Timing

It's all about timing. What is? Everything. All of it. All of the time. Timing.

Am I ready? Are they ready? Will we ever be ready? For babies, marriage, the next job, the next ask, to clear off one small shelf in the closet so they stop leaving their stuff on the floor?

There's never a perfect time... or is there?

Perfect is a bit strong in relation to timing, unless, of course we are talking about releasing a football or hitting a baseball or anything related to a tangible object, a definite answer, etc. As it relates to people, perfect doesn't exist. There is no perfect time or perfect person (trust me, I've looked). There is right now. There is what and who is in your path today. So what is perfect in that moment? This is the question to ask.

I was working with a great group last night on making the ask, but more specifically, talking about the challenges of recent past asks and next steps. While the end goal for the organization is to raise significant dollars, the donor may have a different end goal. Have you asked them? Where are THEY right now? What does your organization mean to them? Where do they want to see you go? How would their passions match up with helping you get there?

I often compare fund development to dating and marriage. You go into it, perhaps, knowing a bit about the person; heck, maybe they are your friend, but you've never seen them in this light. Hmmm, they look so shiny and new and a bit scary. You've called to ask them to meet up. You're nervous. You rehearse what you are going to say as you get ready. You put on your best outfit and check out how you look in the mirror. You then stop and realize that you BOTH know why you are meeting. There is no doubt that this is a date. You are going into this to see if there is something more or if you should remain just friends.

All of your nerves were for naught. The dinner was great! You both had a delightful time and now you know that they are interested. You are excited to see each other again and so it goes... date after date. Thank you notes and phone calls. Mailed articles of interest and next meetings. And then the day comes. It's been ten months. Do you take the next step? Are you ready? Are they ready?

****back to the actual point of the blog****

The reality is that some donors may be ready after meeting you twice, while others may not be ready for 18 months. There is no timetable on ready. The only question you can ask is, for what are they ready right now? More cultivation? Further engagement? The only way to find out is to meet, talk, discuss, and LISTEN.

So get excited. Be giddy. Do the happy dance. Clear off the shelf in your closet "just in case," but dear lord do NOT tell them you've done it!

When will they be ready? You'll just know... or so I've been told.

Failure, please, failure is just a motivator to succeed.

I was having a conversation with someone the other day who asked me what my biggest failures have been.

I laughed, literally, out loud. This seems like such a silly question. My biggest failures? You want just one? Do you mean the biggest hurdles? The times that seemed like failures until I realized they weren't? The creative ways for the world to kick my rear back to where it should be?

I have "failed" so many times that I've lost count. How many times have I seen crazy great things come out of insanely insurmountable challenges? A few. But then again, I guess no challenge is totally insurmountable.

I was having a conversation with my dad a couple of months ago. He was saying that he felt like he had wasted this last year - hadn't done all he could do to REALLY take advantage of the year.

My response was that amidst all of the chemo, radiation, doctor appointments, birthday parties, portrait unveilings, christmas, and new years, he spent more time with his family in this last year than he had probably ever done prior - combined.

What he initially saw as a failure on his part was the largest gift ever given to me.

Don't forget to look for the reasons why you are dusting yourself off as you stand up from being thrown down.

True Colors

In the world of google, there can be little doubt that, eventually, your and/or your organization's true colors will come shining through.

I heard this song on my way to a client this morning and it struck a chord more so today than in days past. Transparency, honesty, integrity, and loyalty are, to me, the most important character traits one can possess. Yes, I love it when a person or organization pushes the envelope. I love it when people stir the pot and create a new line of thinking. I truly enjoy walking into a room where no one person thinks just as the one to your right or left.

It is how we act and respond when we encounter situations such as these that really bring out our true colors.

In response to the Invisible Children campaign that has gone viral and has  now made Kony an unfortunate household name, good for you. Regardless of how you feel about Kony or Invisible Children, this media campaign has shed light on a situation that has not been paid much attention. Now, I have strong feelings about a mass of people all of the sudden giving to a cause about which they know little. This is politically charged and we are talking about people's lives. The reality is that often times funding to these types of issues does not actually get into the hands that will affect good change, but into the hands of those who oppress.

So while there are positives and negatives to this, the world is no longer ignorant. Emotions, resources, and inertia are now in play. A movement, should positive motion occur, has been started.

How this organization and others like it respond will make a difference. Either way, their true colors will come into play.

Your true colors come into play every day. Don't be tempted to give in to episodes of childish and irrational behavior simply because you want to prove a point or don't like what another organization or person is saying or doing. The only point you will prove is that you don't make wise choices in the face of confrontation.