Investing in Ourselves to Benefit Others
Reflections from Patrick Jinks’ SC Thrive Keynote
Protech Solutions, Inc. has been proud partners with SC Thrive for over five years, and together with CareSouth Carolina, we’ve made a significant impact on the lives of South Carolinians. One of our greatest achievements has been Thrive Hub, an award-winning, web-based solution that earned national recognition for innovative technology in social care referrals within the healthcare domain. Thrive Hub helps residents access state and federal benefits, allows medical providers to send and track social care referrals, and supports counselors in managing benefits and case management tasks. It also includes a Learning Management System for personal and professional growth.
At this year’s SC Thrive Conference, Patrick Jinks delivered a powerful keynote, prompting us to reflect on how we can further invest ourselves to make an even greater impact on those we serve. Here are the key takeaways from his talk, paired with examples of how these lessons resonate in our work and beyond.
1. Don’t Give Up at the First Difficulty
“What are you giving up on too soon?”
Jinks’ challenge to persist through obstacles resonates deeply, especially in fields like social services and public benefits. These areas often involve complex, systemic issues where immediate success is rare. However, persistence can lead to profound, long-term change.
For instance, in our work with fatherhood initiatives, we support fathers facing steep challenges—unemployment, housing instability, and strained family relationships. It’s tempting to get discouraged by slow progress, but sticking with these programs leads to transformations that affect generations. One father, initially hesitant and disengaged, is now mentoring other young dads, creating a positive cycle of growth in his community.
Reflection: Is there a project or challenge you’re tempted to walk away from? Could pushing through lead to unexpected breakthroughs?
2. Be Resourceful Through Alliances
“How can you forge stronger alliances?”
Jinks emphasized the power of collaboration, and we’ve seen firsthand how partnerships can amplify our impact. Take Thrive Hub, for example. The platform’s success wasn’t achieved in isolation—our collaboration with SC Thrive, CareSouth Carolina, and various medical providers enabled the creation of a tool that addresses both healthcare and social care needs. This integration has closed critical gaps in care, providing more holistic support to South Carolinians.
Beyond Thrive Hub, our work in corrections has also shown the importance of alliances. By partnering with rehabilitation programs and advocacy groups, we’ve been able to deliver tech solutions that help individuals transition back into society. One of our projects involved creating a case management system that allows parole officers and social workers to collaborate more effectively, improving re-entry outcomes for those leaving incarceration.
Reflection: Who in your network could help you achieve more than you could alone? What resources are you overlooking that could come from collaboration?
3. Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
“Who are you judging instead of seeing?”
This isn’t just about people—it’s also about circumstances. Sometimes, we write off a situation as too difficult without truly understanding its potential. In our work, particularly in public benefits and homelessness, we’ve learned the importance of looking beyond surface-level assumptions.
One powerful example comes from our work with formerly incarcerated individuals. Rather than viewing them as a “risk,” we see potential. A man named David came out of the corrections system with few resources but immense drive. With support from our team and partners, he enrolled in vocational training and eventually landed a job that’s changed the course of his life. His story reminds us that real change happens when we look deeper.
Reflection: Are there people or situations you’re misjudging? What could happen if you took a closer look and tried a different approach?
4. Don’t Wait to Be Asked
“How can you take initiative?”
In today’s world, waiting for permission can mean missed opportunities. Jinks urged us to step up before being asked, and we’ve seen how taking initiative can transform both our work and the communities we serve.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we didn’t wait for states to ask for solutions to handle the influx of unemployment claims. We proactively built and offered scalable tools that helped local governments process benefits more efficiently, ensuring that families received critical aid without delays. This initiative directly impacted thousands of lives during a time of urgent need.
Reflection: What problem do you see that no one is addressing? How can you take the lead in solving it before being asked?
5. There’s Only One Mark That Really Matters
“What are you accountable for?”
Jinks’ message about accountability hit home. At Protech, we’re not just accountable to project deadlines or deliverables; we’re accountable to the people and communities we serve. This is why we invest heavily in making sure our solutions truly make a difference.
Take the Thrive Hub platform. Beyond its technical functionality, we designed it with the needs of social workers, medical providers, and individuals in mind. When social workers told us they needed a simpler way to handle benefits applications, we listened and built features that reduced their administrative burden, giving them more time to focus on care. That’s the mark we measure ourselves by—ensuring that the technology we provide leads to tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Reflection: What is the one mark that really defines your work? Are you holding yourself accountable to that every day?
The Question: How Can I Fully Invest Myself to Benefit Others?
Patrick Jinks’ keynote left us with a critical question: “How can I fully invest myself during and after this conference in order to benefit others?” At Protech, we believe this is the heart of everything we do. Whether we’re developing award-winning platforms like Thrive Hub, working in corrections, or supporting fatherhood initiatives, our goal is to use our talents, resources, and partnerships to uplift those in need.
By embracing persistence, forming alliances, seeing potential in overlooked places, taking initiative, and holding ourselves accountable, we ensure that our work not only succeeds but leaves a lasting positive impact on the communities we serve.
Final Thought: Let’s take the lessons from this year’s conference and apply them in everything we do. When we fully invest in ourselves and our mission, we don’t just complete tasks—we create lasting change.
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