It is Never the Idea. It is Always the Execution.
Many successful people consider themselves to be ideas people. But those who are most successful are the people who know how to build the processes to get things done. They may have an idea, but they also know how to accomplish it. The reason why so many businesses or programs fail is because passion needs structure to survive. The idea without the plan won’t usually end in success.
One Process to Better Serve Your Community
I recently had a virtual meeting with a new client. He was interested in starting a non-profit. He had deep passion and concern. He wanted to serve his community. I suggested that a needs assessment would be a great place to start.
Start with ‘Why’ When Grant Writing
Organizations often find an available grant and cater programming and services to meet grant requirements. However, to be more successful, it is better to start ‘why’. Identify a need in the community that your organization can fill.
Take Time to Make Waves
The Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai is famously known for his woodblock print called “The Great Wave.” He drew many variations throughout his career, but it wasn’t until he was in his early 70s, that this masterpiece was created.
The Wisdom of the Fruit Tree
The average fruit tree does not bear fruit for at least 4-5 years. That means that it will take at least five years of pruning, tending, sunshine, and water before we reap the rewards of planting it. Like growing a fruit tree, learning a new skill is not much different.
The Lifechanging Effect of Mise en Place
Mise en place refers to the setup or organization required in a professional kitchen. It also refers to preparing and setting a state of mind, not just the process of preparing ingredients. To be efficient and purposeful, a chef must prepare both their physical and mental space. While this term originated from the world of cooking, the concept can also used in other worlds of work and in life.
How to Frame a Situation to Guarantee Successful Outcomes
Have you ever wondered how you are convinced of something? Or how to convince someone to do something? It actually isn’t that hard.
Forget Your Mission Statement and Do This Instead
For decades mission statements have been perceived as the bedrock of any organization – setting the purpose, vision, and goals of a company. Except they don’t.
Instead of falling trap to the same old, try this instead.
When Goal Setting Hinders Success and How to Prevent It
It seems that almost every business, educational and self-help book tells us that goal setting is the way to success. Goals aren’t the issue though. It is the way we approach goals that is the challenge.
4 Common Grant Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
As a grant writer and a grant application evaluator for a few local charities, I am often asked, what are the common mistakes that grant writers make? Avoiding these four common grant writing mistakes are key to increasing your grant success rate.
The Backside of the Spiral
I always imagined the path to success as linear. However, success is more like a spiral, moving forward and backward toward success.
Why We Need to Disconnect to Reconnect
We get so busy with our day-to-day routines and rituals. We forget to unwind. And it is in this unwinding that our best ideas arise.
Build Your Organization’s Culture with Three Simple Activities
Have you ever been in a business meeting listening to the discussion and wonder, why can’t people be more honest and transparent, able to admit when they’re wrong, need help, or missed their target?
Understanding what vulnerability looks like in the workplace and then working through these simple activities are bound to build trust in any organization.
Why Experts Don’t Make the Best Leaders
Expertise is important. But a narrow focus may not be the answer I once thought it was. People with range - those that have numerous outside experiences, who can draw on the knowledge of one area and apply it creatively to another – can think outside the box. Not try to stay within it.
How Peer Review Improves Organizations
Peer review is such a valuable tool and one that is underutilized. Organizations would be much stronger if peer reviews or feedback loops were authentically built into their every-day processes.
One Way to Make Grant Writing Effortless
I had a great meeting with a client this week. They had already started pre-planning the project months ago. The project’s scope, outcomes and details were determined. The grant was an easy, natural fit.
One Simple Way to Attract Your Ideal Client
Create clarity of who you are and what you stand for. Only then will you find the right partners and attract the right customers.
A Smart & Strategic Way to Success
If you’re looking for success, save yourself time and struggle. Mirror what is tried and true. Then tweak it to make it your own. Learning from those who paved the way before us, and then altering it to fit each unique context, is the key to success.
Simplify Grant Writing: 10 Items to Prepare in Advance
We need to prime our environment to make future actions easier. In terms of grant applications, this is quite easy. Many grants request the same documents. They also ask you to answer the same types of questions. Preparing these items in advance minimizes stress.