Taking Notes and Taking Action

There are so many educational and training resources available to nonprofit leaders and fundraisers these days, one might wonder why more organizations aren’t doing better financially.

What’s easier than participating in an online webinar and taking notes?

Not much.

I should know. I conduct a monthly webinar and offer it without charge to those who participate. I choose the subjects for these based upon the recommendations of participants who complete the survey after each session.

I get a lot of takers. The thirst for knowledge seems to be out there.

During the sessions, I get a lot of questions. Seems like people want to know.

But.

Taking notes and getting golden nuggets is easy. It even gives you the feeling that you’re accomplishing something.

What I preach—and those who know me are aware of this—is that knowledge is only the first and easiest step in effecting real change. Making something happen.

The work, the effort, is in taking the time and effort to change your mindset based upon what you’ve heard—and then act upon it. To execute. To courageously move forward despite resistance.

What I say is simple. It’s not complicated. Nor does it take vast resources to implement.

I point you in the direction of the right mindset with some key navigational markers. To make things work, you’ll need to invest about four hours a month. That’s not much for a 200 percent or 300 percent (or even greater) increase in revenue in less than a year.

Very few folks take me up on my challenge. The reason? The most common is “I’m too busy.” Busy at what?

What’s more important than creating a sustainable, expanding revenue stream which provides the resources to fulfill your mission?

The deep irony is the number of people who request the actual PowerPoint. It’s as if the secret is in the words, somehow. Hmm. There’s no secret sauce there. There aren’t even many words. Does having the slides make it happen?

No.

I work to evoke an understanding, a way of looking at the problem that you may have not seen before. I construct the lens for you to look through.

Once you’ve seen it, nothing else remains but to act upon it. It’s up to you.

Principle 8 of The Eight Principles™ is Invest, Integrate & Evaluate™. It’s the principle of learning, coordinating, then acting—again and again. Go out and make it happen.

Will you?

Success is waiting. The only obstacle is (your) inaction.