Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|
Back to Blog
INTERNALIZED POVERTY3/11/2024 This internalized poverty mentality is pervasive in non-profit, purpose-driven space. The wages are way too low compared with other industries. There's no mentorship and workforce development within this sector. No investment in anything long-term. They are proud of Zero budgeting. A zero-sum competition exists between non-profits in smaller cities especially for funding. The skeletal staff is doing 2-3 jobs for a salary of one. The Board is always a hands-on board, sometimes meddling too much on implementation. Volunteers are used as second-level staffers. Funders do not trust them to develop their organizations, only to deliver the programs. I got almost into a debate after I spoke about the fallacy of 10% administration budget that funders would only fund. I reasoned that 10% is too miniscule to account for what non-profit needs to scale, grow, and build stronger and robust systems for the community good that they do. A woman retorted, " so Executive Directors get to pad their pockets with lots of money?" Is this really what we think about this issue? What a narrow, escapist notion that people will pad their incomes when given more money for administration. It's like saying that we should not build bridges and roads because the contractors get the best of taxpayers monies or that politicians get a kickback somehow. There's no future in this poverty mentality than more poverty, scarcity leading to bad, low quality, one-size-fits-all services that serve no one. This is the loop that should be condemned by everyone. The non-profit is in a crisis and it has been like that for a long time. If these structural issues continue, no amount of billion dollar funding can make it better, it could trigger a more dog-eat-dog scenario. Let's stop kidding ourselves that it will change when a new government comes, or when the funders will get an epiphany, or maybe, if we can just demand for reforms. No! this is a case for societal response to a major overhaul. And I don't think we are near fed-up which is what I hope so.
0 Comments
Read More
Back to Blog
PAST WANTS3/7/2024 I remembered when I was a fresh Masters graduate, I had been wanting to just travel and work abroad. It happened fast enough for me. Sooner than later, I got to travel for a really good reason, as a volunteer advocate internationally and then travel more because of work. Now, with 33 countries under my belt, I would only travel for a very strategic reason. My wants are totally different five years ago when I started my business. Now at my 6th year, I have learned lots, made mistakes along the way, some wants became old. I used to want to grow fast and do all kinds of stuff that would increase my market share. I found out that it's better to niche and dig deeper in one specific market where I can be distinguished from the rest. It's better to create your own track than to follow someone's framework of success. What's working for me is where I truly feel am perfectly situated. This realization improves my wants. My current wants are important but not enough to the level of needs. My mission is to help other people get the kind of leadership capacity they want, the organization they dream about, and impacts they want to bring. And my gosh, it already a mission statement of a lifetime!
Back to Blog
WITHOUT BORDERS1/8/2024 There's Engineer Without Borders, Doctors Without Borders, Educators Without Borders and a hundred more permutations of the same sense. My business has always been global, hence the logo: GLOBAL OUTLOOK, LOCAL IMPACT. If some people are irked with this ambition, I think they have a small thinking. Small thinking is usually scared thinking. They project their own insecurities on you. So because they can't fathom the idea, you shouldn't do/attempt it. Life is short. There is really no joy in hiding your true potential, waiting for blessings or approval for others to proceed to exalt you on your rightful place. Get the drift. Nobody cares and everyone is busy minding their own problem. Pursue your own global ambition with the feet planted on the ground. I have coached 25 leaders from around the world while I live in a rural area with just an Internet connection and a lot of heart to give. I worked in 15 countries and trained thousands of people as early as 2000s. Of course I have what it takes, but that's not point. With technology and focus, it's not difficult but it's not easy either. Go follow your dreams. |