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Tag: intention

Life is meant for sharing.

In over two years, hundreds of people I respect and admire have attended my events. Many have asked how to easily find and connect with others within this community. Now it’s possible.

I’ve spent the last few months building a private online resource just for this reason. My friend Clay and I have made unique profiles detailing the skills and interests of those who have requested to share their information. It’s a curated rolodex of individuals who are kind, generous, adventurous and creative.

I can’t help but imagine what the world might be like if we all gave a little more when and wherever possible. I hope this online network encourages the Project Exponential family to do so.

 Note: If you’ve attended a dinner event and would like to be included, send me a note.

7 sins of crowdfunding

My recent indiegogo campaign has elicited a flurry of emails from people looking for support and advice on projects of their own. I’ve attempted a few fundraising efforts — one that failed, one that supported inner city kids (and got me to Everest Base Camp), and another that had me running the 2011 NYC marathon (never again!). I’ve noticed a few patterns surrounding the psychology of asking and giving and hope this compilation might help you think carefully about your next crowdfunding endeavor.

ONE: APATHY. You don’t really care about your cause.

If you aren’t invested in your project, how can you ask anyone else to be? The solar project came out of something incredibly meaningful for me, and my passion is palpable through a screen. If you think your work will make a difference in someone’s life, probably it will. People will believe in you and your work, but first you must believe in yourself. It can be unnerving to put yourself out there, so focus on your goal and what you’re looking to accomplish to overcome any social anxieties. Excitement is contagious.

TWO: GLUTTONY. Stressing helps no one.

With each fundraiser I end up putting on a few pounds, ultimately telling friends “fundraising is bad for my health.” I won’t lie: fundraising is stressful. It can be an agonizing blend of deadlines, public exposure, asking for money, rejection, persistence, hard work, and time. Lots of time.

Keep in mind no one will give you an award for stressing out. Worrying only paralyzes you from accomplishing anything significant; this serves no one. If you are tired or rundown, you’re going to be an inefficient fundraiser, advocate, worker, person. Take care of yourself.

THREE: PRIDE. You’re not going to be successful by yourself; build a team.

You need supporters in your corner for the times you hit fundraising slumps (and you will). Enlist your funders to encourage and cheer you on. Basic mathematics: more people means more energy and effort directed towards your project. And more eyeballs (over 10k people visited the solar project page). You’ll need more than just financial support as you make the final push toward your goals.

FOUR: SLOTH. Fundraising is really like a marathon.

At first, your idea will sound exciting and meaningful and you can’t wait to get started.

Then reality sets in. Is crowdfunding going to work? What if this fails? (Anxious questioning is completely normal. If you’re not at least a little bit nervous, reevaluate #1.)

After you announce your campaign to the world, you will feel empowered and committed. You start telling colleagues, share your campaign on social media channels, and receive positive feedback from friends. This initial spike in enthusiasm will be followed by a slump. Don’t panic.

FIVE: WRATH. You are not getting the response you hoped for, and now you’re angry.

Don’t give up.

You have to work really freaking hard. Sometimes, all of your online efforts aren’t enough. This is when you start looking at offline options. Tell everyone you meet about your project. Plan events — events, fundraisers, silent auctions. At one point, I considered making animal balloons on the street for money. Then I started applying to every micro grant I could possibly find—THANK YOU, POLLINATION PROJECT!—for fear I wouldn’t reach my goal.

Remember #4. It’s a marathon race; pace yourself but be prepared for sudden sprints. You will regain energy and confidence as your deadline nears and you approach your goal.

SIX: IGNORANCE. You don’t know your own story.

You’ll need to get creative. Images and anecdotes create a portrait of what you’re trying to do. Show people why your cause is meaningful and what kind of impact you’re looking to make. Your shared content — photos, stories, ideas, videos, testimonials — will help you move past moments of doubt and remind you why you started this in the first place.

SEVEN: GREED. You got what you wanted.

Just because your campaign ends doesn’t mean your work is finished. Don’t be fooled — donor appreciation takes time and care. People went out of their way to support you and your cause; thank them and keep them updated on your progress and work. Follow up and be timely with updates. It makes you look responsible and reminds people they made the right choice by supporting your work.

Gratitude is everything.

The people in your life will make or break you.

It doesn’t matter if you’re running a business or trying to finish your degree. The people you surround yourself with have the power to dramatically influence your life. Their habits, what they think about themselves, whether or not they view the world as a place of abundance or scarcity — all of these things will impact you.

When I first began as a social worker in the South Bronx, I noticed not much was different from the people I worked with on probation in Colorado. Except one major thing: community resources and social support.

If you’re trying to do something great, you need great people around you. You want people who push you to do and be your best, who encourage you to take leaps when those who should most definitely NOT be in your inner circle are telling you otherwise.

Whether you’re raising a family, designing a product, fundraising, solving a company-wide problem or quitting, your closest relationships should support you in being 110% authentically you.

Everyone deserves a dream team. Yes, there are certain factors beyond your control when it comes to success and achieving goals; however, the people you spend the majority of your time with aren’t one of them. Take special care as you find your company.

Fear and two choices

Everyone has moments of panic.
If you don’t experience fear and anxiety from time to time, I’d wonder what kind of life you’re living. You’re probably not doing justice to your capabilities and talents or testing your limits. But this post isn’t about that.
I want you to pay attention to what you do AFTER those moments of panic and fear.
You have two choices:
1. Press on. 
Step on the gas and move forward (it doesn’t matter how slowly). Call it leaning in, fighting resistance, bucking up. I say you’re just going for it.
2. Ease off.
You’ve taken your foot off the pedal and/or you’ve stepped on the brake.
What do you do when you’re afraid?
Boarding my flight for Nepal, I was filled with trepidation and unease. I wish I could say I knew something amazing was waiting for me. I can’t. It wasn’t that I was afraid to travel around the world by myself; I was afraid of not knowing what the hell I was doing. There was fear and deep sense of anxiety, but I didn’t let it stop me.
I’m not unique. Many individuals have gotten on planes and found life-changing adventures — Scott, Eric, John, Tim, Hannah, Jim. Defining moments don’t have to involve travel, either. I felt this before my first dinner and my first project with Seth.
I’ve recognized panic and fear before many great learning experiences. There’s always something to lose, and your mind will come up with a million excuses why you will fail. The trick is finding a place of creative freedom and alleviating your fears just long enough to press on.
 

Inconvenience yourself.

New Yorkers and scheduling is borderline ridiculous. I spend more time than I care to admit orchestrating calendars, slotting calls, finding common days for in-person meetings. While there are plenty of automated tools to streamline this process, I’ve found that each person’s needs and requests are very different, and the act of scheduling itself can reveal underlying issues. Each day I’m forced to reassess my priorities and make decisions accordingly.

Yet with all of this scheduling and compartmentalizing, is there space for magic?

We spend so much time making sure things go according to plan. If something falls through the cracks, it’s a fault in the system — our system. The slightest tip of the scale can throw off an entire day, delaying planned meetings and cramping scheduled “me” time. Minor inconveniences (a late train, a forgotten document) suddenly become huge problems.

Ever pause to evaluate whether your intense regimen is adding to your anxiety rather than helping? Consider your definition of inconvenience and flirt with alternatives.

What would happen if you intentionally take the later train, let someone step in front of you, choose the slowest checkout line?

 

Conversations that matter, organizing, and impresarios: A dinner event in March

Everyone knows bringing people together in meaningful ways has value. But what does that mean? And how do you build environments that get people to be authentic and real?

Questions I hear:

  • How do you move beyond “What do you do?” at networking events?
  • How important is a guest list, really?
  • Does the environment matter?
  • Can you prevent people from dishing out business cards like candy on Halloween?
  • Is it possible to focus discussion and achieve set goals without appearing forced or insincere?

The answers to these questions are gold and will save you mega dollars on event planners, facilitators and consultants — while increasing YOUR worth to your network and clients.

We are all looking for tribes, searching for people who can help us. There is real value in those able to make these connections. You don’t have to wait or hire someone. You can make this your passion, too.

I’m organizing a special event for impresarios (and for those who might not yet know they are one).

This private gathering will be held in one of my favorite NYC spots, a hidden room home to one of my very first dinners where I [nervously] invited friends and colleagues from different industries to share warm food and life wisdom.

I’ve timed the event so those attending Seth’s workshop can finish up before traveling downtown to hatch ideas with others looking to make waves. And have a tasty meal, too. We will be talking about how to organize, host, and prepare for some of the challenges you might encounter as you plan events of your own. You may even meet the right person to help make your project happen.

Attendance is limited (15-20 people), and dinner is provided. Early ($180) and regular ($275) invites will be extended. Applications for early invitations can be found here.

Bonus: In addition to our evening together, you will be able to opt into a private online community where you can meet others who have dined at our table over the years.

Have questions? Contact Michelle.