BIG’s Blog: Being Exceptional is a Choice

Below is a blog post from a recent Seth Godin blog entitled: When did you get old? Please read the following, paying special attention to the highlighted line.

At some point, most brands, organizations, countries and yes, people, start talking about themselves like they’re old.

“We can’t stretch in that direction,” or “Not bad for a 60 year old!” or “I’m just not going to be able to learn this new technology.” Even countries make decisions like this, often by default. Governments decide it’s just too late to change.

The incredible truth is that: it never happens at the same time for everyone. It’s not biologically ordained. It’s a choice. It’s possible to put out a hit record at 40, run a marathon at 60 and have your 80-year old non-profit change its business model. It’s not as easy as it used to be, but that’s why it’s worth doing.
Yes, he actually wrote, “Have your 80-year old non-profit change its business model.”

Much of the subject matter of my blogs revolves around the need for changing your business model for fund raising. And I think there are a few of my blog readers that think the change that I talk about is too hard for their organization.

My point is this: here is a blogger who is NOT even from the nonprofit world, yet he sees and reads enough to know that nonprofits have to change their business models – especially in fund raising – if they are to survive. Is it easy? No. Will it take work to make it happen? Yes. But can it be done? Yes again!

Why did he include nonprofits and changing business models as almost a clichéd example like putting out a hit record at 40 and running a marathon at 60? Because we have all heard stories of older singers who came back with a hit song or a 60-year old marathoner who was seemingly too old but does what most 20-year olds don’t even try. And yes, another big stretch – a traditional old nonprofit that shifted gears to stay relevant with their constituents today so they can still help the people they serve tomorrow.

If it were easy then everyone would do it and it wouldn’t be exceptional.

Why not choose to be exceptional?

-Mike
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