I get this email update everyday from Fast Company (I highly recommend you do the same) and in yesterday’s email there was a link to an article about Passion Projects. I was intrigued. So, I click on the link and have been exposed to a whole new idea and really want to create my own Passion Project.

A Passion Project is something that one does outside of work that feeds their creativity thus making themselves more productive. You can take it one step further like a group of University of British Columbia students who take a passion for what they love and utilize their gifts to inspire social change.

I did a post a few weeks ago about how your work does not define who you are. I encouraged you to get out and do something to take your mind off of your work. By developing yourself outside of the workplace you become a more well rounded and interesting person. I really like these Passion Projects because they are taking the idea one step further by saying; take what you do and develop that creatively so you are more enthused and fired up about your work.

What are the things about you or your job that excite you? What areas of self would you like to develop? I started this blog so that I could develop my writing and public speaking skills. Now that I know about Passion Projects, I’m thinking that I need to take this blog one step further and do something more. I originally used a vision statement for the blog of Be More, Do More and Achieve More. I think I need to brainstorm about my vision a bit more in order to create more inspiration within myself and others. My brain is on a roll today….I’m more inspired to utilize my skills and be more creative, are you?

Do a little more than you need to

Give a little more than you have to

Try a little harder than you want to

And you’ll achieve more than you need to

By doing all you intend to

First, make your resolutions specific and put them in writing. Vague goals create vague results, so create resolutions in a way that you can track and measure progress. Here are some examples: I will weigh xx pounds by [date] or I will earn at least $xx in [year].

Next, identify what you must DO in order to achieve your goals. Nothing happens unless you take action. This may include specific tasks, new skills or simply changing some old habits or behaviors. For example, if you want to spend more time with your family, you may need to go into work earlier, delegate non-essential tasks, hire an assistant, improve your time management skills, plan and prioritize your work using a calendar, etc.

Finally, share your resolution with someone who is supportive and passionate about your success – a spouse, friend, mentor or coach. Sharing your goals with someone else adds a level of accountability and focus – because it is natural for them to ask you how you are doing. Talk about motivation.

Did you enjoy this post? Share it with your friends and colleagues. For additional ideas to improve and grow your business, visit my small business resources or join my mailing list.

DO THIS: Pick 2 simple goals for 2 aspects of your life. It can be relationships, financial, educational, or health related goals. The 2 goals will be something you would want a new years resolution to be. Follow this for 90 days starting TODAY. Let’s say you picked out 2 goals but miss every other day. It’s okay, New Years is still weeks away. But you have already started to make it a habit, and are more likely to stick with the goals after the New Year transition. Everyday make them more of a habit, you can even start 3 days a week, and add a day a week. We are still weeks away from the end of the year so if you start those healthy and smart habits today, by the time the new year is here you will already be way ahead of your friends and family on your resolutions!! It’s just going to make the New Year that much sweeter knowing you are already ahead!

I hope everyone that is reading this is having a really good day. And if you are not, just know that in every new minute that passes you have an opportunity to change that. Gillian Anderson

Every day has potential to be the best day of your life. Make the decision that today will be a great day and spend your time working to achieve it. The following tips will make it easy for you to live each day to the fullest.

Select your alarm tune carefully
Setting your alarm tune to something peaceful or happy is always a great way to start the day! My alarm tune is set to the DuckTails theme song. It reminds me of Saturday Disney and being young, it gives me energy to start the day and it makes me wake with a smile. For those of you that think a song may be too much too early in the morning, try selecting something peaceful (but still enough to wake you) to get you out of bed each morning.

Wake up healthy
When you feel good, you’ll look good. Wake up and stretch, drink a glass of water, have a bowl of fruit and/or high-fibre cereal for breakfast and try to schedule some time for a brisk walk to get the heart rate up. Getting into the routine of slowing down your morning, properly brushing your teeth and taking time for yourself is a great way to start the day!

Dress to impress
It’s important to dress for success whether you have a long day of work stretching ahead of you or not.  Did you know that a careerbuilder.com survey found that 41% of employers are more likely to promote people that dress better? It will also help you be more productive and people will be more receptive to you.

Genuinely smile
Smiling is universally recognised as an expression of happiness among all cultures: if you smile, other people will generally smile with you. Some studies support this, even suggesting that it is contagious. For example a study conducted in Sweden showed that people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own.

Perceive everything in a positive way
Make the decision to take everything in a positive way – remember, you are only living today for one day only. If someone is trying to be negative and force you down, the trick is to try to find the lesson in what they are saying or doing. Learning from them will benefit you as you keep your head up and continue striving to be the best you can be.

Be kind
Be kind to everyone you encounter. According to psychologist Og Mandino (1923-1996), “Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again”. It doesn’t cost anything to be nice to someone, it’s easy to do, and it makes you feel good! So smile, start a conversation and remember to mind your manners. The Stanford Research Institute says that the money you make in any endeavour is determined by 12.5% knowledge and 87.5% ability to deal with people.

Give away positive energy
According to the law of attraction, the more positive energy you give, the more you will receive. Give compliments, let people know you’re thinking of them, buy people gifts, and always mind your manners. The easiest way to give and receive positive energy is to always have good intentions.

Have a positive attitude
Maintain an attitude of gratitude and you will attract all good things. Being thankful for even the small things will enhance awareness of your surroundings and it’s this level of mindfulness that will assist you in appreciating each day. You have 25,000 to 50,000 thoughts a day, changing most of them to be positive will be a challenge but it’s certainly possible!

Challenge yourself
Be open to learning something new. Accept a spontaneous opportunity. Do something you’re scared of (within reason!). Challenge yourself to achieve your full potential. By challenging yourself you will grow, gain awareness, skills and knowledge, achieve more, possibly advance in your career, become a better friend or partner, and gain new experiences.

Chat to loved ones
Schedule some time towards the end of each day to chat to your loved ones. Call your family for a general catch up or call your best friend. It’s a great way to vent, relax, unwind, and wrap up a busy day in the office!

Exercise
Have an exercise routine in the afternoon that you look forward to after work, it will help you to refresh – and it’s great for your health! Studies have shown that just 20 minutes of exercise three times a week will increase your happiness by 10 to 20 percent after six months.

Look after yourself
Aside from the usual hygiene care (showering and brushing your teeth), try to do something nice for yourself each day. This could be grooming: getting a haircut, painting your nails or it could be something leisurely: planning a party, having a bath, reading the newspaper or a book, going shopping or to the beach, writing a letter, painting a picture, going star-gazing, listening to music etc.

Live for the moment
Time is something you can never get back. Avoid wasting it! While we can live to an endless to-do list it’s equally important to have time to think and meditate. Put your phone down and give your time fully when you’re socialising – it will allow you to fully enjoy the moment. Switching off and being completely present enables you to slow down a fast-paced life to fully enjoy yourself.

Respect your biorhythms
To help ensure tomorrow is just as good as today, make sure you get a good night’s sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep may mean investing in earplugs to ensure your room is silent, a new pillow for comfort, or an eye mask to ensure no light will disturb you. If you find yourself awake at night, figure out what is worrying you and how you can overcome it.

Interestingly enough, collaboration is defined as the act or process of collaborating, as well as the product resulting from collaboration. A few years ago, the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) introduced a new award recognizing innovative collaboration. This annual recognition continues to spotlight and reward collaboration both as a process and as product.

But that’s an aside.

I was fortunate enough in 2011 to attend ASAE’s Invitational Forum on Leadership and Management. If you’ve never been, I would highly recommend looking into it. Yes, it’s a little pricey; however, it was—perhaps—the best professional development experience of my life (and as a professional development junkie, that’s saying a lot).

In addition to good, quality information that was immediately applicable to my work, I was introduced to and worked alongside dozens of well-respected and seasoned association professionals. Even more than that, I was challenged to think about collaboration in a new and somewhat innovative way.

I’m paraphrasing here, but a few key takeaways/principles that continue to guide my work with others (and which I return to from time-to-time to refocus and refine my approaches to collaboration, particularly in situations involving strongly divergent opinions):

• When a problem exists (in this case, any challenge your association could and would face during the normal course of business), my solution and your solution are fundamentally different because our views/perspectives on what should be done are based on our own unique skills, expertise, beliefs and values. And this is perfectly okay (and, in fact, to be expected).
• Simply selecting one solution over the other or creating a compromise somewhere between our two solutions would result in a fundamentally deficient decision or product. Likewise, when one person “wins” and the other “loses,” friction, hostility and demoralization could affect not only our relationship, but our future collaborative work.
• Instead, a third option should be devised that honors the best parts of my solution and the best parts of your solution, builds upon our respective strengths, and results in a third, more robust solution that elevates the skills, expertise, beliefs and values we each bring to the table.

In my experience, organizations often excel or have strong expertise in a particular functional area. Many resources are funneled into this department to ensure success and, ultimately, to create value and best serve the membership. Naturally, these projects gain the attention of top leadership, are allotted disproportionately more time on the board agenda, and appear first in both the monthly newsletter and the year-end report.

Meanwhile, the remaining departments suffer from inexperienced/undertrained staff members, as well as a lack of resources, poorly defined goals/objectives, board/leadership apathy, and an overall lack of time, attention and focus. Intentional or not, these dynamics have a tremendous impact on staff morale, motivation and productivity.

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as simple as striving for perfection (sorry Type As). If it were easy for every organization to be the best at everything they do, wouldn’t we just strive for perfection each and every day (and be increasingly more disappointed when every association began to look more and more alike or the occasional human error reared its ugly head)?

Therefore, in my opinion, we have at least two options:

1. Strive to be more balanced. Aim for excellence in the functional areas our organizations excel at, but be more mindful of and fair to the other departments and staff, too.
2. Be more deliberate about collaboration. Be honest about the functional areas that could use a bit more attention and resources – and deploy them accordingly.

Here, resources include staff (be it full-time, part-time or the often under-utilized intern), supplies, training, recognition and support. Additionally, collaboration is key. Collaborate with a trusted partner (such as a colleague or a consultant) and you’ll undoubtedly infuse new ideas, new energy and a renewed spirit into your department and, subsequently, your organization.

In addition to keeping projects on time, on message and under budget, I think you’d also be surprised by the impact collaboration can have on strategic thinking and long-term outcomes. In terms of professional development and creating dynamic member experiences, it could be the difference between planning the same conference year after year and developing a compelling experience – delivered in a unique and interactive way – that inspires learning, engagement and community.

So, my question to you is this: Do you identify with this model of collaboration? In what ways does your organization encourage collaboration both internally and externally? What outcomes – otherwise unachievable – has your organization realized as a result of collaboration?

Have you ever noticed how just changing the arrangement of furniture in a room can give a whole new perspective on things? The same applies when we wear colors we don’t normally choose. 

How else can we go about rejuvenating our lives? Embrace getting out of routines and exploring new ways of doing things. It is difficult to renew the spirit in the “chatter” of everyday life. Step away; take daily walks. Regularly tune out from all kinds of digital devices in order to tune in and communicate with yourself. Meditation has been found to stimulate brain growth and provide personal fulfillment. 

Don’t ever underestimate the power of small things to bring inspiration and creativity to your life. Pick up a book you would not normally read, draw or doodle, try a brain game.  Enrich your environment with art, culture, religion, educational or scientific opportunity. 

Spring time is a great time to map a new course in life. Set new goals and achieve them. With satisfaction in getting the job done; comes the desire to achieve more, learn more and do more. Looking for a renewal of spirit during the Vernal Equinox?  Here is a list of 50 things you can do to begin your journey to a fulfilling life. http://bit.ly/96w8Ax.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

At least in my mind, there are two different types of professional development staff (and neither is better than the other, they are just different). The first is characterized as highly innovative, collaborative and experimental, and could easily be classified as an early adopter. The second is much more traditional in his/her approach to the development and delivery of content.

To be sure, those who are especially avant garde are immersed in a variety of professional development listservs and discussion forums; are knowledgeable about adult learning principles; and have a propensity for developing interesting new content delivery methods. Coupled with cutting-edge educational opportunities, case studies and white papers, these individuals are thought leaders in their field and light years ahead of their time.

Based upon the goals and objectives of each specific program, these individuals bring to their organizations a wealth of knowledge and experience which they draw upon when building an effective strategy for educating members. These individuals rarely rely on member feedback and industry research, spending much more time focusing on instructional design and curriculum development.

Ultimately, these programs are memorable, refreshing and very successful. Although they require significantly more planning, organization, lead time and logistics management, these experiences are not only well received but contribute valuable engagement opportunities that support the organization’s recruitment and retention efforts (not to mention the bottom line).

Conversely, those individuals and organizations with a much more traditional approach to education (think: keynote speaker and a series of lecture-style breakout sessions that follow a similar schedule from year to year), are struggling to compete/demonstrate value in a market that is literally saturated with learning opportunities.

To these organizations, the challenge is to transform industry-specific knowledge and information into viable training; to align education with member needs through regular industry research, analysis and trending; to connect the dots between theory and practice; and to explore opportunities for virtual or blended learning formats.

When organizations want to reimagine a signature program or an entire annual meetings calendar (and don’t have the knowledge, skills and expertise of a professional development pioneer), I very often recommend the following five-step research process:

1. Develop and conduct a member survey. Based upon the goals of the survey (e.g., to identify topics or speakers for future education programs), the survey can be as little as one question (e.g., “What is the one work-related issue/challenge that’s kept you up at night within the last year?”).
2. Facilitate an education focus group. Convene a group of key constituents (e.g., education committee members, board members, industry speakers, subject matter experts, target audience members and staff) to interpret the results of the member survey.
3. Identify actionable next steps. Based upon the input of the constituent group, develop a reasonable list of action items that will breathe new life into your education efforts (e.g., rework the annual meeting schedule, explore different learning formats for an upcoming program or add a blended learning series to the annual meetings calendar).
4. Implement actionable recommendations. The assistance of volunteer leaders, subject matter experts and industry speakers should be enlisted to support the implementation of the group’s recommendations. Consultants may also be secured to support the process, as needed.
5. Evaluate the process and the outcomes. Once each recommendation has been implemented, a careful evaluation should be conducted to determine both effectiveness and member satisfaction. Additionally, the five-step research process should be evaluated, tweaked and implemented annually in some form to keep the organization’s education strategy fresh, competitive and valuable.

So, my question to you is this: Do education research and strategic conversations about learning inform your annual meetings calendar? Is your organization’s approach to member education cutting-edge or much more traditional? How would implementing this five-step research process impact the effectiveness (and reputation) of your meetings department?

For more information about my professional development consulting firm Event Garde, download our promotional brochure, visit the website or like us on Facebook. A personal, fun and completely free conversation will also enable us to discuss how I can best contribute (via research or other strategy) to the success of your organization’s professional development efforts. Together, we can achieve more.

There I break down the impact technology is having on the sheer volume of continuing education programs being offered today, the importance of education research in the development of quality learning and networking events, and the expertise required to pull off truly dynamic member experiences that draw upon innovative programming models and contemporary adult learning principles.

As part of a new, ongoing series I’m calling “Achieve More,” I will profile each month a unique strategy guaranteed to breathe new life into some aspect of your organization’s professional development efforts.

To kick-off this series, I’d like to address the benefits of a professional development consultation. Each and every day, someone, somewhere is planning an educational program or special networking event for association members. The very first step in the planning process generally includes a look back at the previous year’s records, including timeline, financials, communications and the like (assuming this is a repeat event).

Depending on the amount of available planning time and resources; the foresight to identify member needs through industry research, analysis and trending; the interest of volunteer leaders to take an active role in the establishment of program goals and objectives; and, finally, the organization’s own staffing, infrastructure and expertise, stage two varies considerably.

And, without a doubt, it’s this next step that determines the fate of an entire event.

Consider, for a moment, the old adage: “You only get out of something what you put into it.” Or, more succinct (and a bit crasser): “Garbage in, garbage out.” Primarily used to call attention to the fact that computers will unquestioningly process the most nonsensical of input data (“garbage in”) and produce nonsensical output (“garbage out”), this phrase is equally applicable to programs and events.

Churn and burn the same processes, meet with the same cohort of volunteer leaders, book the same venues, call upon the same speakers, partner with the same vendors (the violations are endless). Know what you’ll get on the other side? The same exact member experiences you’ve been turning out for the last several years (and, in some cases, even longer than that).

Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with building upon a successful learning format or booking a multi-year contract with a great hotel to save a bit of money for both you and your members, but the line must be drawn somewhere. Just because your members come back year after year doesn’t mean:

1. Your educational program inspires learning, engagement and community (the ultimate goal);
2. Your members will continue to come given the introduction of a next best alternative; and
3. Your organization is meeting its fullest potential (for both attendance and revenue).

Now, I’m not jaded enough to think that meeting professionals and professional development staff around the world are intentionally taking the easy way out. Quite the contrary. I’m intimately aware of the limited resources with which many education departments are faced. However, this isn’t a valid excuse.

Enter professional development consultants.

“Quick-fix” consultations (limited in scope and, believe it or not, overall investment) can have a sizable impact on jump-starting your planning efforts and providing new, innovative perspectives on what is possible. Consultations with a knowledgeable professional development expert can range from half-day to full-day sessions (or longer, depending on your organization’s needs) and may focus on:

1. Framing an upcoming program or event to make it unique and memorable (think innovative programming models here); or
2. Coaching staff to host a meaningful volunteer leader committee meeting intended to capture new ideas or identify member needs; or
3. Developing strategies to better support your speakers, transforming your organization’s subject matter experts into effective instructional designers.

The opportunities are endless. But in every instance, actionable recommendations should be provided by the consultant via a written report or executive summary to focus and refine your planning efforts long after the consultation has ended.

So, my question to you is this: What elements of your next signature program (or new 2012 event) could be reimagined? What effect would some coaching and advance preparation have on the effectiveness of your organization’s next education committee meeting? How would some targeted speaker preparation (e.g., dissemination of venue or session logistics, training or tips for better presentations) impact the experience of both your subject matter experts and program participants?

For more information about my professional development consulting firm Event Garde, download our promotional brochure, visit the website or like us on Facebook. A personal, fun and completely free conversation will also enable us to discuss how I can best contribute (via consultation or other strategy) to the success of your organization’s professional development efforts. Together, we can achieve more.

Have you had to start from scratch somewhere in your life – personal, spiritual or career-wise?  When you started from scratch did you use your lessons learned from previous experiences or apply your newly acquired knowledge?  Did you look at the situation as an opportunity to be, do and achieve more than you did before?  Did you decide to be more open minded, challenge yourself and obtain goals that exceed your own expectations?  Are you grateful to God for new beginnings yielding greater results?

Look Back. Before you start planning the next 90 days and beyond, take a few minutes to look at where you are today – in your business and personally. How do your sales, profit and other key results compare to last year (same period) and your current goals? Are you ahead, on track or behind? What about your personal goals – financial, family, social, community, health/fitness, etc?

Acknowledge Accomplishments. Even if you are on track, a natural tendency at this point is to focus on what you didn’t get done or what you could have done better. It’s important to acknowledge your successes, big or small. Jot them down and pat yourself on the back.

Learn & Adjust. No matter how much you plan or how well you execute, some things may not work out as you expected – we tend to view these as failures. If you learn from mistakes and make changes to improve it next time, you haven’t really failed. You simply delayed success! Don’t dwell on it – make adjustments and move on.

Reset Goals. What specific goals do you want to accomplish over the next 90 days? Be realistic. Start with 4 to 5 (not 10 to 20). It’s difficult to stay focused if you have too many ‘critical’ goals. You will want to track progress, so make your goals measurable and consider specific outcomes you want. Here’s a few examples. Acquire 4 new customers each month or increase gross profit margins 5% by September 30th, or arrive home by 6:00 pm at least 3 nights per week.

Identify Key Tasks. Results come from doing so for each goal you set above, list the 5-7 key tasks, activities or things you must DO in order to achieve the goal you set. For example, if you set a goal to acquire new customers or increase revenue, one of the things you may need to do is increase the number of leads you receive. What do you need to do to get more leads? Likely a combination of efforts such as — email campaigns, referral system, postcards, monthly website specials, promote via social media, targeted networking and prospecting calls. Be specific, include time frames and assign responsibility, where appropriate.

Still stuck when it comes to planning? If you are among the many small business owners who don’t have an actionable plan to grow your small business, the time to start is now. Check out my Ultimate Planning & Goal Setting Guide

The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less

Have a great day!

Love,
DK

1st, on my driving test, eventhough I have been driving 5 speed in the Philippines for 5 years before I came here, yet I still failed the driving test 4 times. On the 5th attempt I finally got the passing score of 75 just enough to get the license.

2nd is the Real Estate Business that I started failed. I created an LLC with my husband to help distress property owners save their houses  (http://mifreedomrealestate.com/). But because of the economy and all the mixed situations it failed to produce income.

3rd, We created another Real Estate LLC with my business partner Nancy but it failed again. Although we sold 12 houses Lease Option but it was never enough to cover our business operating expenses. The sellers and the tenant buyers that we helped ended up blaming us for their own situation instead of showing appreciation for the help that we gave them. Oh Well! Nancy and I parted in a good way because we both have decided to move on and take care of our own families.

These 3 Big Failures that I had created for 3 years that I have been here in the US opened up a great opportunity and chance for me to channel my business ideas. Through these blogsites (1) http://www.PoTPhils.wordpress.com – this is a blogsite I created for  for Filipinos living Outside the Philippines who wants to communicate and relate with someone who can understand and someone who have been through what they are experiencing right now.

(2) This blogsite http://www.erforme.wordpress.com

We created this blogsite to help Entrepreneurs like us get their life back again by applying our Simply Effective Planning System. I am now in the process of revising the look of the planner so it will be more efficient. To help BUSY MOMS and BUSY INDIVIDUALS like me.

I know it’s a lot to handle, (because I go to school in the morning, and I work in the afternoon and ofcourse I am a responsible wife and mother to our 2 cute dogs) but with Prioritizing using our system, I can pull this through. My objective – is to HELP BUSY INDIVIDUALS APPLY THE LIMITATION AND CHOICE in their daily lives with the wisdom of implementing “DO LESS, ACHIEVE MORE AND GAIN FREEDOM FROM YOUR DAILY CHAOTIC LIFE.”

I do believe that you can never be successful in life if you didn’t have failures in life. Failures make us learn how to deal with life and it make our Accomplishments more REWARDING!

If anyone

Oh well, time really flies. But my question to you is, have you already figured out how to be productive everyday. Especially if you wear “different hats” every day? Juggling many responsibilities at a time is not easy! Being a mom, an employee, a spouse, an entrepreneur, a student and a speaker is not that easy to manage. Prioritizing is the most important key to be accomplished daily!

Come on, give yourself a break! How, by allowing yourself to let your overwhelming feelings out! We are still giving away our Simply Effective Planners to those who “are deserving to be productive daily, by doing less, achieving more and gaining freedom from your daily chaotic tasks.”

Blog here, Why do you deserve the Free “Simply Effective Planner?

Just How Busy Are You?

Prove You Have Too Much On Your Plate

To Win a Free Simply Effective Planner for 2010-2011 !

Blog at : http://www.ERforME.wordpress.com

Tell us why: “I deserve to get the Free Simply Effective Planner for having too much on my plate such as …”

Let it out here… just hit “Reply” at the upper right side of this blog, and make sure you enter your correct e-mail address so you can express yourself and be one of us who have already benefited from this Simply Effective Planner.

The Simply Effective Planner will be yours to keep…

Go ahead and check our Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Er-For-Me

and our Twitter http://twitter.com/RDL2007

This “was” how our day looked like before we discovered our Simply Effective Planning System….

Crazy, Chaotic and Overwhelming!

—————————————-

Or this?

This is how our day looks like everyday. Using Simply Effective Planning System. Do Less, Achieve More and Gain Freedom!

1)  Better health

2)  Determination

3)  Achieve More

4)  Reduce Stress

If you are a glass half empty person, don’t be discouraged.  Start by replacing all of your negative thoughts with more positive ones.

So how did it happen?  Let’s not take for granted the years of experience in leadership roles within the nonprofit sector.  Beyond that there is something else.  Something we forget about in our daily routine that comes natural to these leaders.  Going beyond the norm and aiming higher.

Recently I was speaking with a colleague who took a position as a new executive director of a small organization.  She made a comment that she is going to let the dust settle and then begin to slowly change things. 

I asked her, “so when will you know it’s the right time to make changes?  Didn’t the board already decide they needed a new change by bringing you in?  Why not aim higher now?” 

As a leader of the organization you should consistently ask yourself if you are going to challenge the status quo and go beyond expectations.  Are you working now to do this or have you been procastinating this whole time and waiting for the next time you feel it is “ripe”.  Do you just do the same work each day just to get it done-or do you develop new strategies that will expand the programs, build the organization’s name in the community, and bring in new resources.  It is about not being satisfied with the level of where things are but rather raising the organization’s expectations to achieve a higher level of impact and growth. 

Before you just send away another document through email or pass along another board meeting agenda, ask yourself if you are aiming higher?