Sometimes, it starts small
A small group of blackbirds, busy searching for worms and bugs, paid no attention to me but caught my attention as my dog and I rambled along on our morning walk. What I didn’t know was that they were a tiny hint of what was to come.
Maybe an hour later, my husband got my attention when he uttered, “Wow!” while staring out the window into our backyard. “You’ve got to see this. The trees are full of blackbirds.”
By the time I reached the window, a giant cloud of black was swirling around the backyard. I was mesmerized as hundreds of birds landed in every tree, bush, and inch of yard — pausing for a few seconds, then lifting in unison, like a black cloud of smoke rising into the sky.
It was breathtaking and beautiful — a sign that spring is here. They have arrived to find nesting grounds, East Texas bug delicacies, and worm delights. Another cycle of new life begins again.
The power of “again”
Again is a wonderful word. It describes the moment of returning or repeating — something occurring once more. I know a lot about again. Any kid who packed boxes every few years to move on to the next military posting, or to the city where a parent’s next job was starting, knows the word well.
Before something new begins, life often asks us to begin again.
Again represents disruption — change, disappointment, anxiety, fear, or sometimes excitement. I know it well. Raised in a military family, I moved thirteen times and attended twelve schools from kindergarten through high school, sometimes for only a few months.
Again came to mean adventures, new friends and teachers, unexpected challenges, and always starting over.
It’s no wonder that a penchant for starting anew followed me into adulthood. I’ve had the privilege of being at the beginning of many organizations and projects. I’ve learned many lessons, some quickly and some that had to be “learned” more than once.
The lessons of starting over
Starting over teaches us all a few things. Here are a few of my lessons learned that matter when an organization or project is in the start-up phase:
Gather the wisest people you know who share an interest in your mission and listen to their counsel. Perhaps it is the first board of directors, a group of advisors, or early supporters who believe in you or the idea. Starters, after sharing your vision, make listening your first discipline.
Find someone who can serve as your pace car. The start-up phase can be fast and easy when energy and new ideas are swirling. But energy wanes as the to-do list grows longer. Find at least one person who can help you prioritize and focus on what must get done first, or now. Learn to create a list of good ideas and needed items to return to next month or next year.
Find nonprofit whisperers. In every community, you can find nonprofit professionals willing to share their experience, missteps, and lessons learned. In our community, Flourish Nonprofits provides co-working space, nonprofit trainings, start-up consulting and assistance, and meeting rooms. The United Way of Smith County partners with UT Tyler to offer nonprofit training.
Recognize the importance of circles of influence. Every board member, volunteer, and supporter comes to the start-up with their own circles of influence. Those circles both overlap and expand. They swirl around each other, creating a magnificent cloud of people to know, learn with and from, and invite onto your journey.
Early donors are the best friends you’ll ever have. Those who stay with you through the start-up years often become friends for life. Donors who give a little or a lot during the start-up phase are worth all the gold in the world.
Know your navigators. Keep a favorites list of donors. Not just those who give, but especially the donors who are willing to ask you countless questions. The what and why questions help you navigate unknown waters. Every question is a gift in the start-up phase.
Donors — this one’s for you — understand your Giving Fingerprints. We’re wonderfully different, and our motivations for giving are unique. Donors who support nonprofit start-up organizations are often drawn to innovation and risk. They recognize courage, persistence, and the spark of something new. If you’ve ever done the Giving Fingerprints exercises, you’ll recognize those words. Check out the exercise here. (Scroll to the bottom of the page for a free download.)
When something new takes flight
Every start-up organization needs wisdom, volunteers, and supporters of every kind. Donors watch for tireless determination and persistence.
The start-up phase is a bit like that cloud of blackbirds — searching the ground for what it needs, then suddenly rising together into the sky.
And when that happens, you realize something new has truly begun.
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If you have a question or a topic you would like to see explored in future posts, please reach out to me.
Website: www.dawnfranks.com
Email: dawn@dawnfranks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawfranks/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-franks-strategicsolutions/
