Fundraiser Requires Organizational Skill, Leadership, Teamwork

As many of you may know, Jersey Business Leaders, a business group with whom I'm associated, put on a fundraiser in April.  It was for a non profit called Hopeworks, and it was a success--128 people attended, and we raised approximately $5000 for a very worthy cause.  We'll present Hopeworks with the check at a networking event Wednesday June 29, from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Brio in Cherry Hill.

For more info on the networking event, go to Jersey Business Leaders Networking Event

So, I'm excited about the success of the fundraiser, but I'm reminded that running a fundraiser is a lot like business in general, and leadership in particular, in that it requires a lot of work, organizational discipline, and teamwork.

Over the years, I've attended many fundraisers, but this was the first I'd actually run. 

Planning started in the fall, and it really did require a lot of project management skills--timelines, assigning tasks to different people, setting up processes for registration, payments, donations, etc.  It also required everyone involved to exercise leadership to get the word out, get people involved by donating items, and get people to attend.

Most of all, it required a ton of teamwork.  People pulling together to do the various tasks to make the fundraiser a success.  And I was fortunate to have a great team of people who worked very hard.

Organization, leadership, and teamwork.  Jersey Business Leaders, and the others who helped us, displayed all three skills.

Come out and join our celebration as we present Hopeworks with the check on Wednesday June 29, from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Brio in Cherry Hill.  It's only $10, and Brio will provide light appetizers and a cash bar.  For more info, and to register and pay, go to Jersey Business Leaders Networking Event

Leadership, Thankfulness, and the Christmas Spirit

Christmas is a great time of year for many reasons.  One is that's it usually forces us to consider how lucky we are, and to be thankful for the many blessings we have.  My blessings include a wonderful wife, and two great sons.  And, we're all in good health. 

Even though I'm thankful throughout the year, and try not to take these things for granted, Christmas is a special time for reflection on all these blessings.  A time to thank God, and the people in our lives, for how they make our lives better.

In the world of leadership, it's probably the same.  But how much do we go out of our way to thank those in the business world for what they do for us?  Especially at this time?  I mean more than just a Christmas card.

Clients come to mind.  Also friends and business colleagues who are there when we need them, to share our joys and accomplishments, and also our frustrations and disappointments.  And other good people who, simply by what they do, make our work lives easier.  These people also make our lives better.

We should thank them during the year.  But we should also thank them at Christmas.

So, thank you for all you've done for me throughout the year.  Now it's your turn to thank the people who are important in your life, the people who make your life better.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Grudge Report: Reasons to Avoid Drinking Gasoline

I can't remember who said it, but it's true:  "Holding a grudge against someone is liking drinking gasoline and hoping it will make the other person sick."  Holding a grudge doesn't hurt the other person.  It hurts you in at least two ways.

First, let's look at what a grudge is.  A grudge involves anger directed at another person over a very prolonged period of time.  The "prolonged period of time" is what differentiates a grudge from simply being angry at someone. 

Stuff happens, and we get angry, and that's normal.  But we usually move on, and get over it.  With a grudge, it stays with us, often for months and even years.  We don't move on, and we don't get over it.

The first way it hurts you is that holding a grudge limits your ability as a leader to focus on the right things, the important issues and challenges that face you and your organization. 

Think of the last time you were really angry with someone.  Remember how initially the incident dominated your thoughts.  Eventually you got over it, but at first you probably couldn't think about other things without that incident creeping back into your mind.  When this goes on for months or years, its a grudge.

The other way holding a grudge hurts you is that it has an adverse effect on your health.  Holding a grudge consumes a boatload of emotional energy, and over time it can leave you exhausted emotionally.  Because of the intricate relationship between the emotional and the physical, it can adversely affect your physical health.

Just as drinking gasoline literally eats away at your insides, holding a grudge does the same thing emotionally.

And then there's the people you're leading.  Because your leadership abilities are diminished by holding a grudge (focusing on the wrong things, being emotionally and sometimes physically exhausted), your not serving the people you're trying to lead.

Avoid drinking gasoline, avoid holding grudges.  Get over it.  Move on.