As a leader experienced in for-profit start ups, I’ve always appreciated the resilience, adaptability, and perseverance required of teams and team members to do truly incredible things with minimal resources.
Throughout my time with Making Spirits Bright, I have come to realize it is not much different in the nonprofit world. Afterall, nonprofits need resilience, adaptability, and strategy to get to their ultimate goals of action and impact.
My peers and I often tout the importance of “failing fast” and learning from our mistakes. A trait that many individuals, executives included, are afraid to truly embrace. It can be a scary thing to be so vulnerable, to have our work fail for all of our colleagues to see, and to put ourselves out there to truly be judged. I have found that the fear of perfection even gets in the way of even some of the most accomplished individuals from launching new and innovative ideas that are perceived as unfinished or too raw to go to market.
At Making Spirits Bright, the idea of perfection is seen as a goal, but not a gate.
The reality of a nonprofit’s work is that to best serve our population, I have come to realize it is best just to take action – even if it is small or imperfect.
While the challenges they face are complex and ever-changing, not unlike for-profits, it is fair to say that the very children they serve face challenges complex, ever-changing, and at times seemingly insurmountable. And when you are forced to view this as reality, it hoists you into the comfort of imperfection knowing that imperfect interaction, even if it seems so insignificant, can lead to changing the trajectory of a child’s life.
This willingness to adapt and take action, coupled with the resilience and perseverance to operate with limited resources and constant setbacks is what leads to 70% of nonprofits still operating after 10 years, as compared to only 30% of for-profit organizations over that same time period.
Making Spirits Bright keeps moving forward, inch by inch and mile by mile, for the people they serve.
I’ve been honored to serve on the board of Making Spirits Bright for the past year. And during that time, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that the organization has made on the lives of countless people. I’ve also seen the dedication and passion that is incredibly challenging to find in the for-profit sector.
If you’re looking for a way to give back to your community, I encourage you to consider volunteering or donating to Making Spirits Bright. Your support will help to make a real difference in the lives of children they serve.
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