I was in LA facilitating a training recently. The attendees represented about 25 different nonprofit organizations. The organizations were for the most part small. The majority of the groups had annual budgets of less than $1,000,000 dollars.

The two day session targeted issues about assembling a dynamic board to move the organization forward and how to position the organization for fundraising. At the start of day two we asked the group about how the current economic climate was imapcting their organization.

An amazing thing happened. Not one organization reported a negative response. Not one. In fact many organizations were positive about the economy.

I was puzzled. Over and over we have been told how bad things are. What were these organizations thinking?

Well as I thought it became obvious. These groups were relatively young organizations almost all having no frame of reference. No real idea what fundraising is like when the economy is struggling…no true benchmark. And it was REFRESHING!

What if we just decided that things were better? Just moved on with our work as if normal was, well normal again? The weight would lift, the clouds would part and we could concentrate on our work.

This new lens is refreshing…I have decided to look at things through their lens…it is time to get back to work!