I have watched literally hundreds and hundreds of organizations screw around for years trying to figure out what to do, when to do it, where to hold the kickoff, etc. I’m watching some really great organizations right now who are still debating the “impact of the economy and the recession”, “somebody else has kicked off a campaign in our community”, “our donors are tired and maybe we should wait”, and on and on. UGH!

CHALLENGE FOR THE DAY: What are the 3 ‘MASSIVE ACTIONS’ that you could take RIGHT NOW that would cause an EXPLOSIVE EXPONENTIAL JUMP… a QUANTUM LEAP for your organization?

WRITE THEM DOWN.

Then, GO DO ‘EM.

P.S. I was reading a book by Jim Rohn (profound thinker, mind expander, speaker, author and master motivator).

1. He uses this ‘MASSIVE ACTION’ in a little different way, but the same principle.
2. He says there is always a list of things that we can do/act upon.
3. The key is finding the one or two things that will have the most powerful IMPACT (he used that word) and create the most OPPORTUNITIES.

Different words. Same concept.

TAKE MASSIVE ACTION.

Of all the possible ‘resolutions’ you could make for 2009, Nick and I believe the one that will have the most IMPACT is to simply ENGAGE!!!

Make 2009 your YEAR OF ENGAGEMENT.

To help you get going, we have put together some RULES OF ENGAGEMENT and a suggested ACTION PLAN. To download the PDF: 2009: YEAR OF ENGAGEMENT.

Start today! Begin to ENGAGE around our biggest insight:

IMPACT drives INCOME.

This the first Rule of Engagement is a reminder, at the highest level, of the importance of your IMPACT! This is the ‘WHY’ you need to ENGAGE!

If you start this year committed to increasing, scaling and growing your IMPACT, you will attack every day with Energy, Enthusiasm and Engagement!

Special Note: IF… you just were to ENGAGE (in dialogue/conversation) with the absolute best 33 members of your (organization) ‘FAMILY’ – your world (and their world) would be TRANSFORMED!

Many people spend A LOT of time (years?) prepping for The Irrational Investor. That prospect keeps you in your office planning, prepping, scheming, waiting always until tomorrow.

• “What if they just aren’t into saving lives?” (are you kidding me?)

• “What if they want to see our financials from seven years ago?” (they’re making run a fool’s errand)
• “What if? What if? What if?”

Stop focusing on the irrational investor.

Like an exotic animal, the Irrational Investor DOES exist. However, you cannot and should not be focusing on 1 out of 40. You need to focus on the other 39 — RATIONALE investors – the prospects (individuals/corporations/foundations) that want to save lives, change lives and impact lives… the prospects that want to have real conversations… with YOU.

Think about it:

• You’ll never have enough info: Seriously, even if you came back with the 3rd quarter financials from seven years ago you would then be asked for something else crazy. You’ll never have enough for an irrational investor so don’t even try.
• Opportunity cost: Assuming you are doing something to change the world then how many families are missing out on your programs? Students missing out on an education? Or, advances toward a cure? Why does the irrational investor get to hold everything up?
• Laugh it off: On the VERY RARE occasion that you do come across an Irrational Investor just laugh it off. Make your presentation, get a good story from the visit and then keep follow-up really simple…
• “We become what we think about”: What a miserable life it is to think about The Irrational Investor. So don’t.

This concept is freeing for many training camp attendees. If the Irrational Investor is holding you up, let me offer an assurance (again): just about everyone you meet with be and act like a real person. They don’t bite. They want to have an impact. They’ll love the logic of your presentation and help if they’re qualified (… if you ask).

THIS TOO SHALL PASS.  In a coaching call yesterday, a wonderful young lady on the sales team at a leading Liberal Arts college mentioned the turmoil of the market and the impact that was having on people she was meeting with.

3 Gentle Reminders:

1. The “economy” is cyclical.  It always has been.  Ups and downs.  Ride it out.  According to Inc. magazine, I have “survived” 10 recessions in my life.  Yes, that makes me both old and able to say from experience that “THIS TOO SHALL PASS.”

2. Not everybody has their life savings or their wealth tied up in the stock market or Lehman Brothers or AIG, etc.  (I, for one, don’t have a single dollar tied up in the stock market.  Of course, I also don’t have one dollar tied up anywhere except in our business.)  Not everybody’s house is being foreclosed.  Not everybody is waiting for their government check.

   Our very best prospects are usually smart, successful people who are trying to move from SUCCESS to SIGNIFICANCE.  Let them figure out the “mechanics” of how they’re going to do that.  Our job is to “JUST ASK” (PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY).

3. This story either reinforces my point or is another sign of the Apocalypse.  Sotheby’s Auction House announced yesterday that the two-day sale of British artist Damien Hirst’s work raised $198 Million, a record for an auction of work by a single artist.

   The article I read from London said, “The turmoil engulfing the global financial market did nothing to dampen prices as more than 600 prospective buyers packed the showroom and others bid by phone.”  The $198 Million bought a tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde ($17M), an embalmed calf with golden hoofs and horns ($18.5M), and some stainless glass and manufactured diamonds ($9.4M).

   To me, this is the same thing as one of the wealthiest people in the world putting $88 Million into what is, in effect, the Jimmy Hendrix Museum.

   The point isn’t about Jimmy or pickled sharks and butterfly paintings from Hirst.  It’s about why that money didn’t go to your FOR IMPACT ORGANIZATION.  It’s almost always because we didn’t JUST ASK.