As businesses are always looking for innovative ways to make a positive impact, one entrepreneur has discovered a transformative approach to community involvement, collaboration, and team-building.

Jeff Lichtenstein of Echo Fine Properties in Palm Beach Gardens has released a new book, “How Making A Sandwich Can change your World – The amazing success of the PB&J Strategy.” It’s a business guide, inspired by a Peanut Butter and Jelly drive in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

“The Hurricane struck and we were all watching the 150mph winds that struck an area that we were all very familiar with. Many of us vacationed in the area, and we actually came up with our company name when we were vacationing in Captiva, so it was one of those moments where everybody really wanted to get involved. We had 20 people on a zoom call where we brainstormed ideas an ways to help, and we came up with the simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

It sounds a bit goofy, but it’s actually 450 calories, so it’s a meal replacement for those in need, and it’s also comfort food that anybody can make, and everybody knows what to do with. From 3-year-olds to 93-year-olds, anyone can make a pb&j sandwich!

Jeff found that the process actually started to affect his business in unexpected ways. “There was so much problem solving that needed to be figured out – how are we going to get all these sandwiches out? Where are we going to get the materials from? How are we going to deliver them? Who are we delivering them to? We found that if we could be successful with this enterprise then how could we translate this into other aspects of our business?”

This book gives a blueprint for how companies can get involved in scheduled giving, and how this can help your business. That’s the peanut butter and jelly strategy! It doesn’t have to be specifically a pb&j drive, but other businesses can implement many other ideas and concepts. There are 30 short chapters and 10 exercises with to-do lists that will help inspire any manager or business leader. One of them for example, is an exercise on how to overcome roadblocks that you may encounter in your business. Wherever there is a community need, you can find a way to get involved.

Of course, you can do team building where everyone gets together to go to lunch or play mini-golf and that’s one thing. But when you all get together to do something that’s really helpful and meaningful to the community then it’s much more impactful. “Coming Together and Sticking Together” became the slogan for the drive and this really brought people together in a special way.

BUY “How Making as Sandwich Can Change Your World” NOW on Amazon!