Blog Archives
Three Ways to Succeed by Breaking Convention – H. James Wilson – Research – Harvard Business Review
Three Ways to Succeed by Breaking Convention – H. James Wilson – Research – Harvard Business Review.
Being unconventional or making a new convention is one of the life habits you can adopt to “Thrive in Times Like These” . . . click on the MASTERMIND tab to find information on attending a sample Mastermind session.
Remember: Life is not without risk. The good news is that you can choose which risks you want to take and succeed.
Make a powerful difference
Consider these questions:
What do you really want to accomplish for yourself and your organization? What are the current challenges preventing you from realizing that vision?
Many of you reading this blog are either on staff at a non-profit or are active in promoting a philanthropic organization as a volunteer or board member. Despite that, these questions can be challenging. You are busy doing good work – but are you and your colleagues as effective as you could be? Are you engaged in frenetic activity or purposeful, planned action?
What are your board meetings and committee meetings like? Compare the percentage of time you talk about doing something and the time you spend actually doing it . . . Are you making the wisest choices for the future of your organization and those you serve?
If you continue on the path you are currently on – will you accomplish your highest aspirations?
By joining a Mastermind group, you can commit a small portion of your schedule each week to dramatic improvement in your situation. Take a look at the MASTERMIND page of this blog for more information. The next introductory web call is Monday, July 18, 2011 at 7pm Eastern Time/USA. Please make plans to join us.
We welcome all those desiring to explore new growth in themselves and their organizations –
regardless of the economy!
Use Business Cards to Promote your Organization
10 powerful ways to use your business cards
By Beth Davis, Founder/CEO of Gold Star Referral Clubs
While this was written for small businesses, it is applicable to your non-profit work as well. . . . LAM
- Never leave home without them: Keep a supply handy at home so that you can restock your wallet/purse every day when you leave.
- Give and Receive: The best way to get someone to want your business card is to ask for theirs.
- Insert a card into all your mail: Starting today, don’t ever seal an envelope without your card in it, even your bills. The person that opens the envelope might know your next best client.
- Be generous: Business cards are the best value for your advertising dollar. Be able to give someone as many as they ask for. Always offer 2 – 1 for the person and 1 for them to pass along.
- Be ready at every occasion and any occasion: You can never predict when it’s a good time to give a business card. Buffet line, gas station, birthday party . . .
- Ask for a referral: You will be surprised at how well people will respond to, “Here are two of my cards. I would appreciate a referral and would welcome a call from you or family or anyone you know you may need a ____”
- Visit trade show: Ask for business cards from the show vendors, give yours in return. Read some of their card out loud and ask them about what they do. Make a friend. Then follow-up.
- Make it a coupon: Hand-write a special offer or a discount for your service or product on the back of your card. Initial it. Invite them to visit your business.
- Attach a small gift to your card: Attach a mint, a specialty cookie or other small (but useful or tasty) promotional item.
- Brand yourself: add your tag line, hook or quote
BONUS CHALLENGE from Laura Anne Miller:
Hand out 50 business cards per day: the owner of a local termite inspection/pest control company does this. In the morning, his wife hands him 50 cards, and he is under orders to return home with NONE. He uses the above techniques and takes every opportunity to give people his cards. He came to town knowing no one, and in a few short years became the leader of a thriving and wildly successful business. Every real estate agent in town knows him and most use his services . . . Think of creative ways you could accomplish this challenge goal!
This, of course, means that you have to get out from behind your desk every single day and go promote your organization. You cannot spend all your time perfecting the website, writing mass mailings and planning the next “event”. Use your imagination and think like a salesman. Call me to discuss – 614.915.4324 – Laura Anne Miller
Raise significant funds in 2011 – and BEYOND
Use the IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution in a special way – you don’t have to sacrifice current donations to build a long-term planned giving progam for your organization!
Take a look at this presentation on Slideshare.net – then contact Laura for more information.
Advancement model aims to better engage ‘OSU family’
Advancement model aims to better engage ‘OSU family’
Advancement – it’s about promotion, passion, aspirations. When every one in your organization is speaking with one voice, then the message to the outside world is clear. What you find is that as you connect and tell the story, you don’t have to “make the ask”. Instead, you will find that the potential donor gets excited as well and “makes the ask” with the question: How can I help? How can I be part of this?
OSU is often my model to other organizations on how to promote themselves and attract/acquire the resources that will help them grow and advance into the future. Contact me to learn more about how the best methods in fundraising and advancement can be applied to your non-profit, no matter the size.
Confidence & Optimism at All-Time Low
I saw this on MSN.com today – from an NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll:
. . . 61 % say the United States is headed in the wrong direction; 65 % believe the nation is in a state of decline; and 66 % say they’re not confident that life for their children’s generation will be better than it is now.
In addition, Americans are deeply pessimistic about the state of the economy. Only 26 % think the economy will improve in the next 12 months (which is down 14 points from the previous poll), and just 26 % believe their wages will increase in the next year.
Confidence in key U.S. institutions is also incredibly low: 18 % have confidence in the federal government; 13 % have confidence in the news media; 12 % have confidence in large corporations; 10 % have confidence in the financial industry; and only 9 % have confidence in Congress. The numbers for the media and Congress are the lowest for those institutions in the entire history of the poll.
What are the implications for philanthropy?
If you are a non-profit, what does this poll tell you? What do you have to do differently? What does it mean for the future of your organization and those you serve?
If you are a philanthropist (donor) – of ANY size net worth – what are the implications for you? How do you feel about the future of the American/World economy? How do you feel about your family’s future? What would you like to do about it?
SEEKING: non-profits that you know and love that are in looking to improve their revenue streams. Contact Laura Anne Miller, 614.915.4324, lmiller@nfpcoaching.com today.
Full story on msn.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38996574/ns/politics/?GT1=43001
Leadership at Gettysburg
Inaction is not an option
-Every organization
desires a leader like General John Buford. On the afternoon of June 30, 1863, Buford arrived on the scene just outside Gettysburg. After assessing the situation, he made a critical decision that led to a Union victory and probably changed the course of American History. Take a look at the video as we remember those that fought at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Marketing Idea No. 215 – What we can learn from Bill Murray and Groundhog Day (via Creating the Longest Marketing Idea Chain in the World)
Check out the article link below from the “idea chain” blog
focus on your strengths – keep doing what does work and do more of it – STOP doing what doesn’t work! How does this apply to your non-profit? What unworkable activity do you keep trying, hoping for different results? Post your comments below . . .
The Dignity of Work
One of my clients, the MCS/TOUCH program was recently awarded a substantial grant to implement a program of community development. It is a summer work program for young people – helping them take their lives to a new level of growth and exploration. An essential part of this program, and of all the services at MCS/TOUCH, is to provide employment opportunities. We have an enormous list of “Pathway Partners” – employers who are willing to give people the opportunity to learn about the positive benefits of a good day’s work. They are small businesses and non-profit organizations that hire the participants and give them the gift of dignity. These business people are interested in making a profit, for certain. However, they are also intensely committed to making an investment in the community. Thank you to all the Pathway Partners! They are making it possible for people of all backgrounds to get to the level where they are net contributors and do not have to be dependent upon “charity” for their survival. . . .
If you would like to learn how to become a Pathway Partner and jump to the highest level of the Golden Ladder, contact Laura Miller – 614.915.4324 or lmiller@nfpcoaching.com . . . The summer works! program fully compensates the participant (up to 120 hours). See: Pathway Partners wordpress blog
If you are a non-profit and would like to learn how we were successful in this grant process, contact Laura Miller at the phone/email above. As a reminder, here is the Golden Ladder of Philanthropy:
The Golden Ladder of Philanthropy
By Maimonides
(From Lowest Level to Highest Level)
1. To give reluctantly, the gift of the hand, but not of the heart.
2. To give cheerfully, but not in proportion to need.
3. To give cheerfully and proportionately, but not until solicited.
4. To give cheerfully, proportionately, and unsolicited, but to put the gift into the poor person’s hand, thus creating shame.
5. To give in such a way that the distressed may know their benefactor, without being known to him or her.
6. To know the objects of our bounty, but remain unknown to them.
7. To give so that the benefactor may not know those whom he has relieved, and they shall not know him.
8. To prevent poverty by teaching a trade, setting a person up in business, or in some other way preventing the need of charity.
About the Author – Maimonides (1135 -1204)
Jewish rabbi, physician, Talmudic scholar and philosopher in Egypt.
Unleashed Abundance 