Stop chasing grants. Stop chasing unrelated interests.
Start creating value. Start achieving excellence.
It is nearly impossible to start something special if you don’t stop doing all the things that prevent you from achieving excellence or in American vernacular (greatness). You have the power to be excellent beyond your wildest dreams. Sound a bit like a motivational tape? Yes. Is it true though? Yes. How?
I propose it is possible if you do two things. Just two. Apply discipline and focus to your social enterprise, voluntary & community group, or charity. I didn’t say it was easy.
Why the rant? (again) Well I was speaking to a client today and was reminded of the misdirection of the 3rd sector, again. You know the story | Social enterprise is a great furniture repair shop with a modest amount of revenue (maybe it’s still grant subsidised) and is achieving its social mission. So what does it do in 2007? Improve the processes to get off grant dependency? Improve the repair service to increase revenue and social impact? Diversify its customer base to keep cash flow steady? Nope……They search for a grant to open a cafe.
Silly me. Why didn’t I think of that. I mean, if you are doing modestly well or even spectacular at furniture repair, it only makes sense to divert your attention and resource to a completely new sector that has nothing to do with your current operations or core competency exhibited in the shop. Perhaps your customers could be redirected to the new cafe.
STOP. Don’t do it. Stay focused. Practise Discipline. Or pay the price of mediocrity or worse.
Why do we see this story repeating itself over and over again? Is it grant driven? Is it poor management? I would appreciate comments on this phenomena.
I suggest it is a combination of grant chasing and lack of focus in the organisation. If you had focus, you might envision expanding your furniture repair to include selling repaired abandoned furniture or repairing different types (wood v. upholstered). Or just laser in on the simple process of your main service to determine how to make the entire operation better and increase its value and ultimately its social impact.
START. Focus. Apply Discipline.
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