Taking "Let's Have Lunch Together" to a new level

I recently worked with Anne Ready, head of a media training firm in Los Angeles. For more than 25 years, READY FOR MEDIA has coached thousands of corporate executives, celebrity spokespeople, authors, doctors, lawyers and many others to be concise, credible and compelling.

Years ago, she realized her dream to work and live at the beach. She bought a beautiful house right on the sand at Topanga Canyon and Pacific Coast Highway.

Of course, I gave her my book and she became a star student.

After reading my book, Anne told me, "I decided to take a very personal approach and invite guests to have lunch at my Malibu beach house. I cook lunch and make it very special."

From the book, she also learned to make sure the meeting was 60% personal and 40% business.

"My first guest mentioned other client referrals while she was here at lunch. Thanks Marshall, you helped me present myself in a whole new, more meaningful way!"

Thanks to Anne for her story. To check out her media services click here.

Review of "Let's Have Lunch Together"

"Let's Have Lunch Together" is full of "specific, effective strategies and problem- solving ... well worth reading and adopting."

I don't often get a reader to review my book, especially to his or her entire community. Thanks to Don Mathis, President and CEO of Community Action Partnership for his generous review of “Let’s Have Lunch Together” in the Fall 2009 issue of “The Promise.” After my recent keynote at their national conference in Philadelphia, many of the CAP leaders have enthusiastically embraced these principles of relationship-building.

Here’s a synopsis of Don’s review: “Thoughtful, easy-to-understand strategy for fundraising, board and resource development and strengthening any agency’s viability and sustainability.

“Howard . . .makes a compelling case that it’s essential for nonprofit executives and leaders to build and maintain close relationships with potential funders, board members, policymakers and a wide variety of people-with-influence. . . . it’s equally important for the agency’s leader to build, nurture and expand the number of strong personal relationships.

The book describes specific, effective strategies and problem-solving techniques that are well-worth reading and adopting. Howard makes his book fun to read and reflect on.”

I appreciate his kind words!

Taking time to stay in touch

I had a delightful lunch with two charming young people Saturday. Kristen Schultz of Crescendo Interactive, Inc..,gift planning software, and Chris Jaarda, who works in politics in Washington, D.C.

Without taking my course, Chris already practices what I teach - making time for what's important, not urgent.

He starts his day by checking in with his boss for 20 minutes, telling him what he's working on, what he knows and what he's heard. Then he checks in with his co-workers and spends another hour calling people who are important to his career.

"I don't even turn on my computer to check email until 10:00 a.m.," he told me. "By this time. I already know everything that's important. I've always worked this way and don't know any other way to work."

Chris has built up a wide network of contacts and many important relationships in his career. I predict great success for him!

Fascinating Leader

Thanks to the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, I addressed the state conference Monday. The keynote address was delivered by Bill Strickland, who, like me is a jazz lover and LP record collector.

He gave an inspiring address, woven with stories from his remarkable background from at-risk youth to 1996 MacArthur "Genius" grant recipient and visionary social change leader.

As President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation and its subsidiaries, Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG), and Bidwell Training Center (BTC, Bill has turned his centers into a national model for education, culture and hope.

Here's (a paraphrase from my memory) a comment he made. "I would never send my child to a school where the students have to pass through a metal detector. This is not a place that respects the pupils."

I was impressed by his vision to create what one reporter called an "oasis in depressed Manchester, a refuge with a door that opens on a better future." He had world-class artists and architects create phenomenal surroundings since he believes that "environment drives behavior."

His education and training centers have remarkable results - here are a few examples: "students at the greenhouse are learning skills that will land them real jobs in horticulture/agricultural industries, and there is a byproduct: The prize-winning orchids they grow are sold to local florists and Giant Eagle and Whole Foods stores. MCG Jazz has released three DVDs and 32 jazz CDs, four of which won Grammy Awards. These products don't just generate income and public relations benefits; they engender pride in the students, young and old.

Of course, I loved the stories about the jazz musicians who have visited his studio and concert hall; Dizzy Gillespie recorded a song and then gave the rights to the school!

Now, Bill and a team are replicating these centers around the county and around the world! As a father, whose son just finished high school in a good district outside Los Angeles, I believe that providing quality education is the only way this nation will succeed on a global basis. There are too many hidden, talented students being ignored by the current system where they get lost.

Bill's success has been driven by his ability to build relationships with people from all walks of life. His philosophy mirrors mine - for instance he says, “You go to a community's business leaders and speak their language. You don't go in asking for a sponsorship. You explain, 'This is what I can do for you.' You offer a partnership."

Thanks Bill, for a great experience. To read more click here

Small Town Fundraising - Montana-style

Thanks to some great new friends, Paul Kink and his wife Diane Rupert-Thomas, I have been visiting that beautiful state. Paul told me recently about how powerful a relationship is and how a phone call can lead to something much bigger.

"I go back about 35 years with this ranching family in Phillipsburg and there are only 400 - 500 people in that little town. The father survived cancer and now his 10-year old has cancer in the brain," Paul told me.

Several people decided to raise money, Montana-style, for their medical expenses with team roping (228 cowboys showed up); mountain biking; run/walks, and in the evening, a silent auction and barbecue.

"It was amazing, there were about 400 people there and they raised $100,000," Paul said.

This was an entirely community-effort - no marketing person, no executive director; just people putting up posters all over the county and calling everyone they knew.

"We didn't know we couldn't do it," Paul said.

Paul told me this story because he knows I love to hear about the power of relationships and I think, that in smaller areas, this is more powerful than anywhere else.

Click on the link or Copy and Paste the address into your internet browser window.
http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_25d74eb6-a343-11de-a136-001cc4c002e0.html

Listen to a recent podcast

I am now officially one of the Pepperdine people. Before my Leadership series talk a few weeks ago at Seaver College, Pepperdine University, I recorded an interview with Dr. Regan Schaffer on the fundamentals of relationships.

You can listen to this podcast via this link

You’ll see it as Episode 24.

Enjoy!

Great New Idea

I love learning from my students! One of the astute participants in the Ventura County Community Foundation workshop a few weeks ago sent me this tip:

"At the next Board meeting, I want everyone to get know each other better.

I want to learn personal information that is not readily apparent. I'm going to ask them to put a an interest of theirs under their name (instead of the business). For instance, under my name, instead of Executive Director, I would write Gardener. Thanks Marshall for inspiring us to get to know others in a different way!"

I think this is a great idea and will lead to a lot of interesting discussions on a personal level among her Board members.