You Matter. Pass It On.

Think about what happens when someone makes you feel that you matter.

You stand a little taller. You smile. You have a bit more energy. You have more to give.

You will often hear me say, “Help your giver find the gift that brings them joy!” That has everything to do with those artful conversations where you gently uncover how your giver feels about your mission and your vibrant options for giving. Where will they be able to have the impact that they want to have.

But today I’m talking about one layer beneath that.  You have a giver who loves your mission and is excited about the gift they will make – the level that fits and the result that fits.

Now, consider adding a new dimension – tell them that THEY MATTER!

And start with remembering that YOU MATTER!

You matter to your loved ones, your givers and your mission.

 

You matter to me. Know that.

 

Every word and action you take shares a message and leaves a feeling.

You matter.

Or perhaps…does this drift into….

• You matter when I have time.
• You matter when I need something.
• You matter when you make a gift.
• You matter when it’s convenient.

Ouch.

While you don’t intend to send those messages, in the rush to get everything DONE, it’s remarkably easy to do.

You dash off the thank-you.  You glance at your phone while someone is talking. You promise to follow up—and don’t. You send the perfectly automated birthday greeting to someone we’ve known for twenty years.

You race into the next ask without really celebrating the last gift.

And sometimes you get so focused on raising the money that you forget the person sitting across from you.

 

 

People know when they matter.  They can feel it.

And fundraising gives us one long, wonderful opportunity to tell people they matter.

Not because of the size of their gift.  Because of who they are.  Because they cared.

Because they showed up. Because something about your mission connected with something in their heart—and they chose to act on it.

 

Now, pass it on.

Think about what happens when someone makes you feel that you matter.

See the person, take in the person as you are taking whatever action you are taking.

A sincere thank-you matters. Remembering someone’s story matters.  Putting down your phone matters.

 

 

Listening matters. Showing up matters.  The words you choose matter.

Every step matters.

So beginning today, will you please both remember that YOU MATTER and TELL SOMEBODY ELSE!

Show them.  And here I go — it’s a mindset…deeper than gratitude, more powerful than stewardship.  Look them in the eye. Say their name. Tell them specifically why they matter to you.

Then watch what happens….ok, I’ll tell you. They will matter more AND YOU will matter more from your authentic action!

Never forget how very much you matter to me.

Invest in Joy!™