Journal Entries
How I’ve Come to Love Sales
A couple months ago, I gave a presentation on the topic sales despite my aversion to sales. I cringe at the sound of the word and yet, in June of 2014 I found myself promoted to Director of Partnerships at CauseLabs, managing all of our relationships and, that’s right, sales. What I’ve learned in the…
Read MoreInstead of The News
The news is gruesome. I can hardly turn it on without hearing of death and destruction. I prefer to fill my brain with better things, though I can’t completely disconnect from current events. Earlier this year I found a email newsletter service called theSkimm, which sends me a daily recap of what’s going on in…
Read MoreOur Relationship to Poverty
Last week I was asked to share my relationship to poverty. I spoke about my childhood, one deeply impacted by economic hardship. Though truth be told, this was my mother’s story of poverty, not mine because as a baby, I didn’t recognize our suffering; I felt only her immense love for me. As we were sharing,…
Read MoreBehind the Scenes of Project Scoping
This past weekend I gave my first WordCamp talk. I slipped away from my practiced talk several times, but I think that’s okay because it was fun and it spoke more to the needs of those that were in the room. Thanks to everyone who attended and made it a really amazing discussion. I do…
Read MoreTaking a Leap of Faith
Interview by Frances Nguyen. What I found most admirable about Sheryle’s story was her bravery by the mere act of letting go. It’s hard to come to terms with the hard truth that something isn’t working, even when, in theory, it’s perfect. She had a great job, and because she was good at it, she…
Read MoreTools for Video Communication
When you can’t be face to face for a conversation, what’s the next best thing? Technology has opened up a world of possibilities and implementing quick, easy and reliable ways to communicate with our teams is crucial. In a world where remote working and telecommuting is more and more prominent, finding the right video conferencing…
Read MoreLet’s Tweet in 3 Easy Steps
I joined Twitter with the early adopters, but I never figured out what I wanted to do with it. About a year and a half ago, I looked at my nearly empty twitter account that had been languishing for I don’t know how long. I considered deleting it, but instead decided to use it as…
Read MoreProductivity Towards Purpose
To be truly productive, you must be selective. Which tasks are most important on your list? Reasons may vary, but focus on the task that accomplishes the most towards your goals. If several tasks are equally important, tackle the hardest one first and don’t move on until it is done. Despite how daunting it may…
Read MoreBuilding Engagement vs. Relationship
Is there a difference between building engagement and building relationships? One leads to the other and there is a distinct difference, particularly in philanthropy. While simple engagement may be enough for your organization, it won’t necessarily lead to lasting relationships that help fund long term campaigns. Developing donors is often a relationship building activity, but…
Read MoreDo you take yourself too seriously?
In 2013 my New Year’s resolution was to learn to laugh at myself. Honestly, I took myself too seriously and needed to loosen up. I am incredibly reserved, timid, and socially awkward (no really, I am.) It took years of practice to become more assertive. I needed that skill as a leader. It also took…
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