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Courage!


“I haven't any courage at all. I even scare myself.” - The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz

This post is all about Courage. In my last post, I said we’d talk more about Getting Focused, and I believe courage is a big part of that -- especially when it comes to strategic planning.

Wikipedia’s definition of courage is “the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation.” Those of us who work in the nonprofit arena see a lot of examples of courage -- from the individuals with the courage to leave abusive situations and seek help from a shelter to those who travel long distances to render aid when disasters strike. Strategic planning also takes a bit of courage, maybe not on that scale, but courage nonetheless.

For a group to take on strategic planning, it must be willing to look outside the norms of operation, to confront failures (and possibly risk new ones), to let go of successes if they take the organization off course from its mission, and to focus on an uncertain future. It takes courage to even step away from the every-day so you can dedicate enough time and resources to have meaningful planning sessions. For many of us, we need the courage merely to face change.

This is a major step above “annual planning” and takes much more focus and commitment. One thing I’ve discovered with courage is that it’s contagious. A courageous leader can pull you forward, as can the energy of your colleagues. Taking small steps yourself can inspire you to keep moving in that direction, too, and you can always learn from other groups. (See the “Focus On” section at the bottom of this post and links to the left for featured organizations that display courage each day.)

If you want to move forward with strategic planning, have courage -- the courage to embark on that journey with an open mind, the courage to set aside time to fully invest in the process, the courage to ask for help, and the courage to let go of the past and embrace the uncertainty of the future. Once you’ve got the courage, you can focus on the more concrete aspects of strategic planning, such as who should be involved in the process, how to conduct effective surveys, and what to include as part of a retreat. I’ll cover these issues more in upcoming posts.

I hope you’ll continue to join me on this excursion and find the musings of this blog valuable. We’ll talk again soon. . .
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Focus On:

[In the spirit of being “501 Focused,” this blog highlights a nonprofit or association with each posting.]

Our nonprofit focus this time is on Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a social outreach ministry for the homeless and indigent working poor. Their mission is “to provide food, clothing, and dignity to our brothers and sisters in need.” They accomplish this mission through the use of 12 catering trucks that go out onto the city streets of Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Providence, and Nashville every night of the week, thanks to the hard work of almost 10,000 volunteers and a single supply truck. They recently expanded their mission through Habitat on Wheels (HOW), which places homeless people into gently used recreational vehicles that have been fully furnished.

This group knows courage, and they’re using it to make a difference in the world. Find out more from their Website: http://www.mobileloavesandfishes.org/.

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Please let me know if there are any specific topics you’d like covered, and feel free to add your comments to the postings. If you need more in-depth help with strategic planning, contact me directly or check out my Website for more information on what 501(c)onsulting can offer you in that area.
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