Danny Maier

This month, the Donor By Design Team has love and appreciation on our minds… specifically how we “love up” our donors. Today’s topic: what to do when a donor doesn’t want “recognition.” 

This month, the Donor By Design Group is challenging you to take action, moving from resolutions to results. Today’s topic? Focus.  

During this holiday season, I wanted to share an inspiring story that speaks to the heart of leadership.

Bo Schembechler Source

I awoke on May 10th and could not hear anything from my right ear. I thought it was just a head cold, so I waited a day. In actuality, I had a rare affliction called “sudden complete deafness” – a viral infection that attacks the auditory nerve.

When you speak to folks who have been successful in their work, you will hear a theme. Surprisingly, it is not the brilliance of their strategic plan (although they are certain to have one). And while they may mention the talent and passion of their team, it is not that either. (Again, a key component and closely connected to success.) What you will hear them brag about is: execution, execution, execution. So how do organizations execute on their plans consistently, year after year?

A good friend recently returned a book I lent her a while back. How many books are sitting in your bookcase that you read so long ago their lesson has faded from your memory?

A number of months ago I received many comments on a blog I wrote about Patrick Lencioni’s Death By Meeting. That first blog focused on how so many meetings are ineffective, time-sucking exercises. Of course, Lencioni offers several effective solutions so I thought a “Part II” would be appropriate; this time, specifically addressing meeting length.

Unless you live in a cave, you will have noticed it is election season in the U.S. Whatever your political – or apolitical – persuasion, you probably are agog at the amount of money raised by the political candidates and how quickly it is spent. Poof.

As a sufferer of myopia since the 3rd grade, I’ve been wearing glasses a long time. Perhaps it’s my nearsightedness that has me often trying to focus on the trees and missing the forest – the big picture. But, while the details are important, it’s the bigger vision that inspires.