I would highly recommend seeing the movie, “I Am”. Shifted my thinking in fundamental ways- not often I can be entertained and transformed in the same sitting.
I Am
Author: whatifconcepts
All the Marbles
Is success contingent on reaching a summit you have selected as the focus of your efforts? Are there actions you can take along the way that will make your adventure more complete regardless of reaching the highest peak? Chris Davenport is climbing Mt. Everest right now but he managed to spend time skiing the Lhoste Face at 24,000 feet. In a recent interview, he suggested that his trip is already a success because he took the time to ski in the one of the most memorable location he has encountered in his skiing career. Maximizing the opportunity is one of Chris’s strengths. What can you add as you continue on your adventure?
How Every Conference Presentation Should Start
Taking A Clue From Fundraising
Fundraising is a bit like playing the board game Clue. You need everyone in your organization to be traveling from room to room constantly. Go to the library, kitchen, and conservatory. It is a bit like the daily routine of taking your kids to school, spending the day at your workplace, and getting a workout at the gym. While there you can be an admbassador for your cause’s amazing work. You are a walking billboard and it is easy advertising.
The next level is start inquiring about what is taking place in each room. Is Professor Plum in the study? At this level you are asking your board and staff to start discovering what is compelling to those who have or are considering making a philanthropic investment in your cause. Perhaps you represent the local animal shelter and meet a donor who has made an initial contributions to the shelter but is a leadership donor to other enterprises in the community. You can start a conversation with, “I see you are supporter of the local theater company. I so appreciate that as I am a fan of the company and attended last season. I am wondering what makes them so compelling to you?” You are seeking some insights into what drives their philanthropic investments. What do they believe? What needs are they trying to meet? How do they decide? At this level you are an advocate, seeking specific information about what drives specific donor’s intentions.
Somebody needs to accuse Colonel Mustard of murder in the Ballroom with a wrench. In the same way, there are key people in your organization who are uniquely motivated to ask for a philanthropic investment. If you have assembled the right information from the ambassadors visiting all the rooms and added important details from the advocates then the ask is is a bit like the Accusation in Clue. You will not get an answer until you ask.
Have fun playing.
To learn more about fundraising models, Kay Sprinkle Grace offers some of the leading models worth exploration.
Perspective
Remember to enjoy your passion and inspiration. The time spent fulfilling your purpose is the greatest reward.
If There Were No Fences
If there were no fences in a baseball outfield, would it change how a batter swings? If you could not hit one out of the park would it change the game? The thrill and spectacle of a home run is an easy achievement to focus on and celebrate. Just watch an ESPN highlight. Does a fence in the outfield add to the game of baseball? Does having a boundary change how we execute on a daily basis?
Celebration
Of the social sector celebrations you have attended, which ones are remarkable? Is one event better than many smaller ones? Who do you include? Do you include a celebrity or well-known individual who may draw a larger crowd? Do you create a separate experience for your leadership philanthropic investors? How do you exceed expectations?
Rules for Selecting Furniture and Other Observations
David Brooks presents a compelling case for the emotional role that mind-sight, sympathy, street smarts, and limerick play in our collective intelligence.
The Crowd Has Spoken
I found the New York Times interactive poll titled, The Death of a Terrorist: A Turning Point to be a fascinating representation of the a world wide reaction to a global event. It is a reminder of the diversity of opinion that can unite and divide us. How do you track your constituent’s thoughts?
Behind the Scenes
Perhaps the greatest gift that an outlier can give to those who inspire to follow is to grant a tour behind the scenes. Only once you get into the day-to-day operations of an enterprise do you get a sense of the work and commitment to purpose that it takes to maximize one’s talents. Oprah Behind the Scenes is a great example of a master revealing her decision-making process and deliberations. You get a sense of the alignment it takes to prepare for a show and the challenging decisions that need to be made in the compressed format of an hour television program.
Which enterprise would you most like to visit behind the scenes? Who could you invite to your cause that would inspire?
What-if-concepts 