Just because another organization can raise more funds, charge less for its programs, or offer a greater impact does not mean the work you are doing in your community is diminished. High-profile events and big donations may gain headlines. Your ability to stay in the game is what endures. Over time, you will find that your cause’s story resonates at a different level than those meant to be flashed on jumbotrons.
If we apply sufficient constraints to the results, we can generate data that makes us appear at the top of most categories. If we include all available data over time, we might have a challenge finding ourselves in the results.
If we do not want to spend our time manipulating the data, we might invest in being of service and do so with as much personalization as possible.
We like group photos because they convey significance and build momentum. A number of people showed up and lent their social capital to a cause and/or belief.
If we zoom in, we can see the individuals involved. We recognize the distinctive characteristics and attributes of each person. It provides us with the opportunity to highlight and profile the narrative that makes them unique.
It is convenient to focus on the group photo to share our impact, but we forget there is an individual story behind each face in the crowd.
When we are unable to stay aligned, we can face additional challenges.
If your enterprise were to run a torch relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, what would be the design of the torch? Which symbols would you include?
When you yell ‘echo,’ whose voice responds?
In the right environment, we can create an echo by deploying our voice so that it reverberates and returns to us as if shouted by another person located some distance away.
We can take for granted that we generate echoes in our world. We can communicate out, and there are those who respond quickly and with affirmation or empathy as needed. But what happens when those voices cease to respond?
How often do you celebrate and nurture the voices on the other side of the echo? Do you develop a symbiotic relationship, or is it one-sided? What if you made time to prioritize your echo reflectors and make sure they are recognized for the essential role they play in your work?
What experiences do we encounter that reoccur? How might we make recurring moments remarkable? Who has made those moments unforgettable for you? Which enterprises delight you each time you engage them?
I once ran laps at the upper deck of the Houston International Airport parking garage during a long layover. There was a couple in a car plane spotting at one of the better vantage points. Each time I passed their vehicle, they consulted their aircraft tracking app and informed me about an inbound aircraft that I could spot in the sky, which was soon to land. They took their passion, meshed it with my repetitive workout, and made it memorable. I still think about that moment from ten years ago.
Who is the first person a guest encounters when visiting your enterprise? What is the setting in which this meeting takes place? Is it consistent with what your cause values? How do we balance safety, accessibility, a welcoming spirit, and functionality? What mindset does the first encounter establish?
Using an existing path might benefit our journey more than just blindly following a bearing on a compass. Part of wayfinding is making informed choices about navigating the terrain we encounter. The straightest line is not always the preferred (or wise) route.
If somebody went before us and could not sustain their effort, it might inform our attempt, but it should not discourage us from exploring options. Many first ascents of mountain summits result from mountaineers returning repeatedly to attempt new routes, bringing additional gear, or being armed with knowledge about overcoming obstacles that once thwarted their efforts. We may encounter historical records of their presence, equipment left in place, names attached to geographic and geologic features, and tales about wading into the unknown.
How might we benefit from the lessons learned but not adopt the mindset of inevitability when approaching a barrier yet to be unlocked? How might we honor the efforts of those who proceeded without setting a course to repeat their actions? How might we bring our own approach to the puzzle? How might we step back at least one magnitude before diving into the work?
What-if-concepts 