Imagine a minivan parked on the side of the road. Now imagine shifting the van into neutral. Please give it enough oomph to make it 500 feet to a gas pump right up the road if needed. What if this same van was on a slight incline? Feel confident? You may need a friend to […]
Planning With Purpose in the New Year
For some of us, the dawn of a new year represents a clean slate, a fresh start, perhaps another opportunity to get going on all of the resolutions we set aside last year. For those of us in development and leadership, a new calendar year also signifies that it’s time to determine a strategy for […]
What’s the Plan?
Resting in peace, not dead. Between jobs, not unemployed. Thrifty, not cheap. Unique, not odd. Golden years, not old age. Euphemisms are proof of just how much the English language loves to spin. It’s time for a spin in development. It’s time to present the possibility of Planned Giving. Organizations faced with the stress of […]
Don’t Build Your Foundation on Foundations
Today I’d like to share my advice on how to determine if such a path is right for you or not and what to keep in mind.
Reflect to Connect
Recording personal reflections is a discipline I have worked to develop over the years. I believe knowing where I’ve come from helps inform where and how I move forward.
Lead Well by Reinventing Yourself
In your budgeting spreadsheet, how much have you accounted for the amount of influence you have on those around you? Today is the day to reinvent and reimagine your impact!
Smooth Sailing Requires a Charted Course
Momentum has to start somewhere! Encourage your board to be the catalyst to bring about change and growth in your organization and its impact with these 2 challenges.
Development Dominos
When it comes to year-end appeals, the important thing is focusing on those who have not yet given this year.
Development Committees | Setting the Standard
In development, we get out what we’re willing to put in. How are you utilizing your board members and committees? There’s untapped potential – let’s tap into it in 3 ways today!
Wartime Priorities
You are the general of your ministry organization. It’s time to enter the war room and not reemerge until you draw up war plans. What does this mean? Two steps, endless possibilities!
Noteworthy Meetings | Tools of the Trade
When you ask a question, there is power in the answer. Are you listening? Are you harnessing it? One notebook has the potential to guide you to do just that!
Bored with your Board?
I often hear complaints from development and advancement directors and teams working with faith-based nonprofit organizations, schools, and missions. “Our board doesn’t get involved.” “Our board doesn’t contribute.” You’re bored… with your board. At times, this can be completely confounding. The Christian mindset is to build one another up, to defend the widows and the […]
To Delegate is to Disciple | Leading Well Through Mentorships
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.” As leaders, we carry the amazing responsibility of raising others up to stand on level ground, and even to push them above and beyond. In so many areas of our faith, we are encouraged to think […]
Discipline Can Be Deceiving
From the outside, as I hiked with several leaders after a long and productive day, it likely looked like I was a diligent, structured, disciplined person. I say this because several people commented on just that. However, that was merely a reaction to evidence available at the moment. I love discipline. I admire it. I […]
Redefining Success | Navigating COVID-19
Many of you have reached out with the same basic, but ever so complicated, question: What do we do now? Although many things remain to be sorted out, we have three important steps for you and your organizations to take today for a stronger tomorrow. Update Timelines At this point we have no way of […]
3 Steps Emergent Leaders Need to Take
With the end of the year approaching, you are in a unique position for your ministry. I’d even go so far as to say the strongest position you could possibly be in come December. If anyone has giving decisions remaining to make before now and the end of the year, they are likely to find […]
Strength Training | 3 Steps to Stronger Ideas
Strength stands on the shoulders of those who came before us. Years ago, I learned a formula that has changed my life. As a driven individual I can be guilty at times of being so focused I settle for nothing short of perfection. There was a time when I would rather have taken no action […]
3 Ways to Show Vision Through Hospitality
Calling all Marthas! Jesus gave credit where credit was due for Mary’s focus on the importance of time spent with our Savior. I’ve considered, however, from time to time, the number of people who give the Marthas of the world a bad name. There’s something to be said for the gift of hospitality. We all […]
Personal Planning in the New Year
The New Year has arrived and many of us are rested, wide-eyed and bushy tailed running on the energy that springs the promise of a fresh start! Are you ready to harness it? Let’s dive into this year headfirst by setting our ministries up for year-long success with some simple but applicable exercises. Work […]
What Truly Matters | Yearly Numbers You Need to Know
Some things matter. Some things don’t. Ultimately, what you pay attention to – what you focus on – will direct your steps. Where are you headed? I think now is the perfect time, if you don’t already have a good idea, to find out. Don’t you? Think about giving up to this point this year. […]