There’s a popular saying: progress, not perfection. While you may want things to be perfect (I certainly do), there comes a point when the pursuit of perfection starts holding you back instead of moving you forward. So the real question becomes: How do you know when it’s time to leap, launch, or jump? The Illusion of the “Right” … [Read more...]
Resilience in Fundraising: How to Turn “No” Into Life-Long Success
As a fundraiser and nonprofit leader, you hear “no” a lot. And it takes resilience to pick yourself up and face the next day -- or the next donor. I’ve long believed that major gift fundraisers should hear “no” about 25% of the time. I'll explain why. Aim for Hearing "No" About 25% of the Time If you receive a “yes” 100% of the time, … [Read more...]
From “I Should” to “I Choose”: A Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Your mindset matters. Your mindset influences the words you use, the actions you take, and ultimately, the results you achieve. Often, the difference between feeling drained and feeling energized has less to do with what you’re doing and more to do with how you’re thinking about it. Reframing "Have To" Into "Choose To" When you … [Read more...]
Living the Worst-Case Scenario (and Surviving to Tell the Tale)
Recently, I was the luncheon keynote speaker at a large conference. It was a big room. A big audience. And a brand-new topic I’d been developing for months. I hired a speaking coach to help me sharpen it and make sure I was truly ready, and I practiced that speech more than any other I’ve ever given. I wanted to show up as my best … [Read more...]
Living an Intentional, Purposeful Life: Goals That Truly Matter
Living an intentional life -- a life grounded in purpose, meaning, and direction -- is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Intentional lives don’t happen by accident. They’re created through reflection, choice, and commitment. And because you’re reading this blog, I’m guessing (yes, I know what they say about assumptions) that … [Read more...]
Rethinking Donor Relationships: From Superheroes to True Partners
For decades, many fundraisers were taught to view donors as superheroes. In other words, as saviors swooping in to rescue our organizations. Others fell into treating donors like cash machines, expected to produce funding on command. Today, we know better. At least, in theory. Across the sector, we talk about donors as partners in our … [Read more...]
The Nonprofit Leadership Time Warp Challenge
A few weeks ago, I asked nonprofit leaders about their biggest challenge. The overwhelming response? A lack of time. It’s no surprise. Time is the one thing every leader wishes they could stretch just a little further. Yet, time works in funny ways. Sometimes it flies, and other times it drags on painfully slowly. When 60 Seconds Feels … [Read more...]
Small Choices, Big Consequences: Nonprofit Leadership Lessons from Penn State
Last weekend, I visited my daughter at Penn State for Family Weekend. It was a wonderful few days meeting her friends, seeing her dorm, and exploring the campus. Two Leadership Lessons Learned from Penn State Two experiences stood out to me -- each offering a valuable lesson for business owners and nonprofit leaders about how we treat … [Read more...]
6 Time-Saving Tips for Overworked Nonprofit Leaders
If you’re like most nonprofit leaders I know, you’ve probably thought, “I don’t have enough time” more than once this week. If so, you’re not alone. Time is the one resource we can’t get more of, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. The truth is, you’ll always have more to do than you can possibly get done. Not only that, but most people waste a … [Read more...]
The Power of Coaching for Fundraisers and Nonprofit Leaders
There have been a lot of milestones in my life lately. Earlier this year, I turned 50. My youngest child graduated high school and left for college. So, I’ve been thinking a lot about my goals -- what comes next? Looking Back to Move Forward The Jewish New Year is coming up and one tradition, prior to the holiday, is to visit the … [Read more...]
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