A number of years ago I was flying to Rockland, Maine with a couple friends and we needed to take a small puddle jumper for the final leg of the trip. Before we took off, the pilot got out a ladder and went over to the wing near the window where we were sitting. Then he pulled out some duct tape and applied it to something we could not see on top of the wing. Duct tape … [Read more...] about When More Duct Tape Won’t Do It
Implementation
Should Nonprofits Run Like a Business?
As a professor in a business school who is a former nonprofit CEO and consultant to nonprofits, I am often asked: “Should a nonprofit be run like a business? Easy answer, “No.” A nonprofit should be run like effective nonprofits are run. However . . . . . There is a lot we – in the nonprofit world – can learn from business best practices. Far too many nonprofit … [Read more...] about Should Nonprofits Run Like a Business?
Strategy & Salary
Do you have the team you need to implement your strategy? Far too many nonprofits look at their “Salary” budget line item as static. “This is all we can afford. We need to find the best person possible for this amount of money.” This folks, is NOT being strategic. Sometimes, a strategy calls for a certain kind of talent on the team. And oft times, a certain kind of … [Read more...] about Strategy & Salary
Strategy vs. GSD
I have a good friend who recently posted this quote from Southwest Airlines Founder, Herb Kelleher, on Facebook: “We Have a Strategic Plan: It’s Called Doing Things.” This is funny. But if you know anything about Herb – it is also tongue in cheek. His brilliant strategy for Southwest has produced record-breaking profits for the airline for decades. So, he surely has … [Read more...] about Strategy vs. GSD