Beware of envisaged success.
Many people have great intentions. There are #nonprofit professionals who take on great challenges. There are #socialentrepreneurs who envision doing great things to make a difference. There are grantees who imagine amazing programs that achieve great outcomes. Good intentions are fantastic and necessary. Successes in community development start with an idea formulated into a plan but success follows execution of the plan. Great ideas and intentions - no matter how well or passionately they are communicated - aren't enough.
Envisage means to imagine something that doesn't yet exist. It's the gift and fuel of entrepreneurs. The danger of 'envisaged success' occurs when we get warm fuzzies or feel goods or a sense of fulfillment from the idea and don't pursue actually doing the work or bringing the plan to fruition. We may feel invigorated and excited and energized by the vision. This great idea may bring us a sense of purpose and renewal. We may feel good about the plans that lie ahead or the big dream that's been imagined. But, success comes from implementation and bringing the vision to fruition not from the vision itself.
Dream it, yes. Envision what could be, yes. But be careful, friends. Don't leave dreams on the drawing board or beautifully written plans collecting dust and count it success. Imagine what could be and use the excitement of the vision to fuel the execution of the plan. Don't just envisage success. Make success happen.
-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP
#nonprofits #communitydevelopmentprofessionals #getorganizedgetfunded
