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From the Mailbox to the Living Room Part 1 – How we talk about creating an Inspiring Donor Journey

Today I’m headed to Austin to present AFP Austin’s Major Gift Intensive! Excited to share major giving magic – even more excited to be WARM! There’s still SNOW in my backyard!

Flowers in snow!

Along with the snow and the deep layer of accumulated leaves and branches are these determined flowers! No stopping them! There’s a lesson there for you. YOU, too, can push through barriers to SHINE!

One of our biggest barriers is that “line” between all the transactional stuff we do with our donors and really wanting to foster a personal relationship.  Sometimes that “line” feels like a 50-foot high cement wall, doesn’t it? But if the goal is to begin a conversation about a MAJOR gift and life-long giving….we NEED TO HAVE that first IN-PERSON visit.

Here’s how my colleague Tim Logan, a direct response expert, pictures it.  If you are coming to AFP ICON April 16-18 jump into the session I’ll be doing with Tim and Nancy Gerard, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Georgia Cumberland Academy. It’s Monday, April 17, 8-9:15 am.  The title – Getting from the Mailbox to the Living Room! Creating an Inspired Donor Journey. For those of you not able to attend, my next series of blog posts will be dedicated to this topic AND go more in depth! Wohoo!

The Development Gap

So back to that call to begin an IN-PERSON relationship…

Maybe you call and use all those phrases you have been told – ask for advice, you just want to thank them, you want to give them an update or share a new program….

Maybe you get anxious over how many times you should call them before you are a pest. Should you leave a message? Maybe some people just don’t want to meet, right?

Did you ever consider that getting together in person might be just as scary for them as it is for you?  They may be wondering what you are going to ask them – will they be put on the spot? Will you ask for money? What do you reallywant?

While this is only one step in creating an inspiring donor journey – it’s an important one in bridging the gap between transactional interactions and those that build a more genuine in-person relationship. Let’s figure out how to start building a bridge.

Deepening Transactions to a Real Relationship – Part I – Securing the first in-person visit.

1.    Transactions give you a starting point.

Whatever your giver may have done to date – made an annual gift, attended an event, volunteered, responded on social media…. they have ‘raised their hand’ and said they are interested in your mission. 

2.    Research helps you narrow the list.

We are constantly looking for what we share – “Oh, you like ABBA too?”  Consider your current major donors. What values and interests do they have?  Family? Faith? Children? Art? Music?  If you have a large list of smaller donors consider using a wealth research product to narrow down the list you want to engage personally.

3.    Determine the purpose of your call – and stick to it!

If you call to say, thank you – say thank you. Period.  If you call to say you appreciate them liking your facebook post. Say that. Period.  If you just sent out an appeal in an email and you want to know if they saw it and are considering a gift. Say that. If you want an appointment. Say that. 

“Hi! This is Marcy from Southside Day School. I’d really like to get to know you better. Would a morning cup of coffee or an afternoon conversation work for us to meet? It will be so nice to hear your thoughts on the school.”

4.    Get your mind set for success.

“We become what we think about.” (Earl Nightingale) Before you make any of these calls, consider that you are fun and enjoy being with people – hearing about their lives, sharing things you have in common and bringing them to better understand your non-profit.  You aren’t qualifying them, interrogating them, asking them, or judging them.  Would you want to meet with someone like that?

5.    Real relationships take time. 

“Hi! My name is Marcy. Will you marry me?” Oh right, I’m already married. While I do believe in love at first sight – I fell for Ken the second I saw him – it takes time to grow the relationship. You may feel more efficient if you gather a lot of key information over the phone or on the first visit –people often love to share.  You’ll be more effective LISTENING even if you don’t get through your list of data points you wanted from this visit.  If you are “processing” your visit list – and really don’t care about authentically getting to know them, it’s SO apparent on you call. I wouldn’t meet with you either.

6.    Let people know you are going to call or call back.

Use different vehicles to let someone know you are working to connect. Send a text that you are going to call in an hour or so.  Write a note saying you want to get together and will call to find a time. If you call LEAVE A MESSAGE.  Research shows that messages (well done messages) are 90% as effective as actually talking. Be conversational (even if you have scripted it and practiced it), genuine, caring and brief. Don’t ask them to call back. Let them know when you will call again OR ask them to look for an email from you. Or send an email letting them know you are calling.

7.    Always have a next step in mind.

If they don’t want to meet in person ask if they would be more comfortable joining a group of people meeting on Tuesday morning. Or see if coming to your offices is something they would rather do. Or what would be their advice for making this visit happen?  

8.    Call them again a few days later with a reflection of your earlier call.

“Marcy here – I was thinking about you today – I believe you like our XYZ program.  Today we had the best thing happen and I wanted to share it with you.”  This can be done on the phone, email, text…

9.    This whole getting together piece is easier with someone they know, like and trust in the middle. 

Best, if the friend has time, invite them to join in.  I remember once at a board training session talking about Board members making introductions. One looked so annoyed so I said, “This doesn’t seem to be resonating.” She replied, “I’m not going to set up my friends to be hit up for money.”  By all means, invite the board member along and please don’t “hit them up!” What a great opportunity to educate on the art of fundraising!

10.    Decide you really like this piece of our work!

If you really do love your mission, and you feel your mission is worthy of the investments of others – just stay the course. How long until you give up?  In the sales world they say 20 calls in 2 weeks – Can you believe this? I say it depends on how much you already know – if you feel there is potential for a major gift at some point, I’d stay in touch. I used to dress up, put on perfume, and head into a conference room for 2 hours twice a month – smile like crazy – believe these were all people who really wanted to get to know me and us better and I’d just start calling. “Marcy here, just checking in to see how you are doing.”  What about the notion that some people really just don’t want to meet in person. I guess so. If your focus is whatever is best for them, you will always be right.

Admit 1

Next time – Face to Face for the first time – Do’s and don’ts.

Until then – you have a calling and I’m so grateful you picked fundraising and development work to share your gifts as staff, donors and/or volunteers. More and more being real – genuine – clear – direct – simple. The world may seem complicated right now. Your life doesn’t have to be.  SHINE ON!

Invest in JOY®

Warning signs that it’s NOT Capital Campaign time!

Wowza. Who ISN’T talking about launching a capital campaign?

To be sure….celebrating a successful capital campaign and the TRANSFORMATIONAL impact it has on magnifying your mission is just the BEST PARTY IN TOWN! Everyone is happy and excited – filled with hope for what tomorrow will bring.

What's Next?

And most donors are already asking, “What’s next?” because both the tangible results and the pure joy of giving to these worthy goals is the best inspiration for donors being ALL-IN to tackle the next project!

Campaign success begets...
United Way 2023 Campaign Celebration

I’ve been blessed to be at many of these celebrations. But not all campaigns end this way. Too often I’m asked to jump in after failed campaigns. Or we get into the Campaign Readiness work only to find some big obstacles. In my over 15 years consulting on increasing major giving – and then often into capital campaigns, there are times when the Check Engine light comes on.  

You can download scores of Campaign Readiness Checklists and sure, I have one too. (Just hit reply and I’ll send it your way.) But some of these issues are more subtle and truly campaign crushers.

Three BIG Barriers to Campaign Success

1. Fear of raising THAT much money.

When leaders – Deans, ED’s, CEO’s, Principals, Presidents – call them whatever you wish – cannot get past their own limiting beliefs about money and wealth – they will never really believe that their organization can raise THAT MUCH MONEY – and it never will. While many leaders may begin in this space – participating in a few key conversations and getting some experience personally involved in a relationship with a major donor’s joy in giving can often open a whole new understanding.  But some mindsets cannot be turned.  Even after a board chair gift of $100,000, one leader still fired her development director and started a golf outing instead – a sure way to insure giving would stay within HER comfort level. Sad.

2. Just what are we raising the money for yet?  

You would think this is the one piece that is really in place.  I use the phrase, “Vibrant Options for Giving” and these need to be in place every day and crystal clear for your campaign. Yet I continually find that fundraising priorities are clear as mud.

BIG donors STILL want BIG VISIONS!

Big donors STILL want BIG VISIONS. Clarity in how your fundraising priorities lead to both current and future growth and impact is VITAL to securing lead campaign gifts. This may well take an investment into a Facilities Strategic Planning consultant and/or a facilitated conversation to get ideas and buy in to set these priorities. GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW AND QUACKING TOGETHER!

I’m doing a webinar for AFP Global, https://afpglobal.org/events

Vibrant Options for Giving! Get Clear!, May 31, 2023,from 1:00-2:00 pm ET.

3. It takes money to make money – but not THAT much!

A rule of thumb is that your campaign budget should be based on about 10% of your campaign goal. For smaller campaigns it may need to stretch a bit higher than 10%. This budget is ADDED TO your campaign goal to be raised. And, you can see that if you don’t have your act together on the campaign funding priorities and what they cost – coming up with even a beginning goal can be tough.

Getting started can be expensive – you may be thinking of campaign counsel! Actually the bigger costs involve getting the internal staffing and systems in place. Do you have one development professional wearing six hats? Is your data base version no longer even supported? Campaigns are not “business as usual” because they involve volunteers and MUST BE a major percentage of your development professional’s focus. Staffing for “events” large and small campaign conversations is needed. Someone to track all of this – and this isn’t your major gifts officer! So staffing and systems is a big investment at the start of a campaign. BUT it is the KEY PIECE to having LASTING TRANSFORMATION.  You want your development office to be different at the other end – ready to steward all those new major donors and take action on the “What’s next?” spirit that’s been created.

Now there are “do-it-for-you” campaign consultants. And generally they have the team to do most of it for you. Sadly, while they may raise the goal, too many organizations implode following the campaign because the development shop and vision has not grown! They have just been the puppets of the campaign machine. And – donors tend to drop off because the work was transactional. Campaign over – transaction over – giving over.

GCA Campaign Celebration

Celebrating successful campaigns have been some of my most cherished memories. Visiting my clients post-campaign and seeing the lasting changes of a well-executed, relational, donor-focused effort is beyond rewarding. Remember that long-term successful campaigns raise more than money. Yes, they create new buildings and programs AND they build new and deeper partnerships, friendships, relationships, legacies and memories — that LAST!

Invest in JOY®

Embrace Mahalo

 Mahalo!

This word brings comfort and a big smile to me! Mahalo to Troy Wada, CEO of Inpac Wealth Solutions, and the Presenting Sponsor of my day-long MORE Major Gifts – Ask for Anything Artfully Workshop in Honolulu. 
  
Hawaii Troy, Marcy
Listening to the stories, struggles and successes of over 250 non-profit partners revealed a deep-set Mahalo for this beautiful place, its history, and its people. 
 
  
Mahalo is more than ‘thank you.’ Although the word is used in normal, daily scenarios, I could feel that Mahalo has a far deeper meaning to the people of Hawaii. Mahalo means to “live in thankfulness for the abundant blessings of life.” When you visit Hawaii you discover how this quality distinguishes not only the Hawaiians, but all Polynesians, from the rest of the world.  
 
  
During my workshop, we traveled around my Cycle of Successful Relationships. I’d like to dedicate this blog to “Being a Grateful Recipient,” all my new Hawaii friends, and the spirit of Mahalo!  
 
Hawaii Workshop participants
 
  
“Being the Grateful Recipient” means to “activate” or “call upon” the Grateful Recipient. This part of the cycle is also commonly called “Stewardship.” In the simplest sense, “stewardship” means as non-profits you are managers or “stewards” of the generosity of others. Not owners. Just like you steward your land for all generations to come, you steward the gift, managing these resources for your donors.  Thus, how effectively you use these gifts, how well you “steward” these gifts according to THEIR wishes, creates the experience for your givers to want to invest again.  This is Mahalo.

  
The experience made me remember Maya Angelou’s quote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”


Hawaii AFP
  
So…how do you bring more Mahalo into your life?

 Hawaii 2023 Marcy & Ken
1.     Be aware of, and focus on, the everyday ‘gifts’ you take for granted.  Plus, research shows that when you are intentionally grateful even for those less pleasant tasks in your life (cleaning the cat box comes to my mind) you are more joyful, in the moment and others feel more appreciation from you. 
  
2.     Take judgement out of the equation.  Be grateful just to ASK a giver to consider a gift – regardless of their decision. Your feelings of disappointment or judgement can be the biggest barrier to continuing a relationship that leads to giving in the future.
  
3.     Practice being grateful.  Be the person whose appreciation feels sincere because you are not on autopilot.
  
4.     Decide to be grateful for even the unpleasant things that happen to you.  See these as opportunities to grow from and that they are few compared to all that is good in your life.
  
5.     Remember your tone, actions and words impact others around you. Show up with Mahalo.
 
  
Marcy Hawaii book signingWith over 2 decades of managing development team members, and almost another two coaching them, I can spot someone who will excel in inspiring major giving – you are genuinely grateful. How you interact and express this will be different, but others get this feeling from you. It comes through your written and spoken words – a gratitude for what you get to do, have in your life and what generosity can accomplish for your mission.  
 
  
When you FEEL sincere Mahalo, you express sincere Mahalo. It begins with you.  It turns the obligatory thank you note into a meaningful communication – not that predictable language that’s nice and all that, but somehow leaves you a bit flat. It infuses sincerity into expressions of gratitude that otherwise are over-the-top. It spurs creativity that infuses energy into your relationships and leads to new giving interests in remarkable ways.
 
  
With gratitude to you for considering my messages and believing that my purpose is to expand the positive relationships you have in your life – professionally and personally.
 
Hawaii waves and sunset
 
  
Mahalo to you – may you live in thankfulness for the abundant blessings of life!
 

Invest in JOY®

They said no, now what!

 
“Been getting a lot of ‘NOs’ lately.”  That’s how our coaching call began. As we inspire generosity sometimes it seems we don’t. It can pull us down. A “No” has a different effect if it is a long-time donor or someone new you are engaging in a major gift conversation, yet all can disappoint us.
 
  
Here is what you need to remember:
  
  
1. They are saying no to what you ask them for. They are not saying you are a bad person or your cause is not worthy.
  
2. They deserve to make a gift that makes them happy, on their timeline. That’s not necessarily our campaign timeline or the giving goal we wrote down for them from our research. That doesn’t mean we are stupid or wrong, or they don’t get how important our mission is.
  
3. It is not our place or job to judge them. They are not right or wrong – it’s just their decision at this time.
  
4. We get to do this work. Leave the conversation with gratitude for the chance to ask for their support.
  
 
  
Now, with that said, what can you process from this?
  
 
  
1. How comfortable were you that you had a great match for a major gift? 
  
  
One real gift of using my 3-sentence ask is that the donor generally reacts to the part that isn’t right and the rest is ok.  For example, with this 3-sentence ask…
  
You have such a heart for supporting seniors.
  
You understand how our respite program helps keep the staff so important in their care.
  
Would you consider a gift of $35,000 to support staff respite weekends?
  
 
  
The donor says, “No, I don’t think I want to support that.” What does that tell you? $35,000 is just fine – you have the wrong project.
  
 
  
“Great! Let’s consider what would be more meaningful for you to support for seniors?” would be a good question to ask.
  
 
Connecting
2. Did you court long enough?
  
  
In a world that’s pushing you to get on with that ask already, a wedding proposal on the first date has never been effective and still isn’t. In major gift work we are looking to move from transactions to genuine relationships. In this relationship did you develop the connection to this ask?
  
 
  
3. Did you listen or talk?
  
  
When we deep listen we pick up on little clues that cue us in on what our givers want to do. When we are more interested in funding our greatest need we might not hear that this isn’t a fit for our giver.
  
 
  
4. Did it just become about getting the money?
  
  
When we can really wrap our brains around serving our donor instead of getting the money it just goes better. Donors are not ATMs.
  
 
  
And, finally, what do we do next?
  
Time to give!
1. Remember that even if we do everything right – donors are living their lives and right now a “yes’ just isn’t part of it.  At some level there are a certain number of no’s you will get – and that’s when you simply move on to the next conversation…and the next. The “yes” will come.
 
2. Give yourself an amount of time to feel bad this ask didn’t work out. Over time shorten this time.
  
3. Don’t be a fortune teller and make up what your donor is thinking. Chances are it will be negative and wrong.
  
  
Aside from being fearful about asking in the first place, a “no” triggers piles of mindset demons.  And a run of “no’s” makes us wonder if we’re cut out for this work in the first place. Show compassion for your donor – it was hard to turn you down. Be grateful that today you get to talk to someone else about supporting your work. Know that the more you have conversations, tell what the money does  – the real impact giving has, make clear asks and shower genuine appreciation, the more money you will raise.
 
Your next “YES!” is just around the corner!  I promise you! Flip the switch with, “Every day in every way I am attracting major giving to me!”
 
Yes, you are!  SHINE ON!!  
 

Invest in JOY®

Happy Valentines

quote- Thursday Thoughts

Invest in JOY®

Need a Second chance?

January has come and gone. Ground Hog day has passed – Here it signaled six more weeks of our blustery Wisconsin winters!  The chances are 50-50 each year.

What are the chances you’ll hit your 2023 fundraising goals on your own? 

17%.  

Here’s something to consider as it relates to your fundraising goals. 

•    The gift will not come without speaking an askful ask. 

•    You will never get the appointment you don’t set up. 

•    You will never get the grant you don’t apply for.


•    Your donor will never be inspired with an impact story you don’t share.


•    You donor won’t feel appreciated with the card you don’t send.


In fact,

•    You will not change your results…if you do not change your behavior. 

The moral? 

The longer you wait to take action…the less likely you are to take action. 

So instead,

Take Action

•    Decide what you CAN do to begin. It may be printing out that challenging email to take action the first thing the next morning when you have more energy. Take a step. Then another. You’ll never finish what you do not start. 

•    Listen rather than talk.  You will become wiser and clearer on the next actions to take. 

•    Count on yourself. Can you count on yourself to do the right thing?  Honor your commitments?  No one in this world (spouse, boss, government) is responsible for making your life better. It’s on you to do the right thing.

•    Your success comes from within. No one is “set up” to succeed.  Your preparation, your study, your hard work, your determination to bring your best “sets you up” to both see and grab the opportunities that come your way.  (and those opportunities may not even look like you thought they would)

•    Be competitive. The perfect competitor operates with the highest of professional standards to become their best competitive self. They do the right things, the right way and never succumb to lying, cheating or unsportsmanlike conduct.

•    Be trustworthy. Trust, loyalty and integrity are massive competitive advantages. The world is filled with people who will play you. Keep your standards high and you will attract what you want.

Now this may seem like a strange message coming from a major gift and life coach. Nope. Indeed you need others for support, for accountability, for challenges. Not to do it FOR you but to help you uncover the person you are so desperately trying to be.

….to call you on your excuses; to challenge the “poor me” in you; and to lift up even your smallest of successes to morph you into the person who competes to be the best version of yourself.

World needs you!

The world needs you now. It needs you to be a strong, courageous, independent thinking person who will use their creative ideas and unique talents to make a lasting difference. 

Pursue your highest good and you will inspire the highest good in others. You actually always have. Thank you.

Invest in JOY®

Thought of you today!

It happened again! December 31st is still the champion for Most Giving in One Day. About ONE-THIRD of all giving happens on December 31 and during that last week of the year. Whew!

So now what? Everyone is burned out, right?

Actually, the urgency to give before the end of the year kicks in for tax reasons. Then, as you make the gift, there is a powerful shift and laser focus to determining exactly what you DO you want to give to and WHY!!!  So even as givers recover from the onslaught of year-end letters and emails NOW is the time to fan the giving flame ignited at year-end for your mission.

Think about it — out of all the causes vying for their last-minute generosity – they picked you.  When it came right down to the wire and they reflected back on how they felt about your mission and whatever experience they had with you – you came out a winner.  You have their gift to prove it!

Keep the love light glowing...

So again, now what?

Keeping the love light glowing with your Year-End givers.

Greatest Valentine in the Galaxy!

1.    Write or email a thoughtful message of thanks.  Be fun and fun-loving – send a kid’s Valentine’s Day card.

While it is vital to get that pre-printed, year-end receipt letter out asap – donors want to know you received their gift in time – Then, as you actually make the gift, there is a powerful shift and laser focus to determine exactly what you do want to give to and why. “Roses are red. Violets are Blue. Your gift was amazing and we appreciate YOU!”  I like to send kid’s Valentine’s cards – they are light, fun and don’t cross lines with maybe being too much. This year I’m going with Baby Yoda. How can you NOT smile and feel loved and appreciated?

2.    Use impact stories to reassure your givers that they did the right thing.

Gifts, from $25.00 on up to $100,000.00 and beyond made at year end ALL ARE driven by a combination of tax planning and mission match. Now that the time pressure is off, donors are reflecting and second-guessing – wondering if they did the right thing. January and early February is the perfect time to share the impact of what you will now be able to accomplish because of the amazing donor support last year. This reassures them they made the right decision to give.

3.    Ask them to give of their time and talent – not money.

Over 40% of Americans set New Year’s Resolutions. Often resolutions to “be a better person, give back to my community,” or “get involved” make the list. This is the perfect time to talk with folks about serving on the board or providing input into a particular fundraising project. For example, one of my clients is gathering input from major givers to their scholarship program. The goal is to create a club to foster 3-5 year pledges and deferred giving for scholarships. Current donors can help name the club and set up criteria for membership and special activities just for them. Bringing them together NOT to talk about THEIR gift right now, but rather to help define the giving experience will generate some great ideas and start the thinking about a major gift. With only 9% of people achieving their New Year’s resolution goals, you, as the nonprofit, can be the support system that helps a giver stick with a resolution.

4.    Involve them with a monthly giving project.

Believe it or not, in January there are people who have selected you – and now are reflecting and thinking, “It’s such great work. I wish I could do more.” Guess what?! You can!  Now is an ideal time to run a monthly giving campaign for a select segment of your year-end givers. Focus on a smaller dollar goal that supports a major project of interest to them. This giving will be IN ADDITION TO their major gift. Don’t do this with everyone – have a specific project in mind and plan out the steps to make the experience fun and rewarding.

5.    Connect with them.

Hopefully, you, a staff member, a board member, or a volunteer has already called everyone who made a gift to your organization between November 15 and January 10th.  If not, there’s no time like the present! It’s not too late to pick up the phone and call to thank them for supporting you so generously during the holiday season. Leave a message or send a text if they don’t answer. Going the extra mile tells your donor you care about them and that their gift is appreciated.

Donor fatigue is a real thing. Being a Grateful Recipient and showing great appreciation carries you into creating a joyful giver once again! Whether that’s through a phone call, text message, handwritten note, or email, reach out “just to tell them one more time” how much their support last year meant. Don’t know which type of contact to make? How do they communicate with you? Donors typically prefer to receive communication in the same way they offer it.

Share an impact story they haven’t already heard or could have read elsewhere. Bring your best donors into your organization. Give them a view that others do not get a chance to see. Make them feel as special as they are to the success of your mission.

Chocolate and flowers

And then there is CHOCOLATE and flowers!  May these next few weeks find you smiling as you SHARE YOUR LOVE and FEEL THE LOVE around Valentine’s Day! 

Roses ARE Red —and Violets ARE Blue. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for you!

Invest in JOY®

3 Resolutions YOU need for 2023!

YOU are beginning!  However you crossed the 2022 finish line, you are beginning this New Year! Bravo! It’s scary and exciting all at once!

Faro Sign with Ken, RJ, Bailey and Marcy

I’m celebrating the New Year in Faro, Portugal where Ken and I are exploring with our son, RJ, and his gal, Bailey.  It’s been a tremendous adventure filled with delightful surprises and opportunities to flex your positive mindset muscle that only international travel can bring!

Thank you for investing your talent and passion into inspiring generosity – for non-profit missions…and LIFE! It’s an honorable and noble calling. Here we are ready to launch again!  There are those who go through laborious lists of tasks to prepare for the New Year.  I think it comes down to 3 pretty simple resolutions – and none make you go to the gym, clean your piles or pledge massive changes. 

THREE Resolutions You Need for 2023!

1. Resolve to be bigger than your problems.

It’s not the size of the problem; it’s the size of you! Think about how you struggled with zoom early 2020 – now it’s a cinch. Zoom hasn’t changed really. Perhaps there are more features – but what HAS changed is you – your growth in comfort with the tool. Being in Portugal now is a new language, new money, new streets – all doable with some time and thought.

“Every master was once a disaster.” (Eker). Everything new, or at least new to you, is scary at first. Fear shuts us down. Try instead to be curious. “I wonder how or what I could do to take a next step.” Know yourself. How do you feel most comfortable confronting something new – a person by your side showing you, an on-line tutorial, a class? Jay Wilkinson, Founder of Firespring, and tech wiz, collects new tools he sees and sets aside a Saturday morning each month to explore them. Good advice. As we navigated Portugal, we each had our ways of figuring it out. 

2. Resolve to try again tomorrow.

There are lots of reasons thing don’t go as planned. Some issues seem to never get resolved and get frustrating. Some people we struggle don’t seem to change. You may feel worn out. It may look bleak. It may feel like it will never change.  Have a nice dinner, watch a Disney movie, put it all aside. Tomorrow really IS another day. Life is overflowing with opportunities to begin again.

Remember...every new day,
Portugal Sunset

As Annie sings in the show, “Annie” “Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love you, tomorrow! You’re only a day away!” 

And, the Japanese Proverb goes, “Fall down seven. Stand up eight.”  It doesn’t matter how many times you fall down, fail, or get discouraged – as long as you stand up again.  We learned this navigating narrow one-way streets when we were way too tired.  Tomorrow IS another day.

Begin one time more than you quit.

3. Resolve that the world is basically good and you are here to thrive!   

You choose how you walk through life. Sure, it’s not something you can constantly hold on to, but you DO choose to believe the world – the universe – God – is basically good. I choose to believe that I was placed here to THRIVE – be the best version of myself I can muster. Indeed there are manipulative people out there.  Yet believing that you are destined to be successful and happy and LOOKING for signs towards what you define as success and happiness draws you to it – it must.

quote by Mike Dooley

I say often in my talks that I believe there are people in Madison, Wisconsin who get out of bed in the morning and ask, “How can I be offended today?” And guess what? They find something!

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at….wait for it…CHANGE!

Marcy Portugal 2023

If you are looking for 2023 to be the best yet – it will be.  I promise!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Invest in JOY®

Happy New Year 2023

Happy New Year 2023

Invest in JOY®

U-Rah-Rah for YOU! Finish Strong 2022!

Just days away from 2023 isn’t it great to look back and remember……

Marcy's collage of 2022

—the donors you helped make the gift that was JUST RIGHT for THEM!

—those whose lives are changed because you and your organization SHOW UP every day!

— the board members who gave and led by example for others to follow suit.

— the skills and knowledge you’ve gained to be even better at this calling of fundraising.

—the camaraderie with your co-workers, volunteers, and team.

—the last minute gifts – miracles and surprises!

— the fun! 

—the way you feel right now – maybe a bit tired but SO Fulfilled!

2022 to 2023

Now is the time to …..

Joyfully adapt and Bravely Believe!

It WILL be a(nother) HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Invest in JOY®

Let’s Connect

info@marcyheim.com

(608) 772-6777

Marcy Heim Consulting | The Artful Asker
2679 Fahey Glen
Madison, WI 53711

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