Do you remember the why?
“We’re lost again,” said Big Panda.
“When I am lost,” said Tiny Dragon,
“I find it helps to go back to the beginning
and try to remember why I started.”
~ From Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury
One of my nine-year old’s favorite books is Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury. Reading through it the other day, I came across this page and it made me think of the work I do with nonprofit organizations, helping develop and implement strategic plans.
Stick with me here…
Nonprofits, like many businesses, begin with a dream, an idea, a vision. Maybe the first year or two is spent putting that vision into action. But then, you get pulled into the day-to-day operations: budgets, operations, management, marketing, communications, development. You get so busy, so focused on keeping the organization moving, you never pause and consider whether you’re still on the right track, whether you’re still moving forward, still heading towards the vision that originally put the organization into being.
Even the idea of pausing might seem daunting. What if you discover you’ve veered from your original path? What if you discover you put too many eggs in one basket? What if pausing means something falls apart while you’re pausing?
But think about it this way. What if pausing helped you see the big picture? What if pausing makes you realize you did lose your way and helps you get back on the right path, before you stray too far? What if pausing shows you a better way forward?
A core component of strategic plan development is looking back to the beginning and examining your organization’s history. Why did it come into being? What happened along the way? Where did you succeed and where did you fail? When taking the time to examine your past, you can be better poised to establish your future.
But we don’t stop there, because it’s also important to examine the world around you. Your organization doesn’t operate in a bubble. It’s impacted by the environment in which it exists - by politics, the economy, social trends, technological advances, and more. This helps you more holistically understand your organization’s path since its foundation. To see clearly where deviations or adaptations may have happened, why, and what that means for your organization.
For one of my clients, this process helped them identify they were trying to do too much. It was one of those beautiful “ah ha!” moments where they realized they needed to invest back into and focus on the work that truly served their mission. Working with Valley Vision not only created the space for this realization, but also guided them on how to reinvest and refocus.
Valley Vision can help you remember why your organization started and ensure the work you and your organization are doing every day is in service of that purpose. You’ll feel more connected to your work, your staff, and your board, and be better poised to share your work and vision with donors and your community.
Contact us for a free consultation today. We’ll make the pause feel less daunting and help you understand - and feel comfortable - with your best path forward.
