An Inspired Chat with Brian Pruett

Brian Pruett shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Brian, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
The most misunderstood thing about my business is that B’s Charitable Pursuits is not a non-profit itself but we are a for profit helping non-profits. We help in doing a monthly Giving Back Charity Trivia & Silent Auction Night that is held the third Wednesday night of every month at St. Angelo’s Pizza in Emerson at LakePoint Station. We also help with fundraising consulting, and we can provide some great resources to them if needed.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Brian holds two degrees from Kennesaw State University: Communications and Sports Management and a Master’s in business from St. Leo University. Brian has 29 years of experience in sales, marketing, and fundraising. He has served as a sports reporter, a sports information director, and a sales director for a sports marketing/media company. Brian has organized many fundraising events, sports promotions, and sponsorships for organizations such as Nobis Works, Atlanta Spirit, Lucky Strike—formerly US Play, The Ovarian Cancer Society, Lance Corporal Skip Wells Scholarship Fund, Kennesaw State University, Marietta Adventist Church, AIAO Ministries, Footprints on the Heart, and many other local small community non-profits! To date Brian has helped 30 non-profits raise $82,491.82. Brian also has an extensive background in sports and trivia. He is passionate about helping others and running events where participants have fun and bring awareness about the client to the public. Brian believes building and establishing relationships, teamwork, and communication are the most important things.

As a young child, Brian experienced three near-death experiences, and then as a teen and young adult, he experienced some significant losses in life and did not handle those well and had some consequences with those. All through these experiences, COMMUNITY was with Brian, and that is our WHY!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
As a child I watched my dad work three jobs to provide for our family; he taught me work ethics and integrity. But with that, he was not home as much as we would have liked, so he also taught me, whether he meant to or not, that being home for your family is important. I went for a while being gone three nights a week hosting team trivia on top of my regular day job. So, as I started B’s Charitable Pursuits and Resources, I promised I would not do that again. While we may not make as much money as other folks, we are at least home as a family at night.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could go back and talk to my younger self, I would first warn myself about things that can get you off track very easily and cause you to not be your best self. I fell into some habits that caused me to have some consequential penalties. I would tell myself to surround myself with friends who have character and that it is okay to fall and to fail and that it is definitely okay to reach out and ask for help. We can’t do life alone!

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I believe my closest friends would say that I am genuine and transparent; what you see is what you get. They would, I hope, say that if you are in my tiny, close-knit bubble, I would lay down my life for them. Also, I am very big on communication and commitment. I believe in this day and age three things are gone, and I try to live my life with those things in it. They are common courtesy, common sense, and business sense.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What false labels are you still carrying?
So, I am reminded daily by God, family, and friends that the false label I am carrying is that I am not worthy of having what I want or that I matter to the outside world. While I am doing what I believe God has called me to do, I do wonder if I am truly making a difference. But then all I have to do is think about the monthly Giving Back Charity Trivia and Silent Auction nights, and not only have we grown from 35 people a month to now averaging 70 people a month, but also I am reminded by the non-profits that what I do does make a difference. Everything from helping provide caskets for babies who have died, to helping with some transition housing for the homeless, to helping with some money and exposure to a tiny home community that is about to be built for those men who suffer from addictions. So, the false label is that I DO matter to God and those in the community. I don’t take compliments well but am learning too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beescharitablepursuits.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-pruett-mba-7292706a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084198420935

Image Credits
All photos by Anne Say and Anne Say Photography.