Wired Causes

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At the beginning of 2011, I resolved to post on this blog every single day, for the whole year.  I think this is the first time I’ve ever kept a resolution!  I did actually d0 it, as of this post, without missing a day.

Lest I sound too smug, I can assure you that I didn’t keep any other resolutions, including ones that involved exercise, finishing a novel and being more patient with my children (they can back me up on that). 

So what was the difference and what did I learn?  Since it’s resolution time again, I thought I’d pass on my own thoughts, based on where I succeeded and failed.

1. Make your resolution public.  I committed to posting daily on this blog, in public.  If I’d only done it privately, I am sure I would have never made it. 

2. Have a buddy.  I made the resolution because the wonderful blogger Kivi Leroux Miller inspired it with her own pledge.  Having a buddy makes you try harder.

3. Make your resolution very specific.  I didn’t commit to blogging “more,” I committed to every day.  In other areas of my life, I promised myself to do “more,” which wasn’t as inspiring or galvanizing.

4. Try to stick to your resolution for a few weeks.  Then it becomes a habit, and it gets easier.

5. Tie it to rewards you care about.  I really want to become smarter, more reflective and better at writing.  I thought of blogging with those goals in mind (rather than as a burden), and it kept me energized.  I focused as much as I could on what I was gaining from the experience rather than what it cost.  If I’d seen this as an obligation, I would have failed.  I (mostly) enjoyed it, and that made all the difference.

I plan to keep going in 2012!  My only question is whether to continue blogging on weekends.  I see less traffic on the blog then.  So I thought I’d take a poll.

Please weigh in.

If you can’t see the poll below, view it here.

At the beginning of 2011, I resolved to post on this blog every single day, for the whole year.  I think this is the first time I’ve ever kept a resolution!  I did actually did it, as of this post, without missing a day.

Lest I sound too smug, I can assure you that I didn’t keep any other resolutions, including ones that involved exercise, finishing a novel and being more patient with my children (they can back me up on that). 

So what was the difference and what did I learn?  Since it’s resolution time again, I thought I’d pass on my own thoughts, based on where I succeeded and failed.

1. Make your resolution public.  I committed to posting daily on this blog, in public.  If I’d only done it privately, I am sure I would have never made it. 

2. Have a buddy.  I made the resolution because the wonderful blogger Kivi Leroux Miller inspired it with her own pledge.  Having a buddy makes you try harder.

3. Make your resolution very specific.  I didn’t commit to blogging “more,” I committed to every day.  In other areas of my life, I promised myself to do “more,” which wasn’t as inspiring or galvanizing.

4. Try to stick to your resolution for a few weeks.  Then it becomes a habit, and it gets easier.

5. Tie it to rewards you care about.  I really want to become smarter, more reflective and better at writing.  I thought of blogging with those goals in mind (rather than as a burden), and it kept me energized.  I focused as much as I could on what I was gaining from the experience rather than what it cost.  If I’d seen this as an obligation, I would have failed.  I (mostly) enjoyed it, and that made all the difference.

I plan to keep going in 2012!  My only question is whether to continue blogging on weekends.  I see less traffic on the blog then.  So I thought I’d take a poll.

Please weigh in.

If you can’t see the poll below, view it here.

I had lots of emails and comments in response to my post earlier this week on 18 mood-killing words to banish in 2012.  The feedback fell into three categories:

1. Amen, agreed. Banish all jargon!
2. I mostly agree but what about when you’re addressing foundations or government?
3. Which words do I use instead?

Here is my response:

1. Thank you:)

2. I think words like “sustainable” and “indigenous” are terrible when you speak or write to the average person.  They also should be banished from social media.  For foundations and government grant proposals, your audience is already seriously addicted to jargon so using these words is permissible (though I would argue it’s still less powerful). As with all communications, it comes down to your audiences. You want to speak their language.  For most donors, that would be plain English.  For certain foundations, that might be foundationspeak.

3. In terms of which words to use instead, I had one reader (Sarah) ask me to translate a couple of jargon-ridden phrases.  So here we go!

BEFORE

“The [name] is an accredited and internationally recognized college in rural [country] dedicated to serving the area’s most marginalized, indigenous population.”

Words that kill the mood: “recognized,” “rural,” “area,” “marginalized,” “indigenous” and “population.”

AFTER

“Our internationally acclaimed college in the countryside of [country] is devoted to giving an A+ education to local students who are poor in means but rich in potential.”

BEFORE

“We are grateful to you for your support—for helping young people in one of the poorest areas of South America become effective agents of social change and economic development.”

I’m not a fan of “effective agent of change” or “economic development.”  Let’s breathe life into that impact!

AFTER

“Thank you.  We are so grateful for your support.  Because of you, a student like Isabella is going to a great school and turning into a determined leader. ‘I have changed what my future will be, and I’ve become a person who can change others’ futures too.  Where we one had despair, we have hope.  And where we once had struggle, we have opportunity.  We have the [name of country] dream.’”

If you’re struggling with your translation, ask yourself this: Why do you do the work you do?  Why do you care? You’ll start speaking a different language.  And it’s the one that will truly connect with others.

I had lots of emails and comments in response to my post earlier this week on 18 mood-killing words to banish in 2012.  The feedback fell into three categories:

1. Amen, agreed. Banish all jargon!
2. I mostly agree but what about when you’re addressing foundations or government?
3. Which words do I use instead?

Here is my response:

1. Thank you:)

2. I think words like “sustainable” and “indigenous” are terrible when you speak or write to the average person.  They also should be banished from social media.  For foundations and government grant proposals, your audience is already seriously addicted to jargon so using these words is permissible (though I would argue it’s still less powerful). As with all communications, it comes down to your audiences. You want to speak their language.  For most donors, that would be plain English.  For certain foundations, that might be foundationspeak.

3. In terms of which words to use instead, I had one reader (Sarah) ask me to translate a couple of jargon-ridden phrases.  So here we go!

BEFORE

“The [name] is an accredited and internationally recognized college in rural [country] dedicated to serving the area’s most marginalized, indigenous population.”

Words that kill the mood: “recognized,” “rural,” “area,” “marginalized,” “indigenous” and “population.”

AFTER

“Our internationally acclaimed college in the countryside of [country] is devoted to giving a A+ education to local students who are poor in means but rich in potential.”

BEFORE

“We are grateful to you for your support—for helping young people in one of the poorest areas of South America become effective agents of social change and economic development.”

I’m not a fan of “effective agent of change” or “economic development.”  Let’s breathe life into that impact!

AFTER

“Thank you.  We are so grateful for your support.  Because of you, a student like Isabella is going to a great school and turning into a determined leader. ‘I have changed what my future will be, and I’ve become a person who can change others’ futures too.  Where we one had despair, we have hope.  And where we once had struggle, we have opportunity.  We have the [name of country] dream.’”

If you’re struggling with your translation, ask yourself this: Why do you do the work you do?  Why do you care? You’ll start speaking a different language.  And it’s the one that will truly connect with others.

Global Voices: Who We Are from Global Voices on Vimeo. I’ve been a member of the Global Voices Community since 2004 where I first connected with Cambodian bloggers like John Weeks, Tharum, and others.  While I’m not active in the community, I continue to support this community – as a donor and a board member [...]

The HBR Blog just had a great post from someone lucky enough to have taken a month-long vacation.  Dorie Clark returned from the experience with a fresh perspective on how to spend time on what matters rather than soul-sucking activities.  Here is a short version of her advice on what to avoid this year:

1. Responding Like a Trained Monkey.  Before you rapidly answer every email, let it marinate a while.  It may not require action.

2. Mindless Traditions. Do you really have to send out that annual update no one reads?  Make sure you’re spending time on traditions that matter to others and positively affect your organization.

3. Reading Annoying Things. Don’t read what you feel you must.  Read what gets your mind humming.

4. Work That’s Not Worth It.  Don’t chase that grant or start that program just because it sounds good - consider what may be more trouble than it is worth.

5. Making Things More Complicated Than They Should Be.  She says:

A while back, a colleague approached me with an idea. She wanted me to be a part of a professional development event she was organizing in her city, featuring several speakers and consultants. She recommended biweekly check-in calls for the next eight months, leading up to the event. “Have you organized an event like this before?” I asked. “Can you actually get the participants? Why don’t you test the demand first?” When none materialized, I realized I’d saved myself nearly half a week’s work — in futile conference calls — by insisting the event had to be “real” before we invested in it. As Eric Ries points out in his new book The Lean Startup , developing the best code or building the best product in the world is meaningless if your customers don’t end up wanting it. Instead, test early and often to ensure you’re not wasting your time. What ideas should you test before you’ve gone too far?

Good advice.  What will you avoid in the new year?

I just read the new book, 3D Philanthropy by Fraser Green.  It’s a useful tour of the essentials of connecting with donors on three levels: head, heart and soul.

It’s also a timely reminder of how we get in our own way as fundraisers.  We may think we’re saying the right things, but our words often destroy the emotional bonds we want to strengthen.

Green has a great list of mood-killing words that get in the way of connection with real people.  Stay away from these words when you describe your work to donors in 2012!

1. Capacity
2. Empower
3. Enhance
4. Indigenous
5. Partnership
6. Development
7. Systemic
8. Community
9. Innovation
10. Superlative
11. Outcomes
12. Support
13. Sustainable
14. Resources
15. Dignity
16. Facilitate
17. Diversity
18. Fostering

These terms are especially deadly in combination:

“Sustainable development”

“Facilitating outcomes”

“Indigenous capacity-building”

I once worked for an organization that referred to “lactating women” rather than “nursing mothers.”

Words should ignite the heart, not glaze over the eyes.