Paying It Forward: Go Big

Changing people's lives starts with reality. Authenticity of leadership overcomes challenges. Empathy empowers teams when all join in the mission. More help, then more traction, more results!

Many nonprofits are challenged to scale their impact to achieve the long-term success that materially changes people’s lives.

Scaling and changing lives while attract the ongoing support hours, dollars, testimony and skills requires a real understanding of people. Key to this long-term success is the renewal to our cause with others.

Leaders have the empathy to feel what their volunteers, teams and clients feel while inspiring the efforts that generate the impact and improve our community for the good of all.  Leading is inspiring, authenticity absolute. 

As such care and feeding of one’s ability to inspire requires vacation, family, community and skills.  Each needs some time and attention for any of us to function at our peak.

I chose to recharge with family in celebration of the fourth of July. Each grandchild picked their “activity” for special time with dad and granddad. Putt-putt after lunch, shopping for candy, watching airplanes and painting cats. Each experience unique, refreshing and enjoyable.

And just like managing volunteers, I learned you’ve got to keep it simple. Deal with the immediate, progress over perfection.  And let the “volunteer” set the tempo and direction.  Meet them where they are.

I learned that by flaming out in my “5 steps to putt-putt success”.  After the second step, Connor stops me, “Too complicated.” Within a few holes, has his first of two hole-in-ones.  He liked the holes in the shade the most, it was 101 degrees.

Walking this morning, I was inspired by this 4th of July Frog guarding a home’s mailbox.  Like the question, “How does a frog eat an elephant?” Seasonal costumes keep this Frog relevant. Big problems must be decomposed to bites volunteers want to eat.

It is so hot; your services are really needed.  Help feed people at Faith Mission where energy drinks are included to help folks stay hydrated in this heat. Fans are requested by Meals on Wheels.  Adult Literacy Council needs volunteer tutors. Helping people read leads to life growth, more at www.wfwalc.org

Help feed others by applying online for Wichita Falls Area Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry, Power Pak4 Kids and Warehouse efforts in service to our community: https://www.wfafb.org/volunteer

Also help animals by working with PETS; more info: https://www.petsclinic.org/support-p-e-t-s/

How is your nonprofit viewed?  Can you eat your elephants?  What is the right next thing I can do?

Published Wichita Falls Times Record News, Trends Section, Sunday July 7, 2024.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?