• Soul Surfer: A Passion for Life – Isn’t that what it’s all about?

    WOW. That’s really all I can say after watching “Soul Surfer” a movie everyone should watch.

    I’m not entirely sure how much is factual and how much was based on creative license… but either way it is one of the most inspiring and motivational movies I have ever seen. The casting is simply perfect… Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid – how can you go wrong?

    But beyond the casting there are many, many lessons to be learned; not just from the dialogue but from the interactions of family members and friends throughout the movie.

    Early in the movie Bethany says, “Surfing is my passion; my way of life; the stoke I get from catching a wave is pure joy”. Wow, what a statement.

    Later on in the movie after having her arm removed by a shark her doctor says something along the lines of     –    “with her heart and will she will go far”.

    Again a big WOW – what an observation and testament to Bethany’s passion and hustle for her surfing and commitment to this vocation in life.

    Well, in any event… it was interesting for me to see the correlations between this movie, Bethany’s passion for her vocation, and my thoughts on passion and hustle!

    If anyone has passion and hustle its Bethany Hamilton. I mean really, she had the passion for surfing before being attack by a shark and she had the same passion after being attacked by a shark (and losing her arm in the process). But what is most remarkable, is that after losing her arm she didn’t lose her passion or her hustle for surfing. What an accomplishment.

    I only wish I could have this same commitment! Don’t you?

    Have you seen the movie?  What are your thoughts on PASSION??

    Soul Surfer: A Passion for Life – Isn’t that what it’s all about?
     

  • The Innovators DNA Has Four Components

    In his recent article at Fast Company, Scott Anthony, the Managing Director at the innovation consulting firm Innosight, laid out a compelling view on creating a culture of innovation entitled How Do You Create A Culture Of Innovation?

    He discusses four time-tested approaches successful innovators follow to gather stimuli that spur these connections.

    Here they are for your review:

    1. Questioning: Asking probing questions that impose or remove constraints. Example: What if we were legally prohibited from selling to our current customer?
    2. Networking: Interacting with people from different backgrounds who provide access to new ways of thinking.
    3. Observing: Watching the world around them for surprising stimuli.
    4. Experimenting: Consciously complicating their lives by trying new things or going to new places.
    SO, what’s all this mean for the nonprofit in a corner of the world doing good work, helping others, and making an impact in one shape or form? Well, a lot really…
    Nonprofits, well really any organisation this day an age, are at an interesting and profound crossroads to the future. Quite simply – its make or break time.  We either adopt and adapt to the changes under foot or we are left behind to die a slow and painful death. A death by a thousand cuts as they say.
    You see… you are, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your glass half-full vs. half-empty paradigm, at a pivotal point in time. A confluence of thing are happening now. In one-hundred years it will all make sense – but at this moment in time, living through it, we can only surmise and project and assume what might happen.
    Regardless of the perspective, we are int he midst of change that is undeniable. Culture is changing, people are changing, demographics are changing, everything is changing!
    And we as nonprofit leaders need to change with it. Not for change sake. But to adapt and change with the times. In short, to figure out how we can remain relevant in this new world order of things where the tried and true of yesteryear are simply a bi-gone memory.
    Perhaps you have the solution or the insight that will help a colleague bridge the gap form the old to the new. What might that be? Please share your thoughts!!

     

    The Innovators DNA Has Four Components
     

  • Is Saving Wildlife a Worthy Cause?

    Is Saving Wildlife a Worthy Cause?
     

  • The Joy of Making a Difference

    The face on a special needs child just makes one want to smile –  the exhilaration she feels is obvious and the life-long impact this moment has on her will be profound. To be a part of that is awe-inspiring. That’s why many of us are in the nonprofit “business” – to help others, to feel the joy that comes with that, and to know that perhaps, just for a moment, we made a difference.

    But in our roles as leaders of nonprofits how do we stay focused on the day-to-day operations, including staff, program oversight, finances and everything else related to running a business, while staying focused on the outcomes of our efforts. It is very difficult, especially when you are wearing many hats. Hats that include fundraiser, human resource manager, and the all important complaint department head.

    The reality for those in leadership is to stay focused on the mission of the organization regardlesss of which hat you are wearing. Why? Because your missison and goals must align with everything. Its that simple. If the two aren’t in alignment there will be incongruity of efforts that will lead to less success in one or both areas.

    Let’s here what the great Peter Drucker had to say in a Harvard Business article in 1989:

    “The nonprofits are, of course, still dedicated to “doing good.” But they also realize that good intentions are no substitute for organization and leadership, for accountability, performance, and results. Those require management and that, in turn, begins with the organization’s mission.”

    As Mr. Drucker correctly states everything in the nonprofit organization “begins with the organization’s mission”, and how can it not when you think about it. Its a simple yet profound comment. Making sure everything flows from the mission and objective of your charity. It becomes the guiding principle for everything – from hiring decisions to financial decisions and for sure fundraising and programmatic decisions. All in alignment. All with the same values attached. And all with the identical goal in mind – your charities primary objective.

    Its easy to lose sight of this at times. That’s why its important to remind ourselves and our staff, at all levels, as to why they work for your organization.

    There are ways you can do this on a practial level.

    1. At the hiring stage. Make sure everyone you hire is passionate about what you do. They need to be part of the bigger picture from day one. From the receptionist and maintenance worker to the Executive Director, board member and program directors.
    2. Ongoing organizational information. m
    3. Performance reviews.
    4. All messaging and communication.
    5. Fundraising.

     

     

    The Joy of Making a Difference
     

  • Engaging People

    What is truly exciting is seeing how people coming together can make a difference in the world. Kids spending the summer particpating and engaging in hard work. Work that will inprove the outdorr experince for countless people whom they will never know. Selfless work that teaches them a spirit of service while helping others – a win-win for all.

    Engaging People
     

  • Passion and Hustle

    It’s all about passion and hustle! You’ve got to have both to be successful in this world – don’t you? In our opinion, the answer is a resounding – YES…. You see; if there is no passion for service and no hustle to make a difference you won’t be effective. We need to be passioante about our work and about the impact we are making. And we need to have the hustle to “make a dent in the universe”, as the late Steve Jobs often said.

    Passion and Hustle
     

  • Disaster Strikes

    The devastating tsunami in Sri Lanka the day after Christmas in 2004  literally changed the country overnight. The power of nature is clearly not our equal, leaving in its trail death and destruction, yet in the midst of the sadness there was hope and optimism. People wandered about, almost in a daze, yet as the days lingered on the Sri Lankan culture came back to life. Rebuilding and looking to the future was the comfort they found – and nonprofits were there serving, assisting, and providing whatever help was needed. Great sadness led to great optimism.

    Disaster Strikes
     

  • Philanthropy Matters

    A man on the streets, a women in an AIDS hospice, a child withour food, or a family living in a refugee camp. There’s one thing in common – they all could benefit from a helping hand – not a hand-out – but a compassionate, non-judgemental, heart of service. What kind of world could it be if we all took it upon oursleves to serve our fellow man, either close to home or in a far-away land.

    Philanthropy Matters
     

  • The Life of Service

    Incredibly there are individuals around the world, including husband and wife teams with children in tow, that have chosen to dedicate their lives to the service of others. Amazingly, some of these brave people not only live in remote areas of the world, they also get up every morning and take on jobs like flying small aircraft from one island to another – bringing hope, food, medical care and supplies, and even evacuating people when required. These selfless volunteers are the unsung heroes of any nonprofit program.

    The Life of Service
     

  • Transformational Nonprofits

    Nonprofits can literally change the world we live in. Nonprofits bring optimism to war-ravaged countries; they bring hope to families in despair; they serve those that no one else cares to serve; they provide a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and eyes to help lead the way – all with heart and a passion that can literally change lives. Yes, nonprofits can be a driving force filled with love in this complex world where men seem to have forgotten how to serve the others. Nonprofits provide hope.

    Transformational Nonprofits
     

  • Who Does a Nonprofit Serve?

    Behind every statistic, every story , every photograph there is a person. Yes, a person – a human being – our fellow man. Many are in desperate need of help and support for a vast range of complex issues from addiction and poverty to mental illness and oppression. You name it, there is someone afflicted. Perhaps even in our own home someone has been the beneficiary of charitable service. Let’s begin viewing charity as compassionate service to others  and not “writing a check”.

    Who Does a Nonprofit Serve?
     

 From the monolithic institutions developed by Carnegie to the mom-and-pop Rescue Mission serving the homeless in a gritty, God-forsaken part of a Rust Belt city, we all know, deep in our heart, that charities perform a service that no government entity, no single individual, and no lofty institution can provide. Why? Because the charities that are making a difference in this world are not looking for fame or glory or profit – they are measuring their success by how many live’s they impact.

We need to support nonprofits and nonprofit exectuives and embrace the positive impact they are making in the world.

That is the purpose of this website – to promote nonprofit enterprises, to help those that work for nonprofits, and to help better the world in the process.