Origin Stories
Our society is fascinated by the origin stories of superheroes whose unique talents, skills, and life experiences enable them to save the day again and again. We wonder what makes them tick, how they keep going in hard times, and where they pull their strength from when all seems lost.
In our day-to-day lives, social sector leaders ARE these superheroes – and while they may not have capes or cool gadgets, they’re packing purpose, resilience, and the unrelenting drive to make the world a better place.
The truth is that for so many of us who work in and around the social good sectors, finding a way to make the world a better place isn’t just our profession – it’s our calling. Mission-driven work can be hard and unglamorous, often in ways we didn’t anticipate before joining up. Quick wins are unusual, resources are stretched, and the complexity of root causes and systemic barriers can be overwhelming.
It would be easy to give up.
Yet still, there are so many amazing leaders and organizations whose determination defies the odds, making gains great and small for the people and communities they serve. Who persevere in the face of ongoing frustrations and setbacks and continue to find a way forward. Who make a true and meaningful difference.
I am deeply inspired by these leaders and organizations – and their origin stories. So much so that it’s become my calling to support them in activating their strategy, driving more impact, and maximizing their resources without burning out their leaders or their teams. After nearly 20 years working in and around nonprofit and social good organizations – and a lifetime committed to “making it better” – I remain in love with helping these organizations and their leaders create a culture where they can honor their legacies while also adopting modern approaches to strategy that make it easier for them to do good even better.
I recently had the chance to join my friend Lori Kranczer on her Positive Impact Philanthropy podcast about my own origin story when it comes to being called to this work. It was such a joy to chat with her about where my life motto – “make it better because you are here” – came from, the influences in my life that called me to mission-driven work, my advice for organizations who are interested in simplifying their strategy, and my hope for our collective future.
I hope you’ll listen and I would love to hear from you – what’s your origin story? What calls you to work in the mission-driven and social good sectors?