The other day, I ran into one of my least favorite phrases. Many times when you ask people why they are doing something a certain way, the reply is "because that's how we've always done it."
Running a rescue isn't just about taking care of homeless animals. You need a lot of creativity and new ideas to do a good job, raise funds, and find new forever homes. Continuing to do what isn't working "just because" is a common mistake and a key reason many organizations struggle to even continue operating.
You need to figure out what is working and repeat it. At the same time, figure out what isn't working and ditch it. Metaphorically, you are throwing all your procedures, processes, tasks, and activities on the floor and then sorting everything into "keep" and "dump" piles.
The next time you are feeling lost or overwhelmed while trying to run your rescue, think about what is working and what isn't. Don't keep doing something simply because it already exists or it's what you've "always done." Consider how you can use your time more wisely, improve your tactics and systems, or transform something you already have into something better.
Mark Your Calendar!
Please be sure to mark your calendar for our next teleseminar, which will be July 13, 2010 at 1 pm Pacific time. I'll be talking with Sandra Beckwith about how non-profit organizations like yours can get more publicity. Sandra is the author of Publicity for Nonprofits: Generating Media Exposure that Leads to Awareness, Growth and Contributions. I've done teleseminars with Sandy (related to publishing) in the past and I can report that not only does she share great actionable information, she's also just plain fun to listen to. I hope you'll attend!