Enterprising Nonprofits in Madison

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Enterprising Nonprofits conference held for the first time in Madison, WI. After a day of networking and break-out sessions, I have to say I hope it’s not the last time they hold this event here. The speakers were great, but the real stand-out were the attendees. It was a veritable Who’s Who of the Madison-area nonprofits, ranging from services to consulting to counseling.

One of the break-out sessions featured a panel that shared the “HIRE” story. It was basically the culmination of businesses and nonprofits partnering to help ease one particular problem: the employability of those returning to the community after incarceration.

In 1989, area businesses got together and assessed their hiring practices. One such business, Just Bakery, did a self-evaluation and shaped their policies around the needs of this target hiring pool. Some of the changes enacted include:

-        Asking themselves: Does a degree guarantee a skillset? Removing this degree requirement opened doors across all of the jobs posted.

-        Payroll advances up to 12%. This allows employees to take out payroll advances for things such as unexpected car repairs, changes in daycare, and in some cases, this provided the resources for employees to leave violent relationships.

-        Earned time off. This was a new concept for some employees; some didn’t know what it meant, and they had to make sure to explain after one employee didn’t understand that that was time available for them to take vacation. In this case, this employee was 40 years old and had never had paid vacation time.

-        Goal: Get everyone to be making $15/hr.

-        Provide Flex-time (gives employees flexibility to go to school themselves, and/or get kids to school).

-        12 week vocational training.

-        As an example, Cranberry Creek turns to these graduates first when looking to hire. They had one entry-level hire promote through to management, with many more stories like it.

The panel also shared the Caminos program:

This is an accelerated training program that grants a CNA, but also includes soft skills training (how to dress, how to interview, transportation, etc.).

The program is made up of four components: academic, out of class, online, and community engagement. All of the program graduates that they’ve placed into CNA positions earn $15/hr.

One of the keys to the success of this program was taking a look at the barriers to employment. In Wisconsin, a WI Caregiver background check is required, the cost of which is $1-$2 per page. Depending on the length of the report, the cost can be prohibitive for a candidate. So UW Health partnered with other organizations to sponsor those fees. To date, they’ve placed hundreds of candidates, and have plans to expand the program to include other medical certifications.

These are just a couple examples, but show the difference employers can make not just for their employees, but for the business culture they choose to curate. Let impact know if you need a hand with your business or nonprofit culture.

Welcome Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation!

We are pleased and proud to announce the signing of Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation (SiBF) as our newest client. As the leading virtual services provider supporting small to medium size associations, it’s a perfect fit all around.

From the press release announcement:

“We had heard about impact through an Association Management Company affiliate, so we knew the value they bring to the table, and that our time is better spent outsourcing our administrative and marketing departments. This is a great fit for us, as it frees us up to focus on our members, and the value we provide there,” shares Bill Theilacker, President, Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation.

“We’re excited to support the Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation’s important work in exploring creative solutions to technical challenges. By providing a dedicated Virtual Executive Assistant and support team, SiBF can focus on fostering education and cooperation among their industrial, academic, clinical and regulatory communities,” adds Jodi Fisher, CEO, impact Virtual Services.

Welcome, SiBF!

Two Frogs: Tips to Improve Your Time Management and Productivity

If you’ve ever looked at your to-do list and felt overwhelmed and uncertain where to begin—you’re not alone. With personal and professional life often butting heads, many find it difficult to effectively complete all of their tasks on any given day. The universal need to get things done has led to the formation of a number of different methods aimed at making it easier for people to complete necessary tasks and increasing productivity. One of which is the Eat the Frog method.

What is the Eat the Frog Method?

Productivity consultant Brian Tracy named the Eat The Frog method after a quote commonly attributed to Mark Twain.

“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” - Mark Twain

When simplified to it’s most fundamental element, this method suggests that you identify one important and/or difficult task for the day and do it first. There are a number of different steps to this method that encourage deep focus and a more structured way of addressing tasks on your to-do list and there are a handful of takeaways we plan to use in our day to day life.

4 takeaways to increase your productivity:

Tackle the most difficult task first.

If you can accomplish the task you have been putting off, you will get a boost of energy and motivation that will carry you through a much more productive day!

Turn off alerts.

A constant stream of email bings, text chimes and calendar reminders truly bring productivity to a halt. Yes, it’s true that sometimes we need to be available and accessible to clients and staff but let’s be honest, immediately responding to everything coming at us could be a full time job in itself! Treat your work time like a meeting. Phones off!

Time blocks.

Start at 30 minutes, or even just 15! You’ll be amazed to see how much work you can accomplish in short, dedicated, time blocks. Sometimes the hardest part of a task is getting started. If you have long term projects that haven’t been moving forward, try working on them for 15 minutes a day, or week!

What’s stopping you?

Have you come to a road block on certain projects? Or do you need more information from coworkers in order to complete a task? Take a close look at those items on your list that don’t seem to get crossed off. Determine what is stopping you from completing them and make a plan to get what you need, to get it done.

A more productive workday leads to more free time after work and we are all about that work/life balance. These small adjustments can add up and make a big difference in the amount of work you can accomplish. And a higher productivity leads to more motivation and confidence. Start your week out right by choosing a small change. You’ll be happy you did!

What’s another way to ensure tasks are completed and both you and your association runs as effectively and efficiently as possible? Working with an association management company. Reach out to learn how our expert association professionals can help complete tasks, address the unique needs of your organization, and promote continued and sustainable growth.

To All You Procrastinators, Here’s Some Help!

As I sit and edit this article for my newsletter that goes out tomorrow, I have a feeling I’m not alone.  My newsletter and blog are posted the same time every month, and I have all month to prepare, yet here I am, 4:30 the afternoon before, and just finalizing things! How many of you have put off applying to graduate school, or even something as simple as a trip to the grocery store (you mean it’s 6:00 already?!)?  Here’s one for you – did you start reading this blog and then stop to check your Facebook news feed?  Right there is a prime example of procrastination.  Ok, you're guilty...now what?

Let's start with a definition of "procrastinate”.  It actually is a Latin word and means “deferred til the morning.”  And in this day and age, with social media becoming more popular each and every day, procrastinating has become way too easy and commonplace.

Procrastination can lead to the following habits:

• Impulsiveness

  If you find yourself leaving everything until the last minute, do you find yourself at the end of the day, in an instant panic, until everything is accomplished?  In these cases, work is rushed, not as thorough or precise, and is more likely to have errors.

• Lack of time management skills

  Imagine that you’ve just spent the last hour reading Reese Witherspoon’s tweets for the week.  You then look down at your watch and realize that you are now five minutes late for your meeting!  Time always gets away from us, especially when we get immersed in the joy of online entertainment and gossip.  Did you find that Twitter was worth missing your favorite spin class or do you now feel really poorly for eating that Dunkin’ donut this morning?

• Poor work discipline

  Do you find yourself scrolling through your phone more often when you need a break from an assignment or deadline?  Are you able to then snap right back into the grind and be as efficient in your day to day business tasks, or do you find your mind wanting more Pinterest?

There are even labels for us procrastinators, believe it or not. We usually fall into one of two categories: structured procrastinators or active procrastinators.

Structured procrastinator personalities are the ones that complete tasks, but those tasks tend to be less prioritized on the list of “to-dos.” For example – you are getting ready for work in the morning and you should probably let the dog out, yet you jump onto the computer to post “Happy Birthday” to that long lost high school friend. Or maybe you have a PowerPoint to put together, but instead you’ve found that you’ve dusted your entire condo, vacuumed, and are now raiding your empty refrigerator.

There are also active procrastinators. These are the people that love the pressure of a deadline so they procrastinate in order to be productive…or so they think. Personally, I think this one is a little crazy, but then again, when I need an adrenaline rush I drink a mocha, so I guess we all have our things!

It’s important to mention that procrastination can lead to higher levels of anxiety and stress. It can definitely become an unhealthy lifestyle and you may even find yourself delaying medical treatment because you are such a procrastinator. That bunion on your foot doesn’t allow you to perform the lunges at the gym, yet that six months of self-recovery is far worse than just having it removed and the problem remedied.

How do you get past the procrastination cycle and back into the swing of things?

• Prepare

  Have everything ready to finish a task when you are about to start a project.  If you are going to study for a test, have your books in place, your study notes, and even that apple so you don’t have an excuse to run to the fridge later.

• Restart

  If you find yourself off track in the morning, there is always time to restart your game plan and get back on track as soon as you can.  Everyone has a bad day occasionally; it’s what you do from that point forward that matters.

• Need help – then ask! 

  Don’t be afraid to find inspiration from others.  Or if your problem is truly too much work, get yourself a virtual assistant!

• Set goals and reward yourself when you complete them. 

  Do you really need to look at the Facebook events page in the middle of your work day, or can you wait until you’re back home?  If you make yourself wait, then maybe your reward can be 15 minutes of social media activity, instead of that rushed 5 minutes at work.  It can be as simple as that!

If you fit into any of these categories or find yourself stuck in a rut with some bad habits, know that there is always hope.  Set some ground rules and if you discipline yourself enough, you can reward yourself just as equally.  Enjoy pinning on Pinterest, or tweet that you just finished a task or wrote a blog.  No one is perfect and we all have our days, but just remember that it’s never too late to change a bad habit into a positive one!

Facebook VS Google: Which To Advertise On?

For those of us that have considered taking a risk and venturing out on our own to start our dream business, one key step we’ve needed to seriously consider is how are we going to advertise to our target audience?  Of course there are big money marketing solutions, but for most of us on a penny-pinching budget, we need something effective, yet cost efficient.  My intent for this blog will be to focus on two forms of battling advertising methods, and which of these may be the best for your new start-up business:  Facebook vs. Google.

What I am going to try to determine is whether it’s better to put your company’s future in the hands of one of the largest search engines out there, Google; or if it’s better to strategize with the future of one of the largest growing social media websites, Facebook.

Reaching the Audience

Yes, it is true that Facebook has one billion active monthly members, but surprisingly enough, the winner here is Google.  Google search engine provides results for more than one billion queries from around the world, every day, and its ads are displayed next to relevant results.  Plus, “Google ads can be displayed on thousands of partner sites, which reach upward of 92% of all internet users in the U.S.”, states author Allison Howen in Website Magazine May 2013.

Target Options

Google can target audiences in multiple ways: using keywords, location, time of day, and general audience interest categories. It has the ability to display to people who have particular interests in subject matter. Facebook has a larger ability to target audiences due to user data collected over time. Facebook can target by location, age, gender, marital status, and interests.

For example, a home design store can target options to reach families that have recently moved, or live in a particular location, or have an interest in décor or personalizing their homes. So, the winner for this category goes to Facebook, although Google is in a close second with the launch of its Enhanced Campaigns capabilities.

Potential to Convert

With Google, ads are displayed primarily based on the intent of the consumer. This means that the consumer is usually searching for a particular product and has an immediate interest. As a result, they make the purchase when they find the results they are seeking.  Facebook ads are based on the user’s defined interests and previous behavioral interactions. As this is somewhat more limiting, the winner in this category belongs to Google.

Campaign Impact

According to May’s issue of Websitemagazine.com, Facebook ads tend to produce customers with longer average lifetime values. Why is this? Well, Facebook ads often lead brands to receive an increase in “likes,” which allows brands to continue marketing to these customers.  Fans then interact with the brand’s content and become more comfortable and likely to continue purchasing.  Likewise, they continue to network the brand by spreading the word to friends and family members.

Is there really a great conclusion to this debate? Probably not! The best form of advertising seems to solely depend on the goals of the start-up. If you are looking for an immediate outreach, then Google is the place to target a larger audience.  If you are looking for a smaller target audience that will grow over time, as the market is continuous, then Facebook could be the best solution. If you want to be absolutely sure, and if the pocket book allows, try both forms and see where you notice the most activity. Track, track, and track again!

Find out how our association management professionals can enhance your social media efforts.