Do the thing we fear, and death of fear is certain.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I just joined #Trust30.

#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages us to look within and trust ourselves. I will view each day’s writing through the lens of the social sector. In doing this I hope to learn lots about myself, this sector that I love and  share that with you all.  The Inspiration for this exercise is the celebration of  Emerson’s 208th birthday. In his honor The Domino Project has republished  Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson

So let’s get started….

So what if your organization had 15 months before you had to  stop all programs, not accept another donation and close your doors? That is all you have 15 months- 15 months to accomplish your mission.

15th months to “live” your purpose.

What story do you need to tell to accomplish your mission in this set amount of time? What truth do you need to hear? What truth do you need to tell. What systems do you need to create? What legacy programs do you need to destroy?

Many organizations hate change and many change projects go horribly wrong. And the non-profit world is uber risk averse. UBER.  Too much of our money/funding  is tied to to success. Real impact can be difficult to measure. Writing a grant request  and  receiving a grant from a foundation is very different from making a difference and creating sustainable impact.

Do you do work or do you do work that matters?

Can your organization do everything it was meant to do in 15 months or even in 15 years? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you have the right people in the right roles- especially at the helm of your organization?
• Are you partnering  and building coalitions with the right organizations?
• Are you spending your time, money and energy in places that will provide the best return?
• Does what you measure  actually matter?
• What fears have been holding you back from going to the next level?
• Who actually should be holding your mic and moving your message forward?
• Have you created a culture that will not allow you to accomplish your goal?

These are hard questions and I want to take you to an uncomfortable place.

Being in that uncomfortable place, speaking truth and  having a clear vision of your legacy can change you.  Look within your organization and see it for what it really is and not what the marketing/ pr hype tells you it is.

We have two choices in life as people and as organizations ….get busy living or get busy dying. Is your organization on  life support right now?

What are  you willing to do to get the work done? What story do you need to create?