Implement!

I am a big fan of Seth Godin.  His word for "implement" is "ship it!".  I totally agree.  Leaders use planning and meetings too often. They become smart ways to procastinate and to delay making a decision.  This comes from a fear of failure.  Many times we know what we need to do.  We just need to do it! 

I believe that if you get the right persons on the bus, in the right places (thank you "Good to Great") that you can launch a good idea at most any time in the process.   The person, the leader, can handle the challenges if and when they arise and adjust in order to position the project for the best chance at success.

What is a good way to implement a fundraising campaign?  Great question... the answer is coming soon to a blog near you. 

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Most Important Hire

Have you ever thought what personnel you would need in an ideal shop?  Say you have 10 employee spots.  What types of job descriptions would you need?

You be the Chief Development Officer.  Next what about hiring 3 major gift fundraisers?  A good major gift program is essential for fundraising.  It is the most effective way to raise money according to most benchmarking services.  Next I would want an estate planning professional, then I would look for 2 in the annual fund area to develop and implement our annual fund and to manage a "signature" special event or two. 

What are we up to in our count?  7 in our ideal shop!  I would like to hire two executive assistants - to manage the administrative, the filing, data entry, receipts, mailings, publications, so these people would really have to be excellent quality people.  They are like having communications people as well as administrative professionals.  One BIG part of their job would be to call potential donors for appointments.  They would help our major gift officers to stay in the field where they should be!

What about grant writers, prospect researchers, web design and communications?  I would like to have the latter in our ideal shop.  The first two could be hired as vendors, consultants, etc. 

So that gives us at least something to ponder, doesn't it?

Think and act from abundance, not lack!