Networking, fueled by Starbucks®
I am certain that coffee is the parent of the tech revolution. At least from afar, it looked like the rise of Starbucks® in the West came at about the same time that personal computers were getting a grip on the American economy.
I am just as certain that the rise of Starbucks® and the local coffee shop can fuel your career just as effectively. Do you need to be a “coffee achiever”? No — tea or water will work just as well. The point is that Starbucks® and their ilk make great places to meet people to promote your career — and theirs.
Your assignment today? Just as you would with a gift prospect, pick up the phone and call someone you haven’t seen for a while to meet and “just catch up” at a local coffee shop. Then do just that. Catch up on your respective careers, mutual contacts, and aspirations for your next five years — then watch that fuel, I mean coffee, do its thing!
The Value of Education
I always believed that there were only two reasons to take out a loan: for real estate and for education. Up to now, real estate was a pretty good bet. We all need a place to live, and if it’s an investment that’s likely to go up, all the better.
Oh well, it looks like education is the only one left!
Now I should confess my bias here. Some of you know that I teach in the Masters of Nonprofit Management Program at Eastern University in suburban Philadelphia (with campuses in Harrisburg and Washington, DC – hint, hint – I’d love to see you in class someday.)
But let’s put aside (grudgingly, I admit) the benefits of being a well rounded individual and focus on the vocational aspect of education – what counts for your career. What’s your education worth? I’m not going to quote a sophisticated study, but just scan the postings for leadership jobs in the Chronicle of Philanthropy for the words "Master’s Degree preferred". That will tell you right there. And if that’s not enough, if you could attend a workshop that, say, helps you increase your annual fund by 15%, you’d be a hero at work.
So right now, start thinking about whether you should sign up for a seminar or start a degree program. Either way, your career will be paid off in full!
When is a Good Time?
When is a good time to start a campaign?
It can’t be now. The economy is not doing well, and people are simply not spending money. It’s going to be hard.
It can’t be when things are starting on the upswing. People are just getting their feet on the ground and don’t have the funds they will in a little while. Let’s wait.
The economy’s good, but now everyone is asking for money. We’ll never get anything if we start this year. We should put it off a bit longer.
Sound familiar?
Like starting a campaign, the best time to start a career search is NOW. That’s because there is never a perfect time. And like a campaign, if you’re good and your skills meet a need, you’ll be successful.
I can hear you now – "But everyone else is looking, too." Actually, no. Those other people believe what they hear. You believe in yourself. So start your search today, and by the time the economy is doing well again, your organization will be full swing into that campaign – and you’ll be way ahead of those other guys!
Philanthropy Counts
While I cover some general career topics, most of my readership are those with some role in the process of asking for charitable gifts. Yet I need to ask, can those of you in the business of getting people to support the nonprofit world do your job without doing so yourself? Are you a philanthropist?
Not a huge one, but do you make charitable gifts yourself?
How is this a career move? Because your ability to put yourself in the donor’s shoes could make or break your candidacy for your next job. You may find it easy to ask for that gift – whether it’s by mail, over the phone, or in person – but whether you get it may hinge on whether your prospect thinks that you "get" what you’re asking them to do. That will make you more successful — a great career move.
