Category Archives: Quirky

NFP Lessons for 2015 from NonProfit With Balls

Community, Corporate Governance, Humour, Quirky, Success

NWB15 very interesting lessons learned identified by NonProfit With Balls in 2015.

  1. An organization not built on strong values will crumble like dried hummus.
  2. An elephant in the room is most destructive when it is ignored.
  3. Diversity means differences, including of perspectives.
  4. There is more than one way to do activism.
  5. Anyone of any age can be totally awesome or totally crappy.
  6. The perception of who is leading matters as much as who is leading.
  7. Bigotry is like getting something stuck in your teeth.
  8. Not taking risks is one of the biggest risks of all.
  9. If there’s writing on the wall, don’t whitewash it.
  10. We cannot compare a nonprofit platypus to a for-profit porcupine.
  11. When we use silver bullets, we often shoot ourselves in the foot.
  12. Donors are looking for authentic partnerships.
  13. The squeaky wheel gets the worm, and it is inequitable.
  14. If no one is listening, it’s probably because you’re not either.
  15. A unicorn in the hand is worth two working in real estate.

Do yourself a favour, have a laugh and learn!

Hootville’s de Hoedt on Public Speaking

Meetings, Personal Effectiveness, Quirky

Public Speaking PyramidOur Community published this short piece of advice about public speaking from Hootville Communications head honcho Brett de Hoedt in its latest Our Community Matters ezine:

So what makes a “good speaker” “good”?  Well Brett took a cue from nutritionists who – like the Egyptians – created a pyramid long ago that still gets referred to today.  Say hello to the public speaking pyramid.  It all starts with knowledge. Note the lack of whole grains, dairy or legumes in this pyramid!

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Ross on Working from Home

Corporate Governance, Organisational Development, Quirky

Pam RossWhen asked recently by an HR manager if she had a sample of a policy about working from home, Pam Ross’ answer was:

“Get your work done, meet your objectives, and do it from wherever you want.”

Really, within reason, does it matter where your employees do their work, as long as they get it done?  Work is not a place you go, but something you do.  Just remember to be abundantly clear about what their work responsibilities and objectives are.

Lincoln on the Internet

Humour, Quirky, Wisdom

LincolnGreat advice from one of the greatest of the US presidents – “Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet”.   Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865 by John Wilkes Booth.  Apparently, according to Seth Grahame-Smith, he was also a renouned vampire hunter.

Noah’s Ark & Life

Humour, Quirky, Wisdom

noahEverything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah’s Ark.  Don’t miss the boat.  Remember that we are all in the same boat.  Plan ahead, it wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.  Stay fit – when you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.  Don’t listen to critics – just get on with the job that needs to be done.  Build your future on high ground.  For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.  Speed isn’t always an advantage – the snails were on board with the cheetahs.  When you’re stressed, float a while.  Remember that the Ark was built by amateurs – the Titanic by professionals! [Anonymous]