“The secret to success is not to try to avoid or get rid of or shrink from your problems; the secret is to grow yourself so that you are bigger than any problem.” —T Harv Ecker
Some days it seems everything is a challenge. Major gift calls cancel, the data base fails, you get bad news, 
it’s hot and you struggle. Other days it seems that no matter what you are faced with you somehow effortlessly plow right through. The size of the problem is not the issue; it is the size of YOU!
Here are 3 problems that plague us in major gift development work and how to be bigger than they are.
- Overwhelm and Gratitude. Your inbox is forever full; there are always more prospective givers to see, family needs, and on and on.
I like to look at overwhelm as nothing more than proof I am expanding! If I didn’t have more and more opportunities in all aspects of my life, I wouldn’t be overwhelmed! The key to busting this ‘problem’? GRATITUDE! Stop. Look at everything you have to deal with — your development work, event, deadline, kids, volunteer work — and shout out loud, “Thank you for all of this in my life! I am grateful for this work, my family, my service. I am gratified I have the talent, resources and abilities to be given these many things to do!” Now just start one. You feel better, right?
- Technology Mishaps and Service. “Oh, sure. TODAY the email goes down!” “Yikes, that message went to how many of the wrong list?” “WHY won’t this WORK!!!?”
Recently I discovered that more than 800 folks who had signed up at my speaking engagements during the past 6 months for this e-newsletter were not on my list because they had not “double opted in,” which means when they are added to my list, they get an email with a link they must click to verify their subscription. The email probably went to a spam folder, or they didn’t realize they had to take another action in order to start receiving my mailings. Shoot me! It would be better than living knowing that 800 people out there had asked me to do something and I didn’t get it done and may wonder now if I can be trusted to follow through. (No drama here.)
Technology allows us to do some amazing things and serve so many more people. Again, the problem is not BIG; it is you who are small. To bust technology mishaps remind yourself how many more prospective givers an d donors you can reach because we have social media, word processing, and the internet; how many more options we have to share our impact — the joy and power of philanthropy! We can respond in ways our donors prefer. Also remember that pen, paper, handwritten note and a stamp together is still a powerful tool. A phone call with a quick, “thank you” is always an option and finally, there are many answers to addressing the tech bugs when you ask the right person. (Those 800 will be with us by the next Artful Action newsletter!) And praise yourself for all the knowledge you have acquired about technology — at whatever pace you have acquired it. Last year I didn’t even know what an auto-responder was. It’s all good and allows you to serve your donors better.
- Unexpected Changes and Choosing Optimism What? ________ (major donor name inserted here) called and is sick and can’t make our appointment? The beltline is backed-up from an accident? The flight is delayed!? The package didn’t arrive! It is always our choice. Stuff will continue to happen but it is ALWAYS our choice how we react to it. Anger, laughter, intense alternate probing (see the line at the ticket counter) Decide right now if you want to ADD to the wreckage or ADD to the OPTIMISM. Surround yourself with others who choose to be optimistic. Don’t spread the crap by telling the story of your change over and over. How many of you spill you coffee in the morning at home and have told 8 people about it by 10 a.m.? Stop that! To quote Joyce Mayer, a wonderful inspirational speaker, “Something good is going to happen to me!” Say this the second you are faced with an unpleasant change. You will like what happens!
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© 2012 Marcy Heim and The Artful Asker LLC.
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Marcy Heim is a sought-after coach, author and speaker for leadership, staff and volunteers who are transforming the world by encouraging philanthropy for their missions. She is a trusted authority in the development profession, helping non-profits and educational institutions dramatically increase fundraising success AND staff satisfaction through artful, long-term relationship building,. Her monthly Artful Action newsletter inspires leadership and staff to embrace the real power and joy of philanthropy. Join Marcy by signing up for no-cost subscription at www.marcyheim.com.
