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Way-Too-Early Thinking

The NCAA National Championship football game finished last night. This morning several sports outlets had their 2023 National Championship predications posted. All employed the “way-to-early” headline.

It make me wonder. Is it too early? Is this exercise worth anything other than entertainment? I am certain none of these lists is an exhaustive look at all the possible iterations, considerations, alterations, and demarcations of the coming season. So is their value?

If it sparks questions, I think there is value in us embracing way-to-early thinking. If it opens our peripheral vision or creates considerations we had not previously pondered, then value added. If we head to a Las Vegas sports book with this information and double-down on future fortunes, then way-too-early might be a recipe for disaster., especially if we invest too much.

How might we adopt way-too-early thinking in a constructive and enlightening manner, even if we encounter a sense of overwhelm and fatigue? If we believe all our future considerations fit neatly on a 12-month calendar cycle, perhaps we are way-too-late.

Green Flags

Recently, the number of red flag articles I have encountered is trending. Six red flags that your airline seat mate will be annoying. Three red flags that the restaurant is understaffed. Nine red flags that your hotel room is not clean.

It made me wonder why I do not encounter more green flag articles. Why are there so few pieces titles, four green flags that your next adventure will be awesome.

Red flags get attention. Red flags require management decisions. Green flags confirm our hopes (and maybe our expectations). They mean we can divert our attention to other issues.

What are the the green flags attributes of an organization you joined? Why were you excited to lend your talents and how did the cause meet your expectations? Why not invest a little time discussing those characteristics before listing all of the barriers to entry?

Celebrate

How often do we start or finish our conversation (and meetings) with a point of celebration? Even our problems can be high quality challenges that 99% of peer organizations in our sector would be desperate to contemplate solving. Mindset matters and our attention and work follows. Celebrate, even if it is a rainy, cold, headwind. It might make you stronger and certainly provides the foundation for a remarkable story.

Human Needs Translated to the Social Sector

Tony Robbins proposed there are six human needs. He defined them as follows:

1. Certainty: assurance you can avoid pain and gain pleasure
2. Uncertainty/Variety: the need for the unknown, change, new stimuli
3. Significance: feeling unique, important, special or needed
4. Connection/Love: a strong feeling of closeness or union with someone or something
5. Growth: an expansion of capacity, capability or understanding
6. Contribution: a sense of service and focus on helping, giving to and supporting others

If we overlap the six human needs with the social sector, there are interesting alignments.

Certainly= endowment, balance budget, founder still engaged, sustainability, cautious resource allocation.

Uncertainty/Variety= Executive Director transition, new program launch, board member rotation, deficit budget, mergers, new grant application

Significance= awards, accrediation, recognition from political and business leaders, bequests, waiting list for board service, sold out programs

Connection= strategic partnership, social media followers, gala fundraiser, requests to partner with other organizations, online groups

Growth= capital campaign, hire more staff, expand geographic service area, expand board, new organizational lifecycle

Contribution= annual report, services and programs, community engagement, grants, financial aid, free programs

What would you add to the list?