LUE-42 Enterprises June 2023 Ezine

I Believe In Fairness, Fun, And Sharing What I’ve Learned

With The People Who Make This Planet A Great Place To Live

Issue 148, June 2023

A tax accountant, an actuary, and a financial planner walked into a bar... Well, I haven't written the joke yet but there must be a joke because I find myself in the middle of it. I have asked all those people how long I'm likely to live, how much money I'll need to live comfortably, and how long I need to work. The answers were neither as good (nor as bad) as I expected. Factoring in quality of life, I figured I should also talk to my personal trainer and my doctor. Everyone has agreed to do their part if I do mine. So I have the right team, a good game plan, and a short attention span. I will do my part, but I am counting on them to keep up their end of bargain, especially when I find myself staring at clouds.

We really are surrounded by people practicing the most interesting professions. I am grateful for them because I could not do what they do. (I feel the same way about chefs and childcare workers).

Didn't May seem to last a loooong time? It started with snow tires and ended with wild fires, and there was SO MUCH in between that I can hardly believe it. I do hope you are safe from the fires and other negative and nasty things that surround us these days.

I was briefly caught up on hockey playoffs but have traded that off for the start of football season. CFL Training Camp opened on Mother's Day and it was magical to be back in the stadium with our crew, watching team practices. I was a guest on the Turf District Podcast ("The Queen of Training Camp") to give my early impressions of the dozens of men trying to make the team. The preseason game in Calgary was delayed due to wildfires and then lightening, but we eventually played. We lost, but everything seems so much better than it did a year ago. Perhaps time really does heal...

Art, especially live theatre, peppered my month. I also saw two movies (Blackberry and Rocky Horror Picture Show), which meant two buckets of popcorn! My new play continues to be inspired by friends, strangers, movies, and artists of all ages. If it is to be ready for Fringe 2024, I'd better block off some writing time in the mountains.

As for AGMs and Boards, May was the best of times and the worst of times. Some boards successfully navigated difficult conversations while others doubled down on making things worse. It pains me to see the distress that board dysfunction causes (and to experience it myself). We've just got to do better and I am convinced that GRACE is the key to getting through it. I include myself among those who need more of it.

Even with so many board activities and fundraisers, there was time to reconnect with friends, some of whom I haven't seen for years. Connection is so important, and it really does pay off to pick up the phone, jump on a Zoom, or send a note. Try it (seriously).

There is plenty of professional development going on right now, and I seem to be in a webinar at least twice a week. There is the usual corporate governance stuff (which still thrills me) plus a dandy little session on pairing craft beer and charcuterie. This is something I've done for years, but never with this much information or intention. It's time to up my game!

/lmwe

"I for one expect to be engaged in the enterprise of advancing basic human values for the rest of my life."

-- Hodding Carter III

Have An Impact

im·pact verb /imˈpak(t),ˈimˌpak(t)/

have a strong effect on someone or something.

Recently Forbes Nonprofit Council gathered an expert panel to look at how non-profits can monitor and measure their impact.

I confess, in reading this I learned new words and also had thoughts of "Who could afford to do that?" In any event, it is worth having a look because impact is where our work really counts; it's about more than doing what we've always done because people seem to want what we're offering.

For context, each idea below is generated by a different organization -- there is no expectation (or even possibility) -- that one organization could do all of these things. At least, I can't think of any that could.

Clearly define what success looks like. Sounds obvious, but it's shocking how many can't do this well. It involves data, not assumptions.
Develop a Learning Agenda. "The learning agenda process provides opportunities to work with both internal and external stakeholders to identify priority areas. By engaging stakeholders early and often, an agency can continuously build evidence that can be used to improve strategy and operations."
Conduct comprehensive impact evaluations. Both qualitative and quantitative.
Examine audience retention for existing programs and services. You need to attract new, but also keep the old.
Focus on outcomes. Broadcast achievements, acknowledge shortcomings.
Partner with a local researcher. Good experience for them, good info for you.
Hold forums or focus groups. Include various stakeholders.
Visit the communities being served. Become an extension of them, not an outside presence.
Examine how local and larger needs are being addressed. Amplify where you can.
Track social media interactions. Engage, measure, and track trends.
Hire an outside data expert. An objective eye helps.
Assess the organization's reputation and influence. Ask how people feel about you.
Use beneficiary-centric measures. "How many people were helped per dollar you spent? How much tangible change did you make in how many households? And critically—will those people and households vouch for what you claim to have done? The only voices that matter are those who agree that you have made a difference for them, so measure that."

As I mentioned, some of these aren't possible for everyone, but at least a few can be done by everyone. Let's practice focusing less on output and more on impact.

Here is the article.

/lmwe

Self-Care Tips

In Daily Motivation (May 22 2023). Reniel said, "Self-care is not self-indulgence, being selfish, nor is it getting self-absorbed. It refers to your conscious effort to take care of yourself (to promote your physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual health)."

As summer approaches and boards think about taking a break, I find myself thinking more about self-care practices. Some I'm pretty good at, others not at all. Here are some tips because, after all, if we're a mess then we can't be much help to others!

1. Physical Self-Care: Exercise, oxygenate yourself (i.e., breathe), eat healthy, get some sun (even 15 minutes), laugh, rest

2. Mental Self-Care: Observe your emotions, take notes, spend time with people who resonate with you, stimulate your mind, check your environment (disconnect from chatter and clutter)

3. Social Self-Care: Reach out to others, visit, go out, offer compliments and appreciation, express gratitude, show up

4. Spiritual Self-Care: Meditate, go to places of worship, pray or make positive affirmations, Yoga, question yourself (core values and drives)

5. Emotional Self-Care: Let go, listen to music, talk to someone, forgive, express positive emotions

6. Professional Self-Care: Maintain strong boundaries, delegate tasks, create a peer-support group, develop yourself, ask for advice and help

Other than the gratitude part, I find #3 Social Self-Care to be the most difficult right now, so that will get extra attention. How? We can create a Self-Care Plan by deciding, setting up, and following through for yourself. "Based on your needs you have to prioritize and adhere to different activities in different areas. Self-care isn’t an event but a habit – a way of life."

Here is the article.

Some People Who Made Life Better in May

MaryJane Alanko, Monique Andrie, Micah Awe, Kirsten Baxter, Susan Campbell, David Cheoros, Chantelle Chevrier Painter, Jonathon Cote, Jonathan Crane, Natalie Dzioba, Glyn Eales, Joan Forge, Liz Garratt, Carrie/Liav Habinski, JT Hay, Teresa Hennessey, Andrew Hoskins, Billie Lang, Kimberley Hunter Lee, Kerrie Light, Moira MacKinnon, Jenny/Adesh/ Aliya Narine, Scott Oberg, Mary Paul, Hector Pothier, Paul Rechner, Carole Ross, Lori Schmidt, Annette/Don Sieffert, Mike Smith-Knutsen, Mark Speers, Theresa Tsoukalas, Gord West

“If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.”

-- Amy Tan