Welcome to 2023! You made it. In fact, you probably more than “made it.”
You probably finished 2022 with more gift income than in calendar year 2021. You probably achieved some important campaign goals in 2022. You probably succeeded in a whole number of important advancement and development ways.
And, you probably are tired. Maybe even exhausted. Perhaps on the verge of being burned out.
Of course, 2023 won’t care much about your recent successes or your traumas. 2023 will simply begin with new goals, new opportunities, and new challenges.
So, now what?
You could start your year like most everyone else and begin by blindly mapping out all of the work, activities, solicitations, communications, etc., over the next 12 months.
Or, you could begin by making very specific decisions about 2023.
First, make a list of the top 4-5 things that worked well, that were strengths of 2022. These could be specific segments you tried in direct mail. A social media campaign. A multi-channel giving day effort. An event that produced more than budgeted. These are the areas you want to build upon in 2023. You want to put more time, resources, and attention here.
Then, make a list of the top 2-3 things that didn’t work. Efforts that didn’t produce the way you had hoped. Unhelpful activities. Activities that were inefficient or too time-consuming. These are the areas you agree to reduce or to stop doing altogether in the new year.
Yes, 2023 is here with all its promise and trepidations.
Maybe the best resolution we can make to ourselves and our teams is to say “no” more often.
