Are you currently covering all of the bases?

• Analyzing the potential of a situation (first base)
• Doing what it takes to make it a success (second base)
• Going to bat for everyone involved (third base)
• Bringing awareness in such a way that people WANT to get involved (home plate)

How about the teams? A person cannot play the field, hit the balls, run the bases and win. There is just no way to be the MVP, the all-star, the captain and all of the players by yourself.

We learned from Napoleon Hill in the last article about how a leader goes above and beyond (a Leader with Soar with Network Fundraising is the person building the team, V formation, for fundraising). We don’t want a Leader to burnout. When the ball is hit we also do not want it to go into the swamp where no one is able to go because the bases were not covered. Certainly, no one will dive into the swamp to retrieve it.

I recently spoke with a fund raiser about their program and discovered he was also the assistant to the director. He said, “We wear many hats and sometimes that involves taking incoming calls, doing paperwork for programs, and IT.” I nearly fell out of my chair. As a fundraising professional if I had to do IT (Information Technology) I would have hoped it meant Intellectual Training for knowing what to say when someone has an objection. There are ways to wear many hats and stay in control. The person I spoke with was having a hard time with it. We had a friendly discussion about how to make things easier. One suggestion was organizing the volunteer program.

Sometimes, a person is thrown out at first base when a team neglects to analyze the potential of a situation. Being honest with the true potential of people and programs is a part of analysis, which leads to success. This includes knowing the people wanting to contribute to your organization, through donations of money and time.

A person may be good at hitting the ball although the runner rounds first and goes a little wide to second base. The ball, which is grounded perfectly to the outfield gets thrown in. The second baseman has a solid catch and the umpire yells, “OUT!!” The team can be trained to run a straighter line, and to be attentive to what’s happening on the perimeter. They can be taught to be quicker to adjust. You don’t want to get into a pickle but if you do…play it out with the intent to be successful. Do what it takes to make your program a success.

A team member goes to bat for everyone involved, which in this reference is third base. There is a sincerity in action, character and utterance. When a team does this it is when people want to join. They see a player pulling for another batter even though he will have the highest batting average if he succeeds. There is sincere support for success because if the batter hits a home run, it is good for every one.

As the ball is hit and goes into the outfield everyone holds their breath in the stands. Will it go over the fence or will the player reach up and catch it? The batter is running as the audience is holding steady.

Home base is where the players have gathered to slap hands with the home run hitter. Yes, the ball was hit out of the park. The players at home base bring awareness in such a way that people WANT to get involved. This is when your team grows and the opportunity to increase potential exists.

Happy Memorial Day to you and your family. Enjoy ballgames and the winning run!