Want vs Work

Wanting something is one thing. Expecting it is another. Working for it yet another. I know this is a simple statement, and some readers may leap to the conclusion that there are too many people wanting things but not willing to make the necessary sacrifices to earn it. If so, that is human nature.

But I wish to speak about something else.

Many people work with others to produce a desired outcome. Let’s just say a group – nonprofit or otherwise – has this dream of a better time or wiping out a specific problem that is the cause of much hurt. Gathering hearts and hands to solve a problem or serve others in need, is a good thing and most often successfully accomplished.

But even better results could occur if we had more resources. Or some other magic ingredient that would increase our impact. How can the group make that happen?

Those questions and challenges are exactly what led me into strategic planning. Our nonprofit board truly wanted a better organization capable of producing terrific outcomes. So, we sat down and defined what that would look like. Such fun to talk about the hopes and dreams. So many good ideas. As we went along, we jotted down notes on how much work would be needed to get those results. We noted how we could possibly do this work, and then we patched together a notion of what resources we would need.

Later, we spruced up our notes and began to think through the challenges toward a plan. If we could imagine the outcomes, surely, we had a good chance of earning them with proper effort, plans and resources. And that’s what we did: we developed a plan for the next year to improve our operating base so we could advance on our long-term dream. As I recall, we identified specific actions and goals that would eventually produce our dream results. I think we calculated five years. In actuality, it took us six years to achieve most of the goals. Along the way, we learned how to repeat this sort of thinking and planning. That group, that board of directors, really imagined their way forward.

Any group can do the same. It takes yearning for something better to get started on the process. Articulating the dream is the starting point. Being serious about strategic planning will eventually fill in a lot of blanks and earn the results that lead to the magical outcome.

Yes, wanting something is one thing only. Making it happen comes from a lot of good thinking, intention, and study to amass the details of a plan that will produce the results. I think a lot of us have the dreaming down pretty well. Working on the details is the larger task. I wonder how many actually do this work. Think of the fun of doing it and the thrill of watching the outcomes come to life.

December 5, 2022

 

 

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