there conversations or connections through the nonprofit hive that have helped shaped your worker perspective? Ooh. Is there a person you met or an idea that stuck? Oh man. Um, yeah, I’d love to hear some of those.

How many conversa Every one of my conversations there. I have been with you guys for a while. I’ve only. It is only one time that a person has forgotten and I’m, I try to have a meeting at least every other week. Okay. I haven’t had one in, in, in a couple of weeks because I’ve been busy in and out of town.

But, uh, for sure next week I’ll definitely have one. Um, but yeah. So again, you know, the most important thing is we can share our experiences and that one thing in the hive have a ton in common. Uh, our mission is to demonstrate the power of one and the [00:13:00] value of a shared experience. And I think that that’s what the nonprofit does.

It, it demonstrates the power of a shared experience where, uh, you guys embodying exactly what social media was originally meant to be, uh, by connecting people in a niche space. Mm-hmm. You know, to, to share their val, to share their story, you know, and support one another, um, on a global scale. So, yeah, so I just think that the nonprofit is actually what social media was designed to be, which is to, to share the most precious thing that you have, the most valuable asset that you have, which is your experience and your story.

But the nonprofit Hive has done that in the collaborative way where we can get on. Align and collaborate and talk with each other and share our stories and share our experiences. And that’s where real value is. And that’s where we learn. So I think, I think, and I thank you [00:14:00] guys for creating that space, um, for me to be able to just share my story.

’cause again, back to my story with my father, that’s the most important thing that you could ever do is share your experience. And Nonprofit High has created that for me. Yeah. So. That’s amazing. I think there’s something then that peer learning. Peer sharing, I think there is something really, um, beautiful about it, but you’re right, the, the social media.

Space has now like morphed into something. Yeah. Yeah. What, it’s something that nonprofit hive isn’t, you know, I, I, I always tell people I strive for the hive. Strive for the hive. I love that. Gonna use that. That’s awesome. And I’ve, I’ve met so many tremendous people and, um, of course have introduced a ton of people to the Hive.

And, um, you know, I use the platform, you know, I, I don’t want to be. One that just say, Hey, I’m a part of it and don’t utilize it. Um, that’s just not who I am. Just like my platform. I would [00:15:00] expect it. Yeah. I’m trying to solve a problem, not trying to, we are solving a ton of problems and so, um, yeah, so I use the nonprofit hire.

We are thankful that you do. It’s amazing. So I am curious, um, what is one insight, resource or mindset that has helped you recently within the nonprofit ecosystem within your organization, and what do you think, um, might help others in our community too with that, that thought? Oh. You are asking me to share some insight.

So if I were to share some type of insight, um, I would ask businesses and nonprofit, where’s the real value in your product or services? You know, what sets you apart? Um, are you truly serving the community? I always ask businesses that, um, or are you busy fundraising? You know, um, to stop competing, start sharing, you know, uh, to be authentic.

Don’t [00:16:00] just be following the herd. Um. I would also encourage them, uh, to understand that the fact that there’s a problem is a sign that there’s a solution. Mm-hmm. And to be a solution to someone’s problem is where you find true authenticity. So me being able to be a solution versus, if you go back to my story, I, I didn’t find that one thing when I was just focused on me, my issues.

I found it when I said, how can I find, how can I. Um, get everyone to share their everyday life experience for the benefit of someone else. So being a solution to others and not just focused on me is really where you could really shine and be authentic and find that one thing. So. I love that finding your own, like your voice, but also offering it to others and not just thinking about yourself and thinking of the bigger picture and how you can give back.

I am, I have, um, young kids and [00:17:00] I always think like, how can we leave this world or space better than we found it? And I try to instill that in my kids. And I feel like you’re doing that through your organization on a daily basis through I I, I often say, you know. Because I’m so passionate about it, and I don’t view it as, you know, an organizational or platform because it’s just because I, I, I don’t have to go to work every day.

I’m passionate about it. Yeah. And so I’m always trying to figure out how can I make this person’s life better, or how can I make this business better? How can I make this nonprofit better and to leave my mark. If I can just get them one, one, uh, step closer to what they’re trying to do, I’ll be a part of this story forever.

You would have to mention, oh, this guy Tyrone, he helped us do this, this little piece. And so I will always be a part. I’ve left my mark on your business. Uh, so yeah, I’ll be a part of your story forever. So that, love it. That’s the whole, yeah. I could talk about this all day. All right. So if you wanted someone to [00:18:00] find you, what’s the best place for them to connect with, with you and your org?

Uh, go to that one thing.org or find me on LinkedIn. I don’t know my LinkedIn name, but Tyrone Hodges. You will find me there. Find me on the nonprofit hive. Yes, you can chat with wonderful humans like this on a weekly basis. Yeah. Thank you for that plug. I love it. Um, Tyrone, it’s been an absolute pleasure getting to hear your story, getting to connect with you and just learning more about, uh, and seeing the passion that you have for the sector in this work.

So thank you. But thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story. It means a lot. Of course. Anytime. Alright, take care. Alright, bye.