Is your nonprofit running a Sprint or a Marathon? Beware – you might be running a Marathon as if you are running a Sprint. Here are a few questions you can answer that will tell you if your nonprofit is running a Sprint or Marathon: Is your staff compensated above the seventy-fifth percentile for their positions in comparable organizations? Do you regularly budget for and … [Read more...] about Are You a Sprint or Marathon Nonprofit?
The Moon Shot vs Cancer
One of the best examples of a successful Almost Impossible Stretch Goal is the Moon Shot. (To read more about the power of Almost Impossible Goals, click here.) On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy – in a speech to a joint session of Congress – announced the goal of landing a man on the moon and safely returning him to Earth. For those of you not alive in the 1960s, … [Read more...] about The Moon Shot vs Cancer
Fighting Gravity
Why is it that even the most inspiring visions sometimes . . . fizzle? It’s because excellence and true leadership are really, really hard. It’s like Fighting Gravity. Gravity – normalness – pulls at us every day. Try to escape gravity by pulling away from the “norm” to do something “special,” “unique,” and “exceptional?” Gravity tries to pull you back down. “Who are … [Read more...] about Fighting Gravity
The Mind of a CEO
Are you a CEO or senior leader in your organization? What’s on your mind? My guess, with all due respect, is that there is a lot of junk in there. Here is what I suggest should be on your mind. 1. Future Picture. What would the world look like if you were accomplishing your mission 100X more than you are now, and what does your organization need to look like … [Read more...] about The Mind of a CEO
The Value of Impossible Dreams
Regardless of one’s political affiliation, the fact that President Obama’s second inauguration coincides with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day provides an opportunity for reflection on many levels. When Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, many people thought that his dream was impossible. Given how divided the country was at that time, one can appreciate how … [Read more...] about The Value of Impossible Dreams