Tebowing, Linsanity and Being Reactive vs. Proactive

Posted by: Craig Gross on May 16, 2012 in launch, learning with 0 Comments

I just heard that Robert Griffin III has filed some trademark applications.

Following his declaration for the NFL Draft, Griffin hired an attorney. Thereafter, he created his own company, Thr3escompany, LLC and submitted applications to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a total of four trademarks – RGIII, RG3, Robert Griffin III, and Unbelievably Believable. nd athletic events and activities.”

Jeremy Lin is fighting for the “Linsanity” trademark and Tim Tebow is fighting to own the “Tebowing” trademark. It is refreshing to see a young man like Robert Griffin be ahead of the curve and proactively begin to protect his intellectual property before any potential disputes arise.

I love the last line of this article that says ” It is refreshing to see a young man like Robert be ahead of the curve and proactively begin to protect his intellectual property before any potential disputes arise”

This post is not about trademarks. It is about being “ahead of the curve and being proactive”.

I come from the church world and those are two things that don’t describe the church most of the time. I have a lot of friends that are working at churches now that are changing that. My friend Bobby at Life church saw a need for the Bible on smart phones and started YouVersion long before everyone saw a need.

Your Non-Profit must be ahead of the curve and proactive…not playing catch up and being reactive.

And just cause… you are now asking.. Do you have to trademark the name of your Non Profit or a tagline?

Most cases I would say no, if you are the first to use it and you own the .com you are pretty safe. You can spend lots of money on this stuff which I would not bother with in most of your fields and in the end the trademark will not hold up against anyone that has used the name or slogan before you that can prove that. But if you need a good trademark attorney hit up Erik.

Transforming the Crowd

Posted by: Jake Larson on May 14, 2012 in Inspiration, leadership with 0 Comments

In our organization we are fortunate to have gathered a large crowd. We have millions who have followed our website, thousands who watch out tweets and Facebook posts, and thousands who talk about us in their communities. I don’t think anyone in our organization questions our ability to attract a crowd. However, the most powerful force for your organization is not simply a crowd but a committed, active, community of people. We appreciate the crowd but are desperate for people to take the next step and move from watching the organization from the outside to finding their place in our organization. You don’t have to hire to gain influencers. Every person has the potential to move from the crowd to an influencer of their environment.

In his book, Tribes, Seth Godin talks about moving the crowd to tribes. I see it as a movement from spectator to representative. Seth talks about how human beings can’t help but want to belong; we have a need to belong. The big mistake we often make is that we never invite our crowd to join the tribe and be part of a community, our community. We want our tribe to spread the stories we share, start our conversation with their friends, churches, and business partners.

Seth writes, “The answer, as you’ve probably guessed, is that there’s a difference between telling people what to do and inciting a movement. The movement happens when people talk to one another, when ideas spread within the community, and most of all, when peer support leads people to do what they always knew was the right thing.

Great leaders create movements by empowering the tribe to communicate.”

What message do you want your crowd to tell? Have you invited them to join your tribe or do you just pass on information to them? Have you drawn them close, given them a role to play, and invited a movement?

Great leaders do more than tell people where to go or what to do. Great leaders influence others to tell the story like it is their own!

Celebrate The Small Acheivements

Posted by: Ryan Russell on May 11, 2012 in Inspiration, leadership with 0 Comments

You work, work, work and then it feels like you all that is in store for you is more work. What if a breakthrough came? Would you notice? How would you know? What would be the signs? And when it comes, what will you do?

There definitely is a part of nonprofit work where you must put your head down and grind through the tough stuff. As we have said before, there will be nights when your passion keeps you up and you just can’t put the work down. But do you have goals? Do you have indicators of what “winning” will look like when it comes?

Our friends at Bogg recently got a new truck to aid their mission of feeding area people are in need. What a cool and huge win. Knowing these guys, they celebrated! Their goals are tangible. Their victories are real. Their mission is clear. Are yours?

I give you permission to celebrate when the breakthrough finally comes. Raise a drink and toast to the future. Call your supporters and share the good news. Celebrate the achievements and use them to fuel you into the future.

Knowledge Is Power

Posted by: Craig Gross on May 9, 2012 in leadership, learning, money with 0 Comments

I lived in Vegas for a couple of years. In Vegas, the casinos will make sure the odds remain stacked against you. I think the same thing applies in most small businesses today and Non-Profits. Most businesses fail today because of these reasons:
1. You start your business for the wrong reasons.
2. Poor Management
3. Insufficient Capital

4. Location, Location, Location

5. Lack of Planning

6. Over expansion

7. No Website

I just read this amazing article about Don Johnson, not the guy from Miami vice. Read it here. The thing that stood out to me is this quote

He is an extraordinarily skilled blackjack player. Tony Rodio, who succeeded Giannantonio as the Trop’s CEO, says, “He plays perfect cards.” In every blackjack scenario, Johnson knows the right decision to make. But that’s true of plenty of good players. What gives Johnson his edge is his knowledge of the gaming industry. As good as he is at playing cards, he turns out to be even better at playing the casinos.

Don made some money.. lot’s of it. The CEO of Trop’s says
1. Extraordinarily Skilled
2. Makes the Right Decisions Every Time
3. Knowledge of Gaming Industry
4. Good At Playing Cards but GREAT at Playing The Casinos

What four things would people say about you and the work you do in your field?

You Are More Than Money

Posted by: Jake Larson on May 7, 2012 in Donors, Fundraising with 2 Comments

In the book, More Than Money, Dale Berkey talks about valuing the relationship with donors and potential donors above all else. There are many people who have the ability to make money well. They make and lose money throughout their life but they just have this ability to make something out of nothing; including money! Berkey outlines 3 tactics for seeking donations from high-capacity people and points to one as the winning tactic.

The first approach is Technique Driven. This focuses on direct mail, special events, an emphasis on tax-deductions and recognition. It is not that this approach does not net donations but is it the most effective? Often times special events require a substantial amount of leadership time and money to organize and prepare. These hours and dollars significantly reduce the value of donations. A friend recently shared with me about their annual fundraising dinner failure. They hired an outside fundraiser, flew this person in for the event, spent countless hours preparing, and hoped to reach their goal. The result was less than half what they projected and resulted in some severed or at the least damaged relationships. I am not saying that you should never do special events to raise funds, but I don’t believe we should lean on these events as the main strategy for donations.

The second approach is Institution Drive. This focuses on the results of the organization. These are stories that are being shared of how your organization is making a difference and worthy of your support. Recently in our organization we created postcards with stories to send to donors. When we thank them for their support we include one of these cards to show them what there money is doing. This is a great way to show donors that lives are being changed. In no way would I recommend a soft approach to story telling or removing stories of impact from your organization, but is it a stand alone approach to effective fundraising? I don’t believe so, there has to be more depth.

The third and final approach is Donor-Driven. Berkey says that “donor-driven development is the healthiest approach by far.” This strategy focuses on building relationships with donors. The relationship is not built on what the organization is doing but on the donor. How can you help the donor in his or her life? This approach tells the donor you care about them as a person, not just about their money. This approach moves away from the donor as an ATM machine and approaches them as a friend, colleague, and at times a mentor. In order to develop this approach you must actually care about the donor and invest in their wellbeing. If you are not a good people person you will probably not be effective at donor-driven development.

Many fundraisers talk about their donors becoming close friends and people they share life with. At the end of the day, people want to be known and respected. They want to have caring relationships where they are valued for who they are and not simply what they have. This approach will net you more than dollars but partnerships.

Develop your donor-driven strategy today!

The Awkward Fundraising Phone Call

Posted by: Ryan Russell on May 4, 2012 in money with 0 Comments

I got the most awkward phone call yesterday from a soon-to-be missionary. My phone never rings from this person but because of the power of social media I am tangentially aware of his pending plans and also of his need to be fundraising. Compounding the rough start of the call is that he got me confused with another Ryan he has in his phone’s contact list. Before he could turn the corner in the conversation I was wishing I hadn’t picked up. (Don’t worry, him and I will still be friends… And I might even give him a chance to pitch me again.)

So you have a need to fundraise, I get it! However, here are some Basic Fundraising 101′s that you should definitely keep in mind when you are beating the money path for your new organization.

  • Don’t ask for money if you haven’t talked to the person in well over a year.
  • Don’t ask for money on the very first time you introduce your new non-profit work.
  • Don’t treat close or semi-close relationships with any less attention to effort, information and details about your work than you would other prospective donors.
  • Do be passionate about your work. I need to feel that you are in this thing for the long haul, not just until something better comes along.
  • Be very well informed about all of the details of your organization too.
  • Follow up on every piece of additional information that a prospective donor might want… do it right away!
  • Have a sense of urgency about you. If you aren’t in a hurry to accomplish your mission, certainly donors won’t be either.
  • Be personable, try the phone and in-person meetings. Twitter and Facebook are generally only good for one-time funding requests under $100.
  • Do not, do not, do not be intimated.
  • And do not be arrogant either.
  • And please don’t beg or use guilt.
  • Be direct & clear
  • Cast a very compelling vision!
  • Be specific with your goal and with your outcomes.

Leadership and Some NBA history

Posted by: Craig Gross on May 2, 2012 in leadership with 0 Comments

My friend runs a Non-Profit and he was recently reviewed by one of his employees. He got a C- and then the employee got fired.

If your employees or volunteers gave you a grade what do you think your average score would be?
(The questions would need to be about your leadership and your ability to do your job.)

Would you fire the ones that gave you a low grade?

If you are a volunteer or a staff member and you give your boss a C- or lower I would quit. I think I heard once “An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.”

I have seen so many organizations that lack a solid leader and because of that their organization will never thrive. Don’t be that leader and don’t work for that person either. Chances are the person leading your organization knows what they are doing and with your help and support could go a long way.

Scottie Pippen is in the NBA 50 greatest player group. He played with Michael Jordan who obviously is in the top 50. Together they were great. They were my favorite team. Pippen never was as strong as Jordan but they had success because they knew how to play together and knew what it meant to be on a team. I still have both their rookie basketball cards. Pippen is worth $35 and Jordan’s is worth $3,000. Would Pippen make the top 50 without playing on Jordan’s team? Maybe Jordan needed Pippen just as much… He could sure use Pippen’s help with his Charlotte Bobcats team now.

The Power of a Question

Posted by: Jake Larson on April 30, 2012 in Donors, Fundraising, leadership with 1 Comment

There is a huge difference in effectiveness between command or dictation and probing or asking questions. Some one can tell you all day long what you should do to remedy your situation and it easily goes in one ear and out the other. Why? It is their idea. It is their discovery. You do not own it. When someone can discover truth, direction, or solutions through their own processing they are 100 times more likely to follow through with the solution.

People sit in counseling sessions everyday, read countless self-help books and yet make no progress in conquering their problems. The bottom line is this, when someone tells you what you should be passionate about it holds less value than when YOU discover your passion.

A friend told me this week, “Once you find your sweet spot no one will ask you if you found it because they will know.” When we discover answers to questions on our own – they stick with us and change us; the change is visible.

When you are leading others stop dictating and start asking. The power of a great question easily surpasses a strong command. One of the best communicators in the world is Jesus. Whether you believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ or not his ability to communicate is phenomenal. His preference was to ask questions. Here’s an example. When Jesus recognized the large crowd gathering to hear him speak, at lunch time, he asked one of his disciples, “Where are we going to get enough bread to feed all these people?” Through his question he involved the listener in the cause. He invited him to be part of the solution. The follower answered, “There is a guy over there who has some bread and a few fish.” They were now ready to solve the problem together. I could imagine his follower approaching the man with the food and passionately explaining the need. He was now engaged and a part of the solution.

Invite others to be part of your organizations mission through questions. Set the stage through questions for others to clearly discover the need that you believe in. There are so many hungry people in the world, how can we feed them? Millions of people are dying from unclean water, what in the world can be done to stop this crisis?

Questions are the best invitations.

So You’re Sitting With A Donor

Posted by: Jake Larson on April 27, 2012 in Donors, Fundraising, money with 0 Comments

Everyone wants to have the opportunity to sit down face to face with a potential donor. You have projects to be funded. Ideas that seem to be paralyzed by a lack of resources. The opportunity to sit with a potential donor that could solve some major problems is exhilarating. Your first donor meeting may go something like this. You walk in, introduce yourself, and then…..you throw up all your ideas, passion, and energy into their lap. Before you know it you are thanking them for the generosity and support – but they haven’t even opened their mouth, made a noise, smiled, nor expressed any commitment to you of any kind! Whoops – you just got was ahead of yourself!

So, when sitting with a potential new donor remember a few things.

1. Every Donor Has a Life That Includes Personal Passions, Gifts, and Interests

Generally people like to talk about themselves. A person showing genuine interest in the life of a donor is far more likely to receive financial support. Even though the individual person may know the nature of the meeting is to ask for support it is imperative not to come across as a starving activist. You may be, but you must not only pretend but truly care about hearing from this person about his or her life.

You never know what may happen when you listen. As the potential donor shares he or she may open the door to a huge connection to your organization. In your mind, the ask for this person was about “ABC” but as you listen to them talk about their life you realize their passion is connected to a different goal.

2. Engagement Leads to Money

Some of the most committed givers in our organizations are people who have found a place, a role, or a deep relationship. As someone works in your organization the needs become very apparent. Experiences speak more clearly than lips.

I was sitting with a donor the other day talking about our 10 year goals and asking him to commit to fund one in particular. He asked me how we were going to accomplish the goal. As I explained he started getting excited about setting up meetings and talking to strategic contacts about this goal. He told me that he could easily give money, but he wanted more. As we feed him engagement he will fund projects.

Not every donor relationship starts with the ask.

 

Ambition Plus Direction Equals Dangerous

Posted by: Ryan Russell on April 25, 2012 in launch, leadership with 1 Comment

In just seven days I have had the exact same conversation with three very ambitious, talented young leaders. These individuals are motivated, smart, and versed in the details of societal issues plaguing our world. And yet, the crux of our conversations has revolved around this statement, “I want to do something meaningful with my life, but I don’t know what it is”. Here’s a couple of thoughts if you find yourself in that same spot…

Ask for opportunities not for a job. 
I get several resumes and job request on a weekly basis. Hate to break it to you but I barely scan the email before I hit “delete” on my keyboard. Most nonprofits don’t have open jobs, but almost every single one of them has plenty of opportunities. Keep your eyes open. Look for places that you can contribute. Come with ideas and a willingness to get involved in some areas that need development.

Try new things.
Basic thought I know, but you are stuck for a reason. You already know ‘what’s out there’ and it’s standard fare stuff. You are going to have to reach outside of the norm and try something that you haven’t yet tried. Risk will be required. Heck, you might even be uncomfortable. You must become action oriented.

Focus on your natural abilities.
Some opportunities might come your way but may be a horrible fit for you. Don’t be silly. Just because someone has a chance for you to do lead vocals in a screamer band doesn’t mean that you have the skills to do it. Enhance your impact within an organization by leading in areas that have things that you do best.

Take on responsibility.
If a leader can see everything that needs to be done and has the capacity to do it then it goes without saying that they don’t need you. Take up the cause by taking up some responsibility. Be a person who can be counted on for more than is already being done. Do you new role exceptionally well. And then expand what you are given.

Next steps aren’t always straight out in front. 
Your involvement in a volunteer role won’t always turn into a new job with that very same organization. However, very few new jobs are staring you directly in the face. More than likely your new career, project or venture will be an indirect opportunity. Some of our interns launched their careers in other arenas, but their skills were tightly honed in-house. Additionally we propelled them with referrals and with work that has bolstered their new careers. Volunteering is only a waste of time if you have a narrow view on it.

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