Least and most

This from a marketing blog, but I see the same issue in lots of nonprofits. Particularly when we're required to do all sorts of things that don't seem central to our mission. How do we keep "least" from seeping in? I think we do a pretty good job of it, but it's something worth keeping an eye on.

Traveling yesterday, I realized that there are two popular strategies for service delivery. One is a coping strategy and one is a marketing strategy.

You can deliver the lowest permitted amount, or you can work to create the most remarkable experience you can imagine.

Stop for a second before jumping to the conclusion that the latter is always what you do.

When I pay a bill, I don't put more money in the envelope than I'm billed for. And I don't put more stamps on the envelope than the USPS requires, even if I'm in a particularly generous mood. Living life like Spinal Tap (always at 11) is inefficient if not impossible. Very often, we find ourselves doing the least amount of work permitted because, after all, we have more important things to spend our time on.

Smart marketers understand two things. The first is that you must pick your battles, deciding in which areas 'most' matters and living with 'least' the rest of the time. The second contradicts that and makes this a lot more complex: Least spreads.

You've seen this in countless organizations. A few people get in the habit of least, then a whole department does, and the next thing you know, it's an entire airline. Least is contagious.

Really smart marketers understand this: the best way to fight the contagion is to pay what it costs to eliminate least everywhere you look. It's ridiculous to expect most in all things (your postage bill will get out of hand), but I think it''s possible to work to stamp out least.

Julie's Baby

This is a little late, but Devin Boster was born on may 8th at 3pm by c-section. (Poor Julie!) Devin weighed 6 pounds 2 oz and was 18 inches long. Julie says that they both "ere doing great other than just getting over colds."

Counselling 101

Hi all. I'm planning to do a series of counseling 101 workshops. (I'm thinking 4 parts.) No arm twisting for these trainings. Come if you want and you don't have to commit to the whole series. (Though they will build on each other.)

I think that these will be helpful whether you're in an entry level position with little prior training or if you have an advanced degree and would like to brush up on your fundamentals.

The first part will take place July 13th from 9am to noon, and the second part will take place July 19th from 1pm to 4pm. Both will be at the barn. CAC credits available. Please let me know if you plan to attend either or both.

Dawn Farm at the Ball Park! 8/27/07, 7pm

Staff and friends of Dawn Farm will be taking a trip to Comerica Park in Detroit to see the Tigers take on the visiting New York Yankees (boo), on Monday, August 27 at 7pm. Family and friends are welcome to attend. Unfortunately there are no fireworks this year, but if we get there early, the first 10,000 fans will receive a Gary Sheffield "Sheff" Hat, which is all the rage at the ballpark this year. (Seriously, lots of people are buying those)

Tickets are 15 dollars each, and there are currently 27 available. Pete Tiseo would like to donate two to United Way for a fundraiser they are having, so if you would like to donate a buck or two more to support that, donations are welcome.

I will need to know if you are planing to come by Wednesday, July 18th, so I can finalize the number of tickets and pay the rest of the deposit. Please let me know how many tickets you will need by email at akraemer@dawnfarm.org, or by calling me at the Farm. Tickets will be first come first serve, so let me know soon.

Feel free to contact me with any questions. And GO TIGERS!

From the archives

Yesterday, while in the paper storage room, I stumbled on a couple of handouts that were around 24 years old. There's a handout that offers guidelines for setting goals and a format for peer papers.

I think that they both challenge the notion that, in the old days, the Farm was little more than heavy concentration and hard work.

An easy way to help the Farm!

By using GoodSearch you can raise money for the Farm. The search results are generated by Yahoo, so you're still using a high quality search engine.