Mid-Year Tune up – Marcy Style
How are you FEELING about this year so far?
Excited? A little overwhelmed?
Proud of what you’ve accomplished…or wondering where the last six months went?
Maybe a little of all of the above.
Late June, after teaching a Major Gifts Master Class for the Wisconsin Technical College System Foundations staff, I sat down and read every evaluation. It was a GREAT DAY, and I got the expected feedback about fundraising techniques, major gifts, and my Three-Sentence Artful Ask.
But I got more, over and over again, about something entirely different.
Mindset.
My sessions always begin with mindset. I can see the eyes roll – “yeah, yeah, just teach me how to get major gifts already.”
Yet here were some of the comments for, “Your biggest take-aways…”
The words we use are key.
Looking at my work—and myself—differently.
Simply changing the way I think about my work made everything click.
Your reframing negative language exercise.
Choosing better words that really do Create a JOYFUL GIVER – not just pay lip service to it.
How we talk about our donors TO them and ABOUT them.
How we talk about ourselves – out loud and in our heads.
One comment especially caught my attention. After spending time covering A LOT of material, looking at the clock, one participant gently reminded me that I had said, “I’m already behind.” She ended her note with a smiley face and suggested I replace it with, “I’m precisely on time.”
Touché. She was absolutely right. Teachers need reminders, too.
This also prompted me to consider where I need to make changes, updates, write new songs! We are, after all, halfway through the year!
So before simply making another to-do list, looking at what wasn’t on track or finished…I decided I needed to ask myself a few better questions. Dig deeper. Let me share this with you.
Here are the 7 areas I chose to consider – yours may be very different:
- Personal health
- My band – music overall
- Personal finances
- Long term planned giving and legacy planning
- Home and work environment (home, office, garden)
- Family, Friends, Clients – Connecting and Supporting
- Business Planning and Implementation
You may have thought that running my business would be Number 1. In fact, when my weight topped 205 pounds – I hated to take the stage – singing or speaking. Now at 150 pounds, I’m no model, but I look a whole lot better. It was a major shift in how I used my time and creating new habits. Anyway – pick your areas and, of course, you can change them!
“It’s YOUR life to make delicious!” Marcy Heim
As I reflected on these areas of my life, these questions became my guide:
- Why is this area important to me?
- What’s already right?
- Where am I struggling, procrastinating or stuck?
- Who can help me?
- What’s my first next step?
You may notice one question that seems almost too simple.
What’s already right?
I included it on purpose. My mind jumps to what’s not even started, what isn’t finished, and where I could have done better. Maybe yours does too?
Unless I intentionally stop and look for what’s already right, I can miss the relationships that have grown, the conversations that mattered, the progress that’s been made, and the joy that’s been present all along. Personally and professionally.
Gratitude doesn’t always happen naturally.
You need to remind yourself to look for it – give thanks – cherish all that is good and right in your world…and THEE world. Consciously! Deeply! And it may inspire you to send a note, make a call or just hug your kids/friends/colleagues/donors a bit longer. In a world that can feel very judgy – more than ever – this is an important part of any reflection.
Celebrate the lives you’ve touched and the relationships you’ve strengthened or repaired.
Celebrate the courage it took to keep going when things weren’t easy.
Celebrate what is already right. Where you moved forward to get the results!
Then look at where you are not where you want to be – Not critically, but with curiosity. WHY am I stuck? What am I afraid of? Who can help me figure this out. And let me tell you, today that might well be conversations with your favorite AI!
Then ask yourself the most important question, “What’s my next step?” The one that will restart this. Not your next ten steps. Not your five-year plan. Just your next intentional step.
As for me?
This helps with the clutter – just like my closet needs all those fat clothes GONE – each area has one key step to take that will get me reset.
Trust me on this — you will see it.
So the second half will be where you really score – just like the Green Bay Packers!
Why – you looked at where it didn’t work in the first half – adjusted the defense. What is the mindset you need now and who/what can help you focus on what will make the magic happen!
Each area has one step. All more focused on what matters most.
So…Woo Hoo!
You’ve made it this far in pretty darn good shape! It’s halftime and your gearing up for the second half. Go Pack! Go Marcy! Go YOU!
You don’t change your life by judging where you’ve been. You change it by choosing your next intentional step.
Begin with gratitude, continue with intention, and find the one beautiful next step in each area.
You’re totally got this….and I’ve got you until you do.
Invest in Joy!™
