Persistence Overcomes Resistance.

 

Action is poison to failure.

I love to play Free Cell, a computer game using risk and strategy. Sometimes I say, “Screw it. Stupid game.” but I try one more time. Bingo! I win! That’s persistence overcoming resistance.

Since 1998, I’ve been part of the faculty at the University of Wisconsin Fundraising and Development for Non-profits Conference. Each year Don Gray, conference chair and Major Gift Laureate says development professionals need “patient persistence.”

On my Artful Asking Success Club call Karen Osborne, internationally recognized advancement coach, said that her legacy of advice was “be persistent.”

You, as a major gift fundraiser, are an “entrepreneur” with your own “book of business” no matter your organizational structure. Over half of you will fail within the first five years. You who persist will enjoy incredible success. Just keep going.

“Persistence overcomes Resistance” is a mindset.
Tomorrow I will try again – but in a different way.
What if it were possible …..?
What else can I do to get the result I want?
This didn’t work, what’s next?
No “yes” today. No judgment. I’ll stay in touch.

At the ICAA (Independent College Advancement Associates) conference earlier this month, I joined minds in my brand new session – a mastermind experience for senior advancement folks – and we dug into new ideas for critical challenges (see the feedback below). And we took a look at BIG challenges – surprise leadership changes, crumbling infrastructure, changing financials, staff churning and on and on. Teased and energized with, “Have you tried this?” folks persisted to overcome resistance.

Paralyze resistance with persistence. — Woody Hayes

What do we resist?

• Change
• Exposure – someone will see us as inadequate
• Risk
• Uncertainty
• Possible failure

Persistence overcomes our internal resistance. No, not the “squeaky wheel gets oiled” folks. Those naggers can be a real pain in the butt.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” — Maya Angelou

Persistence overcomes resistance.

1. Working with your Major donors……

Major giving is a long-term relationship thing, but you do need to be IN a relationship. If your girlfriend heard from you once a year…well, how would that go? Folks are juggling a lot. We need to persist in connecting with our donors. We need to drop the judgment that it’s about us. We need to persist – patiently – to educate, engage and invite to invest, and then repeat.

2. In your annual fund appeals….

NOW you should be planning your theme, segmentation, signatories, stories, numbers, channels and timeline for your yearend campaign. How you persist in repeatedly providing an opportunity to connect will draw givers in and overcome their resistance (too busy right now, where’s the check book, it’s hard to get online, etc.).

3. In your life…..

Do it afraid. Try it without being sure. Love a porcupine. Learn, adjust and try it again. Repeat. Persist. You will have hard, busy, disappointing times – ok. IT’S ALWAYS TOO EARLY TO QUIT. Now I will explore another way. Just keep DOING, REVIEWING, ADJUSTING and RE-DOING. Action is poison to failure. We become what we think about – think about what you will do next

Remember….you really can’t get stuck on a broken escalator.

Persistence overcomes resistance. I have total faith in you persisting.