New Year's resolutions

I am going to refer to advice from one of my favorite tv shows - CBS Sunday Morning. Does it sound like all I'm doing during vacation is watch tv?

Nancy Giles is a commentator with a light touch. She was talking about making resolutions and she said she hated "goals." So she looked around for some advice and found it from Leroy "Satchel" Paige, the greatest pitcher in the history of the Negro Leagues. He also played in the Major Leagues for Cleveland, St. Louis and Kansas City and coached the Atlanta Braves. He wound up in the Baseball Hall of Fame with an amazing record and an amazingly long career.

Here's what Paige said, among many other memorable things:
"You win a few, you lose a few. Some get rained out. But you got to dress for all of them."

Isn't that great advice for those of us who show up every day?

Now for some great ideas from Paige about living a better life in 2009!

"Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching."

Happy New Year everyone!

Holiday Message

I saw a fascinating show on PBS yesterday - Happy for No Reason. The presenter was Marci Shimoff, co-author of ‘"Chicken Soup for the Soul" and author of “Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happier Right Now.”

She said a couple of amazing things - here's one:

#1 Don’t believe everything you think. Learn to question your thoughts. You have 60,000 thoughts each day; 95 percent of them are the same thoughts you had yesterday and the day before. Just because you have them doesn’t mean they are true.

In addition, she said, "somehow the bad comments or thoughts stick more than the good ones."

Isn't that true - we remember the negative comments from a boss or parent; rarely the favorable compliments. One of the paths to happiness is to let the good thoughts consciously come into our heads more often and "stick."

#2 Based on her research, she said brain chemistry changes when you give - another path to happiness.

So to all my colleagues who are helping others by moving their organizations and missions forward, I wish you a very happy holiday season and a happy 2009.

Despite all the uncertainty in this universe, we can change our brain chemistry. Keep the good thoughts up front!

Reaching out in tough times

I have been reading a lot of advice from columnists, bloggers and consultants about how to weather these times. Many have concentrated on advising nonprofits to have a razor-sharp message; to tell donors and stakeholders exactly what their situations are during these times and hone their electronic messages.

I think this is just backwards. Everyone knows that these are tough times . .for almost everyone. The job market is uncertain and those with jobs are nervous. People who are ready to retire and who have retired are watching their portfolios decline (one of my main worries). Those of us in the marketplace are wondering who will be buying our products or services (another concern of mine).

So I think people in nonprofit have to practice what I call the platinum rule (we all know the golden rule): DO UNTO OTHERS AS THEY NEED AND WANT YOU TO DO UNTO THEM.

How does this translate to your practice? It means asking those you meet about their situation - not because you are probing for dollars - but because you are genuinely concerned about their well-being! Listening to them and putting this person's needs first and yours second is the key to building a strong connection.

Back to my blog

It's been quite a while since I've posted any thoughts . . .in fact, just before I was diagnosed with vocal chord cancer. You can imagine what a blow that was to some who makes a living speaking - both before an audience and every day on the telephone.

I had a raspy voice and went to an ENT physician to see why my allergies were acting up. I was in shock when he told me I had a tumor. A week later, the tumor was out and the cancer was diagnosed. They got it all with lots of radiation and now I recovering from that! Most of the time I have a sore throat and coughing spells.

But I am booking engagements for 2009 and introducing my new course, goBeyondhello, a three-day training that teaches nonprofits how to build their own Partnership Council.

I have been reading a lot of opinions about how to combat this downturn as fundraising necessarily continues. In the weeks and months to follow, I'll add my ideas.