Are you an obsessive compulsive planner? I want to challenge you on the value of planning versus doing.
You definitely need a strategic plan for your future, but in the meantime, you must work at the leading edge of what God is doing to save lives and change lives through your ministry and your calling as a leader.
There is no planning needed to know that your donors need to be engaged in funding the good work being done and expanding that work. This will take resources through the generous giving of God’s people to fund excellent staff, marketing, and a focused effort.
God isn’t at all depending on you being the perfect leader, having a perfect board, or a perfect plan to get His work done!
A little bit of planning can be helpful, and figuring out the answer to these 3 questions is a good place to start:
- What is the total dollar figure needed to secure financial health in your organization?
- What is the total dollar figure needed each day in order to be open for work?
- What is the total dollar figure needed to reach an individual person that your organization seeks to love and serve?
Now, get those numbers together in a development plan, and get it in front of people who can make a big difference!
There are few people who believe in planning as much as I do. I might be an obsessive compulsive planner. Planning is part of HOW we do things around here at Development & Leadership Coaching.
But even more so, I believe in focused diligence and continual action! I trust that you already know how to do the CORE of the work of your ministry. But, every day that goes by is a day that will never come again. So make the most of THIS day by spending it on thanking, reporting, asking, and following up with your donors and potential givers, challenging them to make the difference that only they can make.
Enough of the ideas and brainstorming. Enough of dwelling on the mistakes and chaos of the past. It’s time to get moving, whether or not you do so with our help. I challenge you to ACTION!
I urge you to please take this strong encouragement to get focused and get moving as if lives depend on it. Because, you know that they do.
I leave you with this quote I love from the founder of Southwest Airlines, Herb Kelleher:
“We have a strategic plan. It’s called doing things.”
*Part of the planning process involves creating your strategy statement. If you need some help with this, click here for a tool to help you get started.