What makes you different?

So you’re a nonprofit fundraising consultant? Big deal. There are thousands of others just like you.

What makes you different? What’s your movement?

If you don’t know, I suggest you get a copy of “Renegade Thoughts” by Matthew Goldfarb.

Goldfarb is the founder of Corporate Renegade and is brilliant when it comes to marketing and messaging. He says that we should stop fitting in and start standing out. And “Renegade Thoughts” will explain how to do it.

Let me share a few of my favorite parts of the book:

• Strive to become unemployable.  I’ve considered myself unemployable for years, because I refuse to compromise my standards.  Turns out, I was right. Matthew says unemployable means “you value yourself too much to lower your standards for someone else.” There’s a lot of value in being very clear in your beliefs and values, and being unwilling to give in.

For example, I’m a firm believer that any nonprofit can raise all the money it needs to fulfill its mission if it follows some basic principles. The main one is that big money is raised through individuals following donor-based fundraising. Lots of people approach me wanting me to promote candy-bar sales, and the like, and I won’t do it.  I’m not willing to back off my belief in exchange for a few dollars.

• Know what pisses you off.  The best way to stand out is to take a stand for what you believe in. The fastest way to figure out what you stand for is to uncover what pisses you off. Anger is a strong emotion and will unleash your passion for what you really care about.

One thing that pisses me off is nonprofit leaders who won’t go for big fundraising goals because they’re scared. They are happy being mediocre instead of setting a big goal and going for it. Sometimes it’s because they are afraid of failure or of being embarrassed. At any rate, it holds the nonprofit back, and prevents programs from being started or enhanced.  And that’s NOT okay with me!

• Stop Playing Small.  Smallness doesn’t serve anyone. If you’re playing small, you probably know it in your heart. You know you have a big message to share with the world, and you KNOW you’re not doing all you can to get it out there.

Smallness looks like this:

-          Not promoting your services because you don’t want the spotlight or you don’t want to brag.

-          Not getting on a plane to go to a conference to speak because “it’s so far.”

-          Talking yourself out of investing in coaching because “it’s too much money.”

 

You are here on this planet to share your gifts! Are you going to play small and only serve a handful of clients, or are you going to play full-out and serve as many nonprofits as you can?

I encourage you to get a copy of “Renegade Thoughts” and visit Goldfarb’s website at www.corporaterenegade.com.