Your freedom of choice and the freedom to effect change in your own life is extremely powerful. This is a basic freedom we’ve all been blessed with at birth that we can use to accomplish extraordinary things in life. If you fail to use this freedom to your advantage however, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.
For example, let’s say you find yourself complaining about your job or your lousy boss. If I were speaking with you, the first thing I would ask you is, “what are you going to do about it?” I can only hope that this question would not be met with a blank stare.
The reality is that everyone has their own laundry list of things to complain about. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing to take the steps necessary to correct that which makes them unhappy. Able yes; willing no.
So, let’s assume that you are one of the few who recognizes when you need to make changes in your life. Please allow me to also assume that you’ll actually take the steps necessary to make it happen. To you I say: change is good. However, change also requires transition. And my friend, transition can be tricky.
To acknowledge that something needs to change in your life is only an initial step. This acknowledgement is meaningless if it does not push you in the direction of making the required transition. All too often people are willing to accept mediocrity with an excuse of “well, this is just the way it is”.
Change is good – transition is critical. The topic of transition can be clearly illustrated by looking at some real world, easy to understand examples.
For instance, I think we’d all be in agreement that Tiger Woods is one of history’s greatest golfers. The man’s accomplishments speak for themselves. Now, what do you think would happen if you sat Tiger in front of a video golf game? Just because Tiger Woods has unmatched skills out on a real golf course, does that necessarily mean that those skills will automatically transition to video golf?
I would bet my last dollar that a 13 year old, video-game-fanatic kid would kick Tiger’s butt in video golf. Do you get the point? The transition from real golf to video golf is not automatic. I’m sure Woods has the propensity to be great at video golf, but this would only be determined by how successfully he could make the transition.
Let’s take this concept into home based business. Let’s say you’re a good employee; recognized by your boss for doing a great job and complimented by those with whom you interact as someone competent at your tasks. Good for you – you can be proud of those accomplishments. The question then becomes, will your commendable job performance necessarily translate into an ability to effectively start and grow a business? The definite answer is NO.
The successful transition to becoming an entrepreneur is not guaranteed to the good employee.
Take a look at the network marketing industry. Network marketing has enabled more ordinary folks to enjoy extraordinary home based, entrepreneurial success than probably any other industry. BUT, that success IS NOT automatic. Just because you’re a good employee, does not mean you’ll be a successful network marketing business owner.
Your MLM business is just that – it’s a business. And, transitioning into and growing a business requires a specific skill set that must be learned and adopted. These skills include – but are not limited to – communication, marketing, organization and listening. You may already posses some of the required skills. If so, good for you! But, don’t stop there.
There is one sure way to increase your chances of success and that is to strengthen the skills you already have and to build up new skills where you’re deficient.
For anyone seeking success in the exciting world of network marketing – also referred to as multi level marketing or MLM – you’d be doing yourself a huge favor by preparing yourself properly. How to succeed in network marketing is much more than a function of being a good employee. It’s much more than having lots of energy and good intentions.
Success in a network marketing business of your own is a sum total of the real world, practical business skills you develop and hone. And, there are essentially two ways to build up the skills you’ll need: to learn them on your own or learn them from someone who has already taken the path you now wish to travel.
Is it possible to acquire these skills and succeed in business by trial and error? Of course it is. But, I can promise you this, it will be a long, painful and very expensive road. Investment in yourself by way of getting your hands on useful information is the path consistently taken by those who consistently succeed.
Doesn’t learning from others just make sense? For example, what would be the fastest, most efficient way to learn salsa dancing? To teach yourself how to do it or take classes from an accomplished salsa instructor? The answer should be obvious.
If you are looking to make the transition from employee to a successful network marketing business owner, the very best first step you could take is to get a copy of “The UNIVERSAL MLM Success Kit”. This training tool is jam packed with information and instruction that anyone could use to accomplish their goals in MLM. Go check it out now…you’ll be glad you did.
Saturday 14 February 2009
Link Building is an Important Part of Optimizing Your Website
If you are concerned about optimizing your corporate website and pulling in the most amount of quality web traffic as possible, link building should be a major part of your overall Search Engine Optimization and management strategy. It is one of the most important elements to any SEO and SEM campaign.
Link building is a very important part of search engine optimization (SEO) and management. The main role that link building plays in SEO is that it helps the search engines determine how important or valuable your site is considered to be by others. If high quality, high traffic sites are linking to your site, then logic dictates that your site is also high quality. It is sort of like being cool by association. Of course it is important to have many links coming into your site, but it is much more important to have high quality links attached to your website.
The key benefit to having high quality web sites, blogs and directories linking in to your website is that, for search engines, it is one of the major factors involved in determining the quality or usefulness of your website. Once search engines deem your site to be high quality, they will start sending more traffic to your site by giving your websites higher rankings, or status when accommodating web searches.
There have been a lot of rumours lately about linking no longer being important, thanks to black hat link building techniques. These rumours are simply not true. While there is no denying that some unscrupulous SEO imposters have tried to outsmart the search engines with some less than white hat link building techniques, this has not made search engines devalue links altogether. Search Engines have simply evolved and adapted find and punish black hat attempts at link building. This is why it is important to always link with high ranking sites and directories that are somehow related to your website content. As an example, a confection e-retailer would benefit from receiving links from high ranking suppliers, children’s sites, or shopping / review blogs, rather than links from dog kennels, garden shed suppliers, or computer review blogs. In other words, it is well worth your while to seek out links from high ranking, pertinent sites than it is to connect with low ranking, irrelevant sites.
So how do you know if you have found a white hat or black hat link building company? Well, there are a few clues. If link building is part of an overall and encompassing SEO strategy, this is a good sign you are in good hands. Ask for references from past and present clients. If the company you are considering gets accolades from their existing clients, this is also a good sign. Do not forget to ask questions. Ask the link building company if any of their clients have been black listed while under their care. If so, why and what did they do to get them out of the mess...were they successful in removing their ban? These are just some of the clues to help determine if you are dealing with a purely white hat company.
If you are concerned about optimizing your website and pulling in the most amount of quality web traffic as possible, do not ignore link building as part of your overall SEO strategy. It is one of the most important elements to any SEO and SEM campaign.
Link building is a very important part of search engine optimization (SEO) and management. The main role that link building plays in SEO is that it helps the search engines determine how important or valuable your site is considered to be by others. If high quality, high traffic sites are linking to your site, then logic dictates that your site is also high quality. It is sort of like being cool by association. Of course it is important to have many links coming into your site, but it is much more important to have high quality links attached to your website.
The key benefit to having high quality web sites, blogs and directories linking in to your website is that, for search engines, it is one of the major factors involved in determining the quality or usefulness of your website. Once search engines deem your site to be high quality, they will start sending more traffic to your site by giving your websites higher rankings, or status when accommodating web searches.
There have been a lot of rumours lately about linking no longer being important, thanks to black hat link building techniques. These rumours are simply not true. While there is no denying that some unscrupulous SEO imposters have tried to outsmart the search engines with some less than white hat link building techniques, this has not made search engines devalue links altogether. Search Engines have simply evolved and adapted find and punish black hat attempts at link building. This is why it is important to always link with high ranking sites and directories that are somehow related to your website content. As an example, a confection e-retailer would benefit from receiving links from high ranking suppliers, children’s sites, or shopping / review blogs, rather than links from dog kennels, garden shed suppliers, or computer review blogs. In other words, it is well worth your while to seek out links from high ranking, pertinent sites than it is to connect with low ranking, irrelevant sites.
So how do you know if you have found a white hat or black hat link building company? Well, there are a few clues. If link building is part of an overall and encompassing SEO strategy, this is a good sign you are in good hands. Ask for references from past and present clients. If the company you are considering gets accolades from their existing clients, this is also a good sign. Do not forget to ask questions. Ask the link building company if any of their clients have been black listed while under their care. If so, why and what did they do to get them out of the mess...were they successful in removing their ban? These are just some of the clues to help determine if you are dealing with a purely white hat company.
If you are concerned about optimizing your website and pulling in the most amount of quality web traffic as possible, do not ignore link building as part of your overall SEO strategy. It is one of the most important elements to any SEO and SEM campaign.
Monday 9 February 2009
Affordable Gift Suggestions For Your Groomsmen This Recession
In the past and up to our present time, a wedding between a man and a woman is indeed a joyful celebration. However, we are driven a 100% influence on the power of money to have a joyful wedding ceremony. Times have changed compared in the past. Weddings are joyful occasions to celebrate. But, you couldn’t have a successful celebration without the people who helped you. These are your families and friends who not only helped you out during the celebration but who have shown you that they are around when you needed them the most. You are overwhelmed and very grateful to all the people who had supported you, but gratefulness when not shown is like a wrapped gift not given. One of the people you are grateful to be there are the groomsmen. Their role not just for being the groomsman that day but also for being a friend who have helped and assisted in any way they can for the wedding to be successful are worthy to be grateful for. Of course, you are thinking the “oops” - which means spending again. But if you shop around and plan well there are a lot of cheap groomsmen gifts ideas that they will surely be glad to have.
To help you with your tight on the budget decisions, we have gathered and searched cheap groomsmen gift ideas that range from $5 to $15.
Money clip. Price ranges from $5.99 to $7.93. Men are usually not fond of bringing a lot of things, even a wallet. More often they would just bring cash and probably a cell phone. With this, a money clip could help in storing their cash securely.
Distinction Shot glass. Shot glasses come in various designs you can choose from. For instance, if he is an NFL fanatic, you can give him an NFL shot glass. Price starts at $8.33 to $12.
Flip flop sandals. A sandal is a men’s accessory that could come in different great styles, colors and materials. It is basic footwear that anyone would want to have for that casual or summer outing. You can find a durable flip flop sandals starting at $9 to $15.
Clear glass mug. Your groomsman can now easily drink like a fish with a clear glass mug, price ranges from $10.58 to $15. Another cheap groomsmen gift idea that he could use not only for a glass of beer but can also be used for any beverage like coffee or tea.
Waiting for the last minute won’t help you save your pennies. Shop around and compare prices. All of the gift ideas presented here can be personalized. Some can offer free personalization. Look around carefully and you might stumble upon stores that offer sale prices. A token of appreciation from you, will mean a lot for your groomsmen. You can even scout for any shopping codes or company promo codes to save. This means it is a win-win solution for your groomsmen and your pocket.
To help you with your tight on the budget decisions, we have gathered and searched cheap groomsmen gift ideas that range from $5 to $15.
Money clip. Price ranges from $5.99 to $7.93. Men are usually not fond of bringing a lot of things, even a wallet. More often they would just bring cash and probably a cell phone. With this, a money clip could help in storing their cash securely.
Distinction Shot glass. Shot glasses come in various designs you can choose from. For instance, if he is an NFL fanatic, you can give him an NFL shot glass. Price starts at $8.33 to $12.
Flip flop sandals. A sandal is a men’s accessory that could come in different great styles, colors and materials. It is basic footwear that anyone would want to have for that casual or summer outing. You can find a durable flip flop sandals starting at $9 to $15.
Clear glass mug. Your groomsman can now easily drink like a fish with a clear glass mug, price ranges from $10.58 to $15. Another cheap groomsmen gift idea that he could use not only for a glass of beer but can also be used for any beverage like coffee or tea.
Waiting for the last minute won’t help you save your pennies. Shop around and compare prices. All of the gift ideas presented here can be personalized. Some can offer free personalization. Look around carefully and you might stumble upon stores that offer sale prices. A token of appreciation from you, will mean a lot for your groomsmen. You can even scout for any shopping codes or company promo codes to save. This means it is a win-win solution for your groomsmen and your pocket.
Sunday 8 February 2009
A Guide To Buy Wholesale Gifts
When you buy wholesale gifts, the manufacturer or wholesaler will sell you the items as a retailer, and in the process you end up paying much less than you would have got them from a retailer, because you bypassed the latter. In buying wholesale, a consideration of the amount of gifts to buy is in relation to the people that you have in mind to give to. Many wholesale outlets usually have offers to shoppers buying wholesale with some reducing the price up to a certain percentage. You may wonder then how they make their money. It is called spreading risks. They may sell at a lower price but end up selling large amounts thus balancing their books when it comes to making profits. Some outlets even offer to act as a drop shipper for whatever you buy. This means that you may order wholesale via a retailer who does not stock the items that you require, and they just go to the wholesaler who will directly ship your items to you bypassing the retailer. This may however, come a price as the retailer will have to get the difference between the wholesale and retail price as his pay. It is therefore advisable to go direct to the wholesale
window.google_render_ad();
distributor for your wholesale needs. Remember, if you whole family are looking up to you, or you have a number of friends who are graduating from college, and you need to pass a message through special gifts; wholesale buying is the way to go. You end up reaching out to each and every one of them and touching them in a special way in a personalized manner without having to spend so much on buying individual gifts at retail price. Again, wholesale gifts usually come with other special incentives other than special discounts. This include being able to buy online and getting drop shipping services, not limiting you on orders-can be to the lowest minimum- no monthly charges and no membership charges. It therefore comes as no surprise that most people are turning to wholesale buying to cut on costs and for convenience. With the global financial downturn of recent times, it is perfectly understandable that everyone is keen on keeping cost to the maximum, only in this case (with wholesale buying) it is to their advantage. And who wouldn’t want to get gifts in bulk for convenience and then have them drop shipped to your door?
window.google_render_ad();
distributor for your wholesale needs. Remember, if you whole family are looking up to you, or you have a number of friends who are graduating from college, and you need to pass a message through special gifts; wholesale buying is the way to go. You end up reaching out to each and every one of them and touching them in a special way in a personalized manner without having to spend so much on buying individual gifts at retail price. Again, wholesale gifts usually come with other special incentives other than special discounts. This include being able to buy online and getting drop shipping services, not limiting you on orders-can be to the lowest minimum- no monthly charges and no membership charges. It therefore comes as no surprise that most people are turning to wholesale buying to cut on costs and for convenience. With the global financial downturn of recent times, it is perfectly understandable that everyone is keen on keeping cost to the maximum, only in this case (with wholesale buying) it is to their advantage. And who wouldn’t want to get gifts in bulk for convenience and then have them drop shipped to your door?
Internet Marketing -What is a forum signature
Forums are very good means of marketing a product or service. You can learn a lot from the posts of different people and at the same time, they can get tons of related information about you. But writing those posts everyday can tire you out without reaping rewards sometimes. So you would come to think, "How can this help me promote my goods?" The answer: good forum signatures.
What is a forum signature?
A forum signature is a block of information that is automatically attached at the bottom of each forum post. This usually contains links for sites owned by the author. It can be as simple as a text or include graphics and animations as well.
What is the importance of using forum signatures?
A forum signature is used to provide forum readers a link of an author's web page, usually related to the forum topic itself. It can be very useful especially for internet marketers as they can advertise their links by getting involved in forums. For more details www.achieving-liftoffs.com.They can expose their links to the forums that they join into, creating back links that increases their page rankings, putting them in front of search results from different search engines. And the more clicks they generate, the more potential for them to have a sale.
How can you add a forum signature?
You will definitely not have a forum signature unless you prompt yourself to create one. Normal texts can usually be typed down in forum sites but signatures with graphics and the like will need to be in an HTML code. To add a signature, go to a forum and sign up. Go to the link which will enable you to change your profile setting. Normally, you will find a signature box in it. Paste the text or code of your signature in the box and click the "attach signature" checkbox (if any) for your forum signature to automatically attach below your message.
How can you use your forum signature effectively?
•Make your signature a promotional tool. The forum signature can act just like an online advertisement on different sites. It should describe what you are promoting. Put together a profe
window.google_render_ad();
ssional and convincing content and make it short but sweet. (Tip: If you are not much of a computer savvy, there are several sites that offer forum signature designs. Just make sure that what you get is relevant to your product or service.)
•Include the link to your site. To make your signature more effective, include the link to your website. This will help you generate more traffic and will also help the readers learn more about the products or services that you are offering.
•Participate in a forum related to your site. Expose your signatures to relevant forums. Promoting your fly new motorcycle models in a forum for computer geeks? What can you possible get from that? Try forums for car lovers and you will surely find interested readers who would gladly look at what you have to offer. It is basic marketing-picking markets that have the same interest as you.
•Create threads. In forums, the readers usually skip the part of replies that are not related to their query. For more details www.website-conversion-mastery.com.If you look closely, thread creators get more clicks than thread repliers. This is because most of the readers would post replies without reading the other replies. So to generate more exposure for your site, create lots of threads in related forums to let other users see your signature rather than posting them as replies.
•Include your achievements. It is always a plus for an internet marketer's professional character if you put his achievements in the forum signature. When you including these, you will find your readers clicking on your signature to know more about you and what you have to offer.
If you are a senior member in a forum, you can also earn a lot of money by providing your signature to different forums. Keep in mind though that optimizing your forum signature to reap marketing reward is, by no means, an easy task nor an overnight matter. You still have to build trust and create value for your signature to have credibility. But through the proper content in your forum signature, you can be sure that you are a step closer.
What is a forum signature?
A forum signature is a block of information that is automatically attached at the bottom of each forum post. This usually contains links for sites owned by the author. It can be as simple as a text or include graphics and animations as well.
What is the importance of using forum signatures?
A forum signature is used to provide forum readers a link of an author's web page, usually related to the forum topic itself. It can be very useful especially for internet marketers as they can advertise their links by getting involved in forums. For more details www.achieving-liftoffs.com.They can expose their links to the forums that they join into, creating back links that increases their page rankings, putting them in front of search results from different search engines. And the more clicks they generate, the more potential for them to have a sale.
How can you add a forum signature?
You will definitely not have a forum signature unless you prompt yourself to create one. Normal texts can usually be typed down in forum sites but signatures with graphics and the like will need to be in an HTML code. To add a signature, go to a forum and sign up. Go to the link which will enable you to change your profile setting. Normally, you will find a signature box in it. Paste the text or code of your signature in the box and click the "attach signature" checkbox (if any) for your forum signature to automatically attach below your message.
How can you use your forum signature effectively?
•Make your signature a promotional tool. The forum signature can act just like an online advertisement on different sites. It should describe what you are promoting. Put together a profe
window.google_render_ad();
ssional and convincing content and make it short but sweet. (Tip: If you are not much of a computer savvy, there are several sites that offer forum signature designs. Just make sure that what you get is relevant to your product or service.)
•Include the link to your site. To make your signature more effective, include the link to your website. This will help you generate more traffic and will also help the readers learn more about the products or services that you are offering.
•Participate in a forum related to your site. Expose your signatures to relevant forums. Promoting your fly new motorcycle models in a forum for computer geeks? What can you possible get from that? Try forums for car lovers and you will surely find interested readers who would gladly look at what you have to offer. It is basic marketing-picking markets that have the same interest as you.
•Create threads. In forums, the readers usually skip the part of replies that are not related to their query. For more details www.website-conversion-mastery.com.If you look closely, thread creators get more clicks than thread repliers. This is because most of the readers would post replies without reading the other replies. So to generate more exposure for your site, create lots of threads in related forums to let other users see your signature rather than posting them as replies.
•Include your achievements. It is always a plus for an internet marketer's professional character if you put his achievements in the forum signature. When you including these, you will find your readers clicking on your signature to know more about you and what you have to offer.
If you are a senior member in a forum, you can also earn a lot of money by providing your signature to different forums. Keep in mind though that optimizing your forum signature to reap marketing reward is, by no means, an easy task nor an overnight matter. You still have to build trust and create value for your signature to have credibility. But through the proper content in your forum signature, you can be sure that you are a step closer.
How to Be a Nonprofit Development Director - Your First 100 Days
President Roosevelt, coming into office in the midst of the desperate years of the Great Depression, set the standard for new presidents to make their marks within their first 100 days in office.
And, like FDR, incoming President Barack Obama enters the White House at a time of great crisis with his own ambitious first 100 days to do list.
Chances are, if you’re coming on board as a nonprofit development director in today’s climate, you, too, may be facing a time of great instability.
Nonprofits, for the most part, have been hit hard by our nation’s economic woes. They’re facing challenges in terms of donations, staffing, government and foundation funding and organizational structure.
How can you make a difference quickly, while at the same time setting those important standards for your organization’s future sustainability?
Too often a development director’s worth is hastily measured by those without a true understanding of how development operates. Today’s grant proposal will more than likely take months, if not a year, to bear fruit. Establishing a successful individual donor campaign will certainly yield immediate results, but the real results may take years.
How can you best approach your new position in those crucial first 100 days?
Begin by giving yourself some time to review what’s been done in the past. Hopefully the grant files will be well organized, the database will be one that you’re already familiar with, you can access what has been done in terms of any type of annual appeal and events.
Make a list to determine what needs to be done in each of the following areas:
GrantsTake a look at your organization’s 990 or budget for the past three years to determine what percentage of the budget came from grant funding.
Has the organization run any past capital campaigns? Do they have a history of funding from the same funders every year? What efforts have been made to locate new sources of foundation or corporate funding? What is the organization’s goal for foundation/corporate funding? What types of relationships does the organization have with their foundation/corporate funders?
If you’ve been in the field for awhile, right off the top of your head, some new sources may come to mind. Make it a point to prioritize locating new sources of funding by doing weekly research.
Individual DonorsWho are your donors? Does your organization have any bequest gifts?
Make it a point to create a listing of your top ten to twenty donors. You’ll want to speak with them on the phone or meet with them personally within the upcoming 100 days to introduce yourself and learn about their connection with the organization.
Don’t make the mistake of solely focusing on your top donors. Query your database as well to find your most loyal donors. These may be individuals who only give $50 – but they’ve given every year for the past ten years. Make it a point to write, call or meet with as many of these individuals as well to introduce yourself and show your appreciation.
DatabaseI’m assuming that your organization has one ☺. Chances are, if you’re a new development director working for a smaller nonprofit and you are the sole development department, the database may be nonexistent or a bit of a mess.
Do your best to familiarize yourself with your organization’s database, the past protocols for data entry and reporting procedures – and absolutely set aside time for training if necessary.
CommunicationsHow has your organization communicated in the past? What does their website look like and who maintains it? Is their website current? What types of collateral does the organization have to express their mission? Is the organization logo prominent on all pieces of communication? Has communication with donors been current or sporadic? Has any effort been made to engage the local press?
Begin to outline a strong, consistent communications plan to keep your donors – and the public – informed.
StewardshipDoes the organization have protocols on stewardship? What are the guidelines for a thank you letter to a donor? To a corporate or foundation funder? When does the Board president or CEO sign the thank you letter? Are thank you calls made on a weekly basis?
Make a plan to gather all stewardship materials together and develop a consistent plan for thanking and retaining donors.
EventsFamiliarize yourself with past events, if any. How do they relate to the mission of the organization? Have they met goal? What are the expectations for the upcoming year?
BoardDuring your first 30 days you should make every effort to introduce yourself to every member of your board of directors if you haven’t already met. Find out how they became involved with the organization, what their fundraising goals are, and what kind of communication they’d like to receive from you.
CommunityHas your organization been involved with any community organizations in the past such as Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, etc.?
If so, make it a point to keep current on the connections. If not, you may want to consider how involvement might benefit your organization.
Your MissionProbably the most important part about your new job is your organization’s mission and how you relate to it. Your strong passion for the goals and value of your organization will be key to how well you are able to raise funds.
Whether you’re working for a museum, an arts organization, a free clinic, a school, a religious organization, etc., you must be thoroughly grounded and have a strong belief in the mission. Make it a point to learn why your organization was founded, who benefits, and why their services are so important to the community.
Wearing the many hats of a one-person development office is challenging! Make your first 100 days count.
And, like FDR, incoming President Barack Obama enters the White House at a time of great crisis with his own ambitious first 100 days to do list.
Chances are, if you’re coming on board as a nonprofit development director in today’s climate, you, too, may be facing a time of great instability.
Nonprofits, for the most part, have been hit hard by our nation’s economic woes. They’re facing challenges in terms of donations, staffing, government and foundation funding and organizational structure.
How can you make a difference quickly, while at the same time setting those important standards for your organization’s future sustainability?
Too often a development director’s worth is hastily measured by those without a true understanding of how development operates. Today’s grant proposal will more than likely take months, if not a year, to bear fruit. Establishing a successful individual donor campaign will certainly yield immediate results, but the real results may take years.
How can you best approach your new position in those crucial first 100 days?
Begin by giving yourself some time to review what’s been done in the past. Hopefully the grant files will be well organized, the database will be one that you’re already familiar with, you can access what has been done in terms of any type of annual appeal and events.
Make a list to determine what needs to be done in each of the following areas:
GrantsTake a look at your organization’s 990 or budget for the past three years to determine what percentage of the budget came from grant funding.
Has the organization run any past capital campaigns? Do they have a history of funding from the same funders every year? What efforts have been made to locate new sources of foundation or corporate funding? What is the organization’s goal for foundation/corporate funding? What types of relationships does the organization have with their foundation/corporate funders?
If you’ve been in the field for awhile, right off the top of your head, some new sources may come to mind. Make it a point to prioritize locating new sources of funding by doing weekly research.
Individual DonorsWho are your donors? Does your organization have any bequest gifts?
Make it a point to create a listing of your top ten to twenty donors. You’ll want to speak with them on the phone or meet with them personally within the upcoming 100 days to introduce yourself and learn about their connection with the organization.
Don’t make the mistake of solely focusing on your top donors. Query your database as well to find your most loyal donors. These may be individuals who only give $50 – but they’ve given every year for the past ten years. Make it a point to write, call or meet with as many of these individuals as well to introduce yourself and show your appreciation.
DatabaseI’m assuming that your organization has one ☺. Chances are, if you’re a new development director working for a smaller nonprofit and you are the sole development department, the database may be nonexistent or a bit of a mess.
Do your best to familiarize yourself with your organization’s database, the past protocols for data entry and reporting procedures – and absolutely set aside time for training if necessary.
CommunicationsHow has your organization communicated in the past? What does their website look like and who maintains it? Is their website current? What types of collateral does the organization have to express their mission? Is the organization logo prominent on all pieces of communication? Has communication with donors been current or sporadic? Has any effort been made to engage the local press?
Begin to outline a strong, consistent communications plan to keep your donors – and the public – informed.
StewardshipDoes the organization have protocols on stewardship? What are the guidelines for a thank you letter to a donor? To a corporate or foundation funder? When does the Board president or CEO sign the thank you letter? Are thank you calls made on a weekly basis?
Make a plan to gather all stewardship materials together and develop a consistent plan for thanking and retaining donors.
EventsFamiliarize yourself with past events, if any. How do they relate to the mission of the organization? Have they met goal? What are the expectations for the upcoming year?
BoardDuring your first 30 days you should make every effort to introduce yourself to every member of your board of directors if you haven’t already met. Find out how they became involved with the organization, what their fundraising goals are, and what kind of communication they’d like to receive from you.
CommunityHas your organization been involved with any community organizations in the past such as Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, etc.?
If so, make it a point to keep current on the connections. If not, you may want to consider how involvement might benefit your organization.
Your MissionProbably the most important part about your new job is your organization’s mission and how you relate to it. Your strong passion for the goals and value of your organization will be key to how well you are able to raise funds.
Whether you’re working for a museum, an arts organization, a free clinic, a school, a religious organization, etc., you must be thoroughly grounded and have a strong belief in the mission. Make it a point to learn why your organization was founded, who benefits, and why their services are so important to the community.
Wearing the many hats of a one-person development office is challenging! Make your first 100 days count.
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Nine Tips For Living a Harmonious Life in Retirement
Many people speak and write about living a harmonious life. Some of those people offer guidance that amounts to trying to help readers or hearers align their lives to the life of the writer/speaker. And many readers/hearers actually listen for a specific set of steps that will create harmony in their lives. I’m not presuming that the way I structure my life will be the way you need to structure your life. What I can offer is some guidance about the kinds of things that often create disharmony in people’s lives and some generalized tips to help you create harmony in your life.
First, let’s stop and think about what a harmonious life is. Webster’s dictionary defines the word “harmonious” this way: (1) having parts combined in a proportionate, orderly or pleasing arrangement: congruous, (2) having similar or conforming feelings, ideas, interests, etc: in accord; (3) having musical tones combined to give a pleasing effect: consonant. When we think about harmony in music, it is easy to hear and feel the harmony of the notes. Harmonious notes in music produce a pleasing and comfortable sound. The same is true of living a harmonious life: it produces a sense of pleasure and peace and it is comfortable because it has everything in an appropriate proportion. A harmonious life will also produce a pleasing connection between beliefs, feelings and interests and the way you live your life.
My top tips for creating and living a harmonious life are these:
1. Become very clear and conscious in your own mind about what are your beliefs, feelings, ideas, interests and values. If these are clear and consistent or harmonious, you have made the first and most important step.
2. Understand and define your priorities in life. What is most important to you? Is it inner peace or helping others or building a secure and comfortable life for your family?
3. Align your priorities with your values and interests. If they do not work together to create something pleasing, you have a dissonant chord that will prevent you from living a harmonious life. Your priorities will be easier to honor if they are in harmony with your beliefs and values.
4. Base your goals on your values and priorities. Most of us are trying to achieve something at most times in our lives. Setting goals for ourselves that are not consistent with our values and our present priorities, we are not very likely to achieve them. While your values will remain fairly consistent throughout your life, your priorities will change from time to time. If your goals are in conflict with your values or your present priorities, you will experience disharmony and you will probably not achieve your goals.
5. Allocate your time according to your values, interests, priorities and goals. I often work with people who are trying to re-align their lives and their goals but do not reallocate their time in ways that match. Let’s face it, there are only so many hours in a day! If your priority and your goal are to spend more time with your family, you need to stop working until 9 pm.
6. Focus your energy on your highest priorities and on the achievement of your goals. It is very easy to see some low-priority project you think needs to be done and expend all of your energy trying to get it done to get it off your mind. But doing this diverts your focus, your time and your energy from the things you have said are most important to you. If your goal is to build a tree house with your son or daughter this month, working on your golf game needs to wait until next month.
7. Don’t take on more than you know you can reasonably do without creating exhaustion or stress. Taking on new responsibilities or tasks should be a considered decision. It should be considered in terms of the balance of your life according to your values and your priorities. If something doesn’t fit, you will probably be more content in your life if you don’t agree to do it.
8. Cherish the feeling of harmony and peace when you create it. Learn what that peaceful harmony of life feels like. Enjoy the peace and the feeling that your life is within your control and matches your values and priorities.
9. When you feel that your inner harmony is being disrupted, stop and think through your values and present priorities. Re-evaluate and see what needs to stay and what needs to go.
If you will take these steps to think about what you want in life and align both your time and your energy with a focus on values and priorities, you will begin to enjoy the peace of a harmonious life. You probably noticed, however, that there is no step 10 in this process. This is because you will be constantly aligning and re-aligning your time, your energy, and your focus when your present priorities change and when your values become clearer and your interests change. Enjoy the sound of perfect harmony!
First, let’s stop and think about what a harmonious life is. Webster’s dictionary defines the word “harmonious” this way: (1) having parts combined in a proportionate, orderly or pleasing arrangement: congruous, (2) having similar or conforming feelings, ideas, interests, etc: in accord; (3) having musical tones combined to give a pleasing effect: consonant. When we think about harmony in music, it is easy to hear and feel the harmony of the notes. Harmonious notes in music produce a pleasing and comfortable sound. The same is true of living a harmonious life: it produces a sense of pleasure and peace and it is comfortable because it has everything in an appropriate proportion. A harmonious life will also produce a pleasing connection between beliefs, feelings and interests and the way you live your life.
My top tips for creating and living a harmonious life are these:
1. Become very clear and conscious in your own mind about what are your beliefs, feelings, ideas, interests and values. If these are clear and consistent or harmonious, you have made the first and most important step.
2. Understand and define your priorities in life. What is most important to you? Is it inner peace or helping others or building a secure and comfortable life for your family?
3. Align your priorities with your values and interests. If they do not work together to create something pleasing, you have a dissonant chord that will prevent you from living a harmonious life. Your priorities will be easier to honor if they are in harmony with your beliefs and values.
4. Base your goals on your values and priorities. Most of us are trying to achieve something at most times in our lives. Setting goals for ourselves that are not consistent with our values and our present priorities, we are not very likely to achieve them. While your values will remain fairly consistent throughout your life, your priorities will change from time to time. If your goals are in conflict with your values or your present priorities, you will experience disharmony and you will probably not achieve your goals.
5. Allocate your time according to your values, interests, priorities and goals. I often work with people who are trying to re-align their lives and their goals but do not reallocate their time in ways that match. Let’s face it, there are only so many hours in a day! If your priority and your goal are to spend more time with your family, you need to stop working until 9 pm.
6. Focus your energy on your highest priorities and on the achievement of your goals. It is very easy to see some low-priority project you think needs to be done and expend all of your energy trying to get it done to get it off your mind. But doing this diverts your focus, your time and your energy from the things you have said are most important to you. If your goal is to build a tree house with your son or daughter this month, working on your golf game needs to wait until next month.
7. Don’t take on more than you know you can reasonably do without creating exhaustion or stress. Taking on new responsibilities or tasks should be a considered decision. It should be considered in terms of the balance of your life according to your values and your priorities. If something doesn’t fit, you will probably be more content in your life if you don’t agree to do it.
8. Cherish the feeling of harmony and peace when you create it. Learn what that peaceful harmony of life feels like. Enjoy the peace and the feeling that your life is within your control and matches your values and priorities.
9. When you feel that your inner harmony is being disrupted, stop and think through your values and present priorities. Re-evaluate and see what needs to stay and what needs to go.
If you will take these steps to think about what you want in life and align both your time and your energy with a focus on values and priorities, you will begin to enjoy the peace of a harmonious life. You probably noticed, however, that there is no step 10 in this process. This is because you will be constantly aligning and re-aligning your time, your energy, and your focus when your present priorities change and when your values become clearer and your interests change. Enjoy the sound of perfect harmony!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)