Interested in starting your own journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eric Lyons, Founder of Hope for the Silent Voices, located in Deerfield, IL, USA.
What's your organization, and who are your members?
I am involved in a mission to combat the business of child exploitation and vulnerabilities. Our target audience is young women and children susceptible to being preyed upon for the purposes of sexual or labor exploitation. Primarily we at Hope for the Silent Voices deal with physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. We are as passionate as anybody about our "customers." Especially the young ones.
Tell us about yourself
I was a responder to the Southeast Asian tsunami that took place on Christmas day of 2004. As a result of my experiences surrounding the relief work, I embarked upon a deeper exploration of what I had been hearing regarding the sex industry infamous in SE Asia. My particular area of focus was, and still is, the victimization of defenseless children suffering horribly at the hands of predators.
My motivation is simple - to be a "voice for the vulnerable." One of my greatest blessings was that I too was sexually abused as a young child. My own personal experiences have honed the lenses to do what I do in my work. That is to protect defenseless young women and children from enduring the decades of self-defeating trauma I suffered through until arriving at a place of deep healing. Most of the individuals and children we work with do not have access to the type of intensive counseling and therapy I was so fortunate to participate in. Working hard to stem the exploitation & abuse as early as possible is key. This might create the opportunity for healing to happen a bit quicker. However, each situation is different.
I used to say that I was motivated to do the work because of the losses I have experienced in this line of work. That is no longer the case as daily I get to experience the joy of seeing and interacting with children who have been re-gifted the ability to dream again. To dream for themselves and start to believe these dreams actually can come true. Generating motivation on a daily basis is not an issue. In spite of the difficulty of the work and the emotional toll it can wreak, I believe we are responsible for what we know happens in life. This is simply me taking extreme ownership of something I know very, very well. That is the victimization of children in their most formative years.
What's your biggest accomplishment as an organization?
We have our own thriving safehouse now, and the kids are surrounded by an epic team who loves them and cares about the trajectory of their young lives. When we found the location a few years ago, it just seemed like a perfect fit from which to create our own culture. One in which the kids could thrive and be content to call home. It is a safe space and one that cultivates a good family structure.
The years have been quite difficult and challenging. But who wants to do easy things in life? I would rather work my butt off day in and day out to reap the benefit of a disciplined approach than do something with my life that requires limited effort or generates next to no impact.
Watching the children fill their stomachs with breakfast and then head off to their schooling is a real treat for me to watch. Knowing they have their basics and more covered gives the team and me great comfort. We are not just housing children. We are partnering with them and their dreams to build heroes.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being an organization?
One of the challenges I face in leading a team from the developing world is teaching the concept of assertiveness. Culturally speaking, this is not necessarily a trait inherent across cultures. I have had to "check myself" in terms of how I lead and how I attempt to inspire my amazing team to boldly create and take their own initiative. It is important for me not to lose sight of the fact that almost all of the prevalent traits I work hard to express were honed through experience and education.
I cannot believe the team or even the culture would automatically take on the traits I am working to teach or inspire. Patience, love, and compassion. As a very driven person, I must remember it is I who is driving the bus. And for that reason, I am responsible for much of the leading by example as we grow. There will come a time when we have a larger, more diversified team that "rubs off" on each other in some of the ways I hope to see established.
Communication is key to any and every relationship. I cannot assume anything. If there is a challenge in understanding an element of the vision I am trying to set forward, then I must own that the source of confusion certainly could be my lack of proper explaining or expressing. I am surrounded by an amazing team of heart-centered people. Taking a moment to breathe and reflect on the fact that they are daily giving their absolute best is something I am cognizant of more and more.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow an organization today?
Live out of your true uniqueness. Don't strictly mimic what someone else is doing. You have your own personality, life experiences, and skillset. Discover where they intersect with passion. Our time is fleeting, so make sure you do not simply go through the motions of life. Do everything to the very best of your ability, and have no fear of failure. Failure is simply not trying. Falling on your face after repeated attempts is called an experience. And there is great value in that. The world is wired for relationships. It is in our DNA. Figure out how you connect with others and build that into everything you do. Your personality is unique to YOU! There is not another soul on the planet like you. Or like me, thank God!
Most people will get to the end of their life and still be asking the question, "what was it all about." Do NOT be one of those who let fear paralyze your potential. Upgrade your friends and acquaintances. Be unique in what you do because that is how God intentionally made you.
Communication is key. Do NOT assume others understand the message you are attempting to convey. In my world, working in a different culture, I have to ask a second time or perhaps even in a different manner. As a leader, we must take responsibility for something improperly communicated. This is straight out of Jocko Willink's "extreme ownership" concept. Look it up and embrace it.
Lead by example. Nobody wants to follow someone who is unwilling to do their own work. I sure as hell wouldn't. I like to do big things with people who put their own "skin in the game." Leadership is from the front, at least initially. You may end up cultivating a thriving staff that truly takes the reins of your vision and runs with it. But always be supportive, compassionate, and attentive to those who have jumped on board your vision train and taking the ride. They obviously believe in you, so give them all the reasons to continue to stay on board by inspiring change & growth in them.
Where can people find you and your group?
Website: https://hopeforthesilentvoices.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeforthesilentvoices
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eazywanderer/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyonseric/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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