SuddesGroup

Get Your Messge Out!

January 12, 2009 | Tom Suddes

Friend and brilliant thinker, Jim Mahoney, has this quote on his calendar for January 12th.

“Some people miss their MESSAGE because they’re too busy checking the SPELLING.”

Getting your MESSAGE out (ENGAGE) is the important thing. If there’s a ‘misspelling’, it’s covered because of the ‘DRAFT’… and the fact that you’re ‘PRACTICING’!

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Engage

December 12, 2008 | Tom Suddes

Martin Luther King Said,

“I HAVE A DREAM.”

He didn’t say,

“I HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN.”

Then, Andy Grove said,

“ENGAGE. THEN PLAN.”

Then, Goose said to Maverick,

“ENGAGE, MAV, ENGAGE!!!”

This is our For Impact Challenge to you for 2009:

ENGAGE!!!

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Trends v. Fundamentals in Nonprofit Funding

November 26, 2008 | Nick Fellers

We’re asked to talk about ‘trends in philanthropy’ or ‘trends in fundraising’ which troubles me because the social sector needs more discussion about fundamentals – not trends. If you ask me to talk about ‘trends’ I will use this as a lens to highlight the lack of fundamentals – think of it as me spinning the conversation – it’s all good.

Every business in and sector lives and breaths by fundamentals, first.

• A clear vision/direction (illustrated a clear MESSAGE).
• A clear revenue MODEL.
• A clear PLAN including an understanding of the MATH (impact math and income math) to get there (e.g. goals, levels, etc.)

As I’m writing this to compare and contrast trends and fundamentals I realize most of the trends (that get discussed) are really fads because too often they’re ‘the next big thing’ and don’t have staying power. These could include:

• Earned Income (Social Enterprise)
• Lance Armstrong’s bracelets
• 5K races
• Social Networking Funding (The Obama effect)

Maybe if they were backed on a case-by-case basis with fundamentals they would be true trends and not fads.

Example - Earned Income: I went to a Social Enterprise Alliance gathering four years ago. What I witnessed were some orgs starting earned income ventures without attention to fundamentals, no clear plan and no willingness to do the math to see that they were losing $50 on every widget they produced. On top of that, one speaker cautioned, “It’s hard enough to start a business with people that have their lives together let alone those that don’t.” Four years later 16 out of 17 orgs I interviewed abandoned the earned income stream – each for the lack the fundamentals outlined above.

The reason most small businesses fail is because they don’t have a grasp on fundamentals. Nonprofits often don’t ‘fail’ in the same sense that for-profit businesses do [running out of money]. Instead, they limp along for years longer, subsidized by passion, volunteerism and employees on the fast-track to burnout (human capital model)… this unique resource model is often a masking agent for a lack of fundamentals.

If you’re a board member, a senior staff person or development officer you can do a great service to your organization, your team and your cause by leading a discussion on the fundamentals… by leading a discussion to clarify the direction or purpose of the organization, by clarifying the model and by working through the math. This discussion is simple, not easy.

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See How Your Message Might Be Heard

November 25, 2008 | Nick Fellers

Marc Pitman/fundraisingcoach.com directed us to Wordle.net in a pretty cool post about message. The power of a simple and visual message cannot be overstated. Using Wordle, you can upload text, a webpage or letter and it creates a visual word cloud on-the-fly.

Uploading all the posts at forimpact.org produces this visual

This is similar New York Times did on election day. [Excerpt from previous post] It reflects a methodology you can follow to build your message (sans technology). Ask everyone to pick 1-3 words that describe your impact. Aggregate and simplify to identify THE BIG WORDS.

This tells me we talk a lot about THINKING, IMPACT and CHANGE… I’m okay with that!

Following Marc’s message, you could also upload a letter, your site or other communication to see how your message might be heard.

Thanks, Marc.

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Be Like Harley Davidson, Embolden Your Message In These Times

November 25, 2008 | Tom Suddes

THE OTHER SIDE OF FEAR IS COURAGE.

The other end of Wall Street connects with millions of better roads, all leading from the stink of greed and billion dollar bankruptcies. If it was all just a casino, where were the complimentary cocktails? Metal is our currency. Its value is on the rise, even as wealth on paper spontaneously combusts. So we’ll still lend to those putting in long days. The American ideal of work and reward does not diminish with the stock market.

SCREW IT.

LET’S RIDE.

*This was a full page ad from Harley-Davidson. You can view an interactive version online at Harley-Davidson’s Website. Their normal ‘MESSAGE’, which is on the side of my bike and many people have as a tattoo, is:

LIVE TO RIDE.

RIDE TO LIVE.

This new ‘MESSAGE’ is a direct response to what’s going on in the world today but still incorporates the idea of ‘RIDE’.

What is your MESSAGE in these times???

*If you’re struggling, try this with your INVESTORS:

‘LIVE TO GIVE. GIVE TO LIVE.’

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Cool Video: “The Story of a Sign” (and the power of words)

September 18, 2008 | Nick Fellers

For Impact reader, Mary, sent this cool video illustrating the power of words and message.

It’s called HISTORIA-DE-UN-LETRERO (The Story of A Sign). About 5 mins and worth watching (turn on speakers). Thanks, Mary!

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Presidential Race and Power of Message

August 28, 2008 | Nick Fellers

Disclaimer: This WOW is not about politics. It’s not an endorsement. It’s a case study in message.

—————

Last week Tom wrote about the simplicity of six words. Over and over again in trainings we are asked, “Can it really be that simple?”

For the past six months I’ve followed that question by asking, “What’s Obama’s message?” 90% of the room, in unison (regardless of affiliation) will say, “CHANGE!”

One word: CHANGE.

It’s a powerful word. It’s a 30,000′ message. It’s CLEAR and SIMPLE.

Watching the primaries you would see other candidates dance all around several key message points inconsistently. Almost every sentence used by Obama related back to the theme of change.

Q: “What you think about XYZ?”

A: “We need to change. If we don’t work together, stop bi-partisan… blah blah blah.”

Regardless of your political beliefs, this is a case study. One person has made it halfway to the White House with a one-word message. One word is not too simple.

Remember, it’s not what you say but what people hear/takeaway/remember. In can be so simple and clear that it can even be one word: CHANGE.

Your message is your frame. Simplify it. Stay in it. Stay on it. Rinse and repeat.

WE SAVE LIVES
WORKING TO END CANCER
ENDING HOMELESSNESS
FINEST LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY
TRANSFORMING COLUMBUS
CHANGING THE WAY NONPROFITS FUND THEIR VISIONS
WE HELP KIDS GET TO COLLEGE

As a side note: This morning I read an article, “Obama needs to clarify his message.” What little I’ve read and seen the last few weeks has been about UNITY. It seems to me that it’s not about ‘clarifying the message’ but returning to the 30,000′ message and staying on it, reinforcing of THE 30,000′ MESSAGE that’s worked for the nominee so far: CHANGE. Talking about UNITY is kind of like sending out the message, “We need more unrestricted funds!” No you don’t… you need to save more lives.

WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE?

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6-Word Mesage (Follow-Up)

August 26, 2008 | Tom Suddes

I’m begging you not to short-change the power of a CLEAR, CONCISE and COMPELLING MESSAGE. Think of this 6-WORD MESSAGE as the 6 Sigma of the For Impact World!

Special Note: ‘6 WORDS’ can break down into 6 BIG WORDS…
Or 2 GROUPS OF 3 WORDS…
Or 3 GROUPS OF 2 WORDS!

I thought I’d provide you some ‘YEAST’ for your ORGANIZATION’S 6-WORD MESSAGE.
• One of the best MESSAGES ever:
SAVE LIVES. REDUCE INCIDENCE. IMPROVE QUALITY.
This is the American Cancer Society’s WHY.

Here’s their 6-Word WHAT and HOW.
HOPE. PROGRESS. ANSWERS.
RESEARCH. EDUCATION. SERVICE.

*It doesn’t get any better than this. You can have a conversation/dialogue for hours around the 6-Word WHY and 3-Word WHAT plus the 3-Word HOW.

• Ohio Wesleyan University
6-WORD PURPOSE:
EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS FOR LEADERSHIP (&) SERVICE.

6-WORD PRIORITIES:
STUDENT LIFE. EDUCATIONAL EXPEIENCE. FINANCIAL STABILITY.

• Colorado College
What follows is 9 words but, still, 3 groups of 3 Words to capture an entire mapping process and agenda for a $300 Million Fundraising Initiative is pretty concise.
RIGOROUS INTELLECTUAL EXPERIENCE.
DIVERSE RESPECTFUL COMMUNITY.
NEXT GENERATION CAMPUS .

The Funding Priorities are then built around:
FACULTY. STUDENTS. CAMPUS.

• A Senior Community Center
TRANSFORM (THE) AGING EXPERIENCE.
(AROUND) HOME. HEALTH. MEALS.

Here are some 6-WORD MESSAGES within FOR IMPACT/THE SUDDDES GROUP:

• CHANGE (THE) WORLD through FOR IMPACT LEADERS
• CHANGE (THE) WORLD by SPEAKING. TRAINING. COACHING.

*Even our FOR IMPACT Point OF VIEW can be summarized in 6 Words:
IMPACT DRIVES INCOME. GO. JUST ASK.

BONUS: Here’s our ENTREPRENEURIAL MANTRA in 6 WORDS:

THING BIG. BUILD SIMPLE. ACT NOW.

*This works for every For Impact Organization, Social Entrepreneur and For Impact Leader.

Postscript: HAIKU. As I was writing out these examples, I was thinking about the similarity of these 6 Words to practicing the Japanese art of Haiku.

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry consisting of 3 lines, made up 5, 7 and 5 syllables each.

One year ago (August of 2007), Nick and I were in the Grand Canyon rafting the Colorado River… and practicing our Haiku. Here is one of mine that captured the entire day’s activities for 14 straight days.

WAKE. EAT. RI•VER. HIKE.
EAT. RI•VER. HIKE. RI•VER. CAMP.
WRITE. PUS H•UPS. EAT. SLEEP.

Two great blogs also explore the realm of simple poetry. Katya’s Non-profit Marketing Blog held a competition to see who had the best nonprofit marketing haiku. You can see the winning entry here. Nonprofit Quarterly wrote this article on the topic, and more examples are here.

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