essays – Nonprofits

Not Fine

No, I’m not fine.

And I bet I’m not alone.

The world around us is changing at an exponential rate, and we’re all just trying to keep our heads above water.

That’s especially true for nonprofits and associations right now.

They were already trying to change their part of the world with little more than paper clips and tape. 📎 🩹 Even those basic things are being cut back these days, just as the needs for their services are increasing.

I’ve worked with organizations that had more than one executive director end up in the hospital multiple times before they left. 👀 That’s a sure sign that something is wrong. And I don’t think the problem is just with those particular women.

Maybe not even women in general. Many of us – men and women alike – often end up overwhelmed with all that we take on.

It’s not just that we’re trying to do too much. 🔥 🤹‍♀️

We’re frequently trying to do too much of the wrong things.

And often for the wrong reasons. 🚫

There’s a song that came out during the pandemic that really speaks to this. In Truth Be Told, by Matthew West, a recurring chorus is: “I say I’m fine, yeah, I’m fine, oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine, but I’m not. I’m broken.“

For many of us – individuals and organizations – it’s important to step back and make sure we’re taking a good look at what we’re doing. 🔎

And why. 🤔

👉 Even if we have a plan, if the plan’s not working it’s time to change it. Or at least figure out why it’s “broken.”

At the very least, we need to admit that we’re not fine.

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If your organization is in pain, reach out to me. I may not be able to completely fix your brokenness, but I’ve got paper clips and tape as a start.