I can’t stomach the thought of failing. I must be perfect. I already work hard. It’s not obtainable for me. They might find out I’m an imposter. I don’t want to be accountable. It’s not fair to me. When we view a goal as a potential reflection of our core, fundamental selves (i.e., who we…
Category: Branding
One Half Hour Per Week
Everyone is busy. Life is hectic. What comes to us urgently consistently takes our focus from what is planned. But, when devote just one half hour per week to consistently working on our goals, we make substantive progress. One half hour per week to make phone calls to recent donors to thank them for their…
Building Nests And Raising Funds
American robins typically live for about 2 years. During their short lifespans they typically care for 4-6 broods. For each brood, they either construct a new nest or substantially renovate a previously-used nest. The process of nest building and caring for chicks usually occurs during the 5 months between March and July of each year….
What’s The Recipe?
Some version of this question is asked by every person new to advancement work. “What are the steps to close a major gift?” “What is the process for increasing annual gifts?” “What’s the recipe?” The advancement analogy of a food recipe is a good one. The personal meal preparer typically follows a recipe closely. The…
Increasing Empathy
The word, generosity, comes to us from the Latin language. . . In the middle ages, generosity was used in connection with royalty. It was viewed as a role royalty played to care for those who were subject to them. Royals owed being generous to their subjects (or so the thinking went). Today we talk…
Our Role
It’s not to get people to show up, although that is part of it. It’s not to get people to engage, although that is part of it. It’s not even to get people to give, although that is part of it. Our real role is to create the conditions so that more people want to…
Helpful Volunteers
If we start with the belief that volunteers can help advance our mission in important ways, then, we need to also realize that it is likely they won’t understand how to do that effectively without our guidance. It is unwise (and will be viewed as unprofessional, btw), to invite people to volunteer and, then, also…
Working On or With Problems
An alternative take on Seth Godin’s recent post on problems and situations. It’s easy to work on problems. Especially if they appear without warning and seem urgent. We stop and look for solutions. We put out fires immediately. It’s much more helpful, though, to have the discipline to ask whether an emergent problem is…
Life Hacks
You may complete the task faster. The shortcut actually might get you there quicker. But there is a reason for the “longcut.” For many important life outcomes, seeking a hack, bypass, or a quicker workaround is wasting time and potentially derailing our progress. Eating better. Getting physically fit. Feeling better emotionally. Saving for retirement. Building…
A Resolution for Generosity
Good morning and welcome to 2025! I hope the last evening of 2024 was an enjoyable one for you, your family, and friends. As many people establish resolutions for the New Year, I thought I’d share mine. I’m calling this “A Resolution for Generosity.” I hope I can keep it. In a world full of…