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“We make a living by what we get….”

March 3, 2010 by Meggan Cowan

….but we make a life by what we give.”

These words, spoken long ago by Winston Churchill, really hit home for me.  They are words I have used, many times, throughout my fundraising efforts.  They are words which inspire others to give back.

Now, more than ever, local nonprofit organizations, including the organization I volunteer for,  are in a time of great need.  Whether it be a natural disaster like the earthquake in Haiti, homelessness in Kansas City, premature birth or any of the many forms of cancer that plague our society, more money allows the nonprofit organizations in Kansas City to help people in our community.

In these tough economic times, it is difficult for these organizations to get the support they need to continue on with the valuable and life-saving work they do.  It is also tough for community members to donate the money these organizations so desperately need.  This past holiday season, how many of us walked right by the Salvation Army bell ringers?  Or how many of us decided not to text a donation to the American Red Cross to assist with Haitian relief efforts after the earthquake?  It is a tough decision to make, especially when we face such uncertain times and when we all feel the need to button down the hatches, so to speak, to ensure we can adequately provide for ourselves and our families.  This is certainly understandable, given the tough times we’ve faced.  However, I often wonder if most people don’t make a donation because they think the $5, $10 or $20 they have to spare won’t make much of a difference.  The truth is that if each of us made charitable contributions, even in small amounts, collectively we would make a huge difference.

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Finding the Silver Lining….

February 24, 2010 by Meggan Cowan

We’ve all been there.  Where is “there” you ask?  An extremely tough decision or life challenge that leaves us wondering, “why me?”  and “where do I go from here?”

I recently read an article about a man that had it all…and lost nearly everything.  He was able to find the silver lining and wrote a book highlighting his experiences.  It’s titled How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else.  The author, Michael Gates Gill, had it all – a six-figure income, luxury cars, luxury vacations and designer clothes.  He was fired because he made too much money and someone younger could do his job for less.  After losing his job he started a consulting business, which he later lost.  Shortly thereafter, he got divorced and was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  His main luxury in life became a morning cup of coffee at Starbucks, which later led to a job at Starbucks.  Even though his life had hit rock bottom, Gill proclaimed in a recent article on CNN.com, “When I lost my job, I thought my life was over,” he says.  “I didn’t realize it was just the beginning.”  He also remarked, “I may have a part-time job, but I have a full-time  life.”

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Posted in Life's Moments, Times of Transition | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

“I am one, but still I am only one….”

February 17, 2010 by Meggan Cowan

“I am only one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” – Edward Hale

As a dedicated volunteer, full-time employee, daughter, sister, aunt, girlfriend, friend, co-worker, I often have to remind myself that I am only one and that I cannot do everything.  However, just as the quote above says, because I can’t do everything, does that mean I should do nothing?  My answer to this question, as most who know me will attest to, is “no.”

Successfully fulfilling each of these roles is a challenge, to say the least.  Those who are reading this also know that I don’t like doing something unless I can give it my all.  Lately, I have not been able to give everything my all. Mostly this is due to the fact that I work in a highly stressful and extremely time-consuming field.  Finding time throughout the day for even the simplest tasks such as taking a drink of water or eating lunch is often tough to accomplish.  I end most days feeling like someone or some thing got the short end of the stick, so to speak.  For me, that is never a good feeling.   In a world of “more” I struggle to find more time, more support, more resources….in short, there is never enough of each of these things, especially time.  However, I know I am not alone.  As I society, we are faced with trying to find more – more time, more money, more resources, more recognition, more support, more involvement, more friends, more, more, more.  It helps to know you are not alone, but it often leaves me wondering how we can continue to make a difference and be the change we wish to see in the world.

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The Ineffective Meeting Plague

January 16, 2010 by Meggan Cowan

These days, the “ineffective meeting plague” is on the rise.  We’ve all been there, whether it be at work, through your community volunteer efforts or at a PTA meeting, the “ineffective meeting plague” is spreading.   In the world of TV land, the king of ineffective meetings is Michael Scott.  For those that are a fan of the show, you know Michael takes the term ineffective meetings to a whole new level.  Just a few of my favorites include the diversity meeting, the sexual harassment meeting, or the meeting where “Prison Mike” made his début.  Here’s an excerpt from my all-time favorite ineffective meeting:

Dwight Schrute:  Prison Mike, what’s the very very worst thing about prison?
Angela: Don’t encourage him, Dwight. 
Michael Scott: The worst thing about prison was the ….was the dementors.  They were flying all over the place and they were scary and then they’d come down and suck the soul out of your body.  And it hurt!
Karen: Dementors like in Harry Potter?
Michael Scott: No, not Harry Potter. 

Even though Michael Scott may be the king of holding ineffective meetings, we’ve all been a part of a less than productive meeting.  So, how can we restore the value of meetings?  Below are just a few things I’ve found to be effective. 

  • Try to keep the group to an effective size.  15-20 tops and depending upon the purpose, even that may be too large.
  • Attending members are united toward a common goal, willing to take part and willing to communicate
  • There is a clear structure and purpose.  Everyone is clear on what they are there to accomplish.
  • There are clearly identified goals.  Goals that everyone has agreed upon and are committed to working toward.
  • The meetings (and the group) are focused on answering the following questions: 1) Who are we here to serve? 2) What is our desired outcome or what difference will we make? and 3) How will accomplish this and be better than anyone else?
  • Time is of the essence.  Effective meetings have a set agenda and allot a certain amount of time for each topic.  Make it clear, up front, how much time is allotted for each topic and stick to the agenda as much as possible.
  • Accountability – how are you going to measure your successes and your areas of improvement?  Set measurable and definable goals.  Post those goals at each meeting to hold the group accountable.
  • Be able to effectively manage what I like to call the “meeting time-suckers.”  These are the folks, and we all have them, who have the best of intentions, but often take control of the meeting.  They deter from the agenda and they take us down paths that are often not effective, but are always time consuming.  How can we manage that?  It’s called the parking lot.  Save a spot on the white board or on the easel and clearly label it the parking lot.  Any thoughts, good ideas, or discussions that are worthy of more than the time allotted can all be jotted down here.   You can revisit them at the end of the meeting if time allows or schedule a separate, perhaps smaller, meeting at another time.  Or you can forego the parking lot topics all together and simply chalk it up as a way to move the meeting along. 
  • Try to encourage the group to remember everyone is there for the same cause or purpose.  Frequent reminders might be necessary.  It’s also important to remind them that we all have great ideas and we all have not so great ideas.  One of the goals of the group is to discern between the good and the not-so-good ideas and implement the great ones. 
  • Last, but certainly not least, try to make the meetings enjoyable. 

Now it’s your turn – feel free to leave a comment and share a story about your most effective or ineffective meeting or feel free to share advice on how to avoid the “ineffective meeting plague.”

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A Little Food for the Soul

January 5, 2010 by Meggan Cowan

We’re all busy, myself included, so I sometimes find myself groaning when I receive yet another email in my inbox.  Don’t you know I am too busy to read an email forward?  That is the first thought that pops into my head; however, in an effort to move forward in my quest to slow down, enjoy life and keep in mind the things that are most important, I find this email forward applicable to my goal of achieving work/life balance and enjoying life to its fullest.

A LITTLE FOOD FOR THE SOUL

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air.

You name them – Work – Family – Health – Friends – Spirit, and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass.

If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.

You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

  1. Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
  2. Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
  3. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
  4. Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.
  5. Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
  6. Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.
  7. Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
  8. Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
  9. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.
  10. Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
  11. Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
  12. Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

(Note: This was written by the former CEO of Coca-Cola, Brian G. Dyson and was used several years ago as Georgia Tech’s commencement address.)

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You Better Slow Down, Don’t Dance So Fast, Time is Short, the Music Won’t Last.

December 30, 2009 by Meggan Cowan

I am lucky enough to some time off from work over the holidays (all told, I will have a two week vacation!)  The time off has provided a much needed break, as well as the opportunity to spend time with friends, family and my significant other.  It has also given me the chance to reflect back on how quickly I move through each day when I am at work and how little time I spend relaxing and relieving stress.   Like many people, my days are measured how long it takes me to commute to work each day; by hours spent on a particular project; by the number of  emails I receive and answer in a day; and by how long I spend running on the treadmill.  It’s amazing to me how quickly days and even weeks can pass when the time is reduced down to counting the minutes until the next thing begins or until the weekend arrives.  I have begun to realize that I am living to get over the next hump or living until the weekend arrives.  I am simply going through the motions and trying to pass the time during the week, in the hopes that the more I fill my days with and the busier I am, the sooner the weekend will arrive.  While this is effective in passing the time, there is a danger in this as well.  The danger is that too much time will pass and one day I will wake up and wonder where the time went.  We only get one shot at this life and I am beginning to realize that I don’t want to live the majority of it in overdrive.

So, as I enjoy my last week off from work, I am going to take the things that have helped me relax, either this week or in the past and apply them to my work week.  Consider this my ’stop and smell the roses’ approach to help remind me to slow down and appreciate and enjoy the small things in life.  Please feel free to leave a comment and add your advice to my list!

  • Enjoy the sunrise (or sunset)
  • Listen to your favorite song (and sing loudly!)
  • Go for a walk or a bike ride
  • Make a snow angel
  • Spend 20 – 30 minutes reading a book (for fun!)
  • Enjoy a glass of wine while making dinner
  • Bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies
  • Take a nap
  • Treat yourself to lunch
  • Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or hot apple cider
  • Enjoy your favorite TV show (fully, from start to finish and with no interruptions)
  • Take a hot shower or a bubble bath
  • Take a drive in the park or on your favorite road
  • Send an email or message to a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in a while.  Even better?  Find time to have lunch or grab a cup of coffee with them.
  • Take your lunch break at a nearby coffee shop.  Enjoy the warm atmosphere and pleasant smells!

On a final note, I’ve recently uncovered a poem that I remember receiving in an email forward several years back.  I remember reading it at the time; ironically, I also remember being too busy to actually let it sink in.  Now that it is on my blog, I’ll be sure to read it often.  Hopefully you will do the same!

SLOW DANCE
by David L. Weatherford

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask “How are you?”, do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
’cause you never had time to call and say hi?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life isn’t a race, so take it slower,
hear the music before your song is over.

Posted in Life's Moments | Tagged | 2 Comments »

Personal and Professional Influences

December 22, 2009 by Meggan Cowan

There are certain people who come to the forefront of our minds when we reflect on the people in our lives that have influenced us and shaped us into who we are today.

As the holidays draw near, I find myself reflecting on the people who have made a difference in my life.  I dedicate my post today to the many people who have, in one way or another, shaped my life and helped me become the person I am today.

  • First and foremost, my parents, namely my dad, for teaching me the value of hard work and sacrificing for the benefit of your children and family.  My mom, for teaching me that just because something doesn’t come easy to me, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it and for also teaching me that pity parties are unproductive.  My sister, for showing me the value of having a strong sense of determination and for her uncanny way of always being able to lighten the mood with her unique sense of humor.
  • My high school journalism teacher, who planted the early seeds that would later gear me toward a career in public and community relations.
  • My political science professor, who made me realize that being a straight A student in high school did not mean my writing skills were up to par.  As it turns out, he gave me my first (and only) C in college & it turned out to be for the best.
  • My communications professor, whose class inspired me so much that I added a second bachelor’s degree in communications on top of my already full class load, during my senior year of undergrad.
  • My previous boss at Mizzou, who upon hearing about a new career path I was taking remarked, “This isn’t the job for  you.  You can’t save the world with this job.”  Even though that message took me aback at the time, it has served as the motivation I need to move toward the career path that will make me happy and allow me to make a difference.
  • My best friend Meera, who has shown me the value in holding true to what you believe in, who has taught me that you are the only one that can stand up for yourself, and who has also taught me that sometimes you have to risk nearly everything to achieve true happiness.
  • My dear friend Libby, who has taught me more than anyone could, about being strong in the face of adversity, taking things in stride, and being able to keep it in perspective, even when it seems your world is crumbling around you.
  • My mentor, who is nothing short of a marketing and networking genius.  He also serves as a ‘life’ inspiration, for facing difficult and life-changing decisions with a positive attitude and for being grateful for the life lessons he has learned while facing adversity.
  • Last, but certainly not least, my amazing boyfriend who helps me remember the glass is half full, not half empty.  He is also the most empathetic person I know, always trying to see what it might be like to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.  He helps to inspire me to become a better person.

Posted in Life's Moments | 2 Comments »

The Social Media Highway Part II: Self-Branding Strategies

December 22, 2009 by Meggan Cowan

Driving on the social media highway is important, not only for organizations, but also for individuals.   Social media is a key component of a strong social media strategy, thus allowing for personal branding and serving as an excellent way to increase your digital footprint.

What is personal branding?  How can you build your brand and increase support and recognition for your brand?  These are all questions one might ask themselves when deciding on the best way to promote their talents and efforts.  In a time when many are facing career transitions, either by choice or by necessity, it can be a challenging time.  However, it can also be an exciting time as well.  This is your chance to tell the world what you are all about; to tell them about brand YOU.  That’s right – you’re a brand.  Move over McDonald’s, move over Nike, and move over Starbucks.  There is a new brand in town and that is brand YOU!  In much the same way any of these big name brands would go about promoting themselves, you can go about promoting your brand.  I’ll be the first to admit that thinking about yourself as a brand is a stretch, at first, but the more you think about it, the more it makes sense.  Thinking of yourself as a product is one of the best way to go about creating your branding strategy….and retain some objectivity throughout the process. Here are some thoughts, via a Q & A session, that will hopefully be helpful in developing a personal and social media branding strategy.  Many of these questions are ones I asked myself as I began my personal branding journey (a journey which I am still traveling and which I am constantly striving to improve upon.)  The answers to these questions are a mix of personal experiences as well as valuable information I learned by reading Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Career Brand to Achieve Career Success by Dan Schawbel.  This book is a great resource, regardless of whether or not  you’re in a time of career transition.  There is no time like the present to begin building brand YOU.  After all, Nike and Starbucks didn’t achieve brand recognition overnight.  It takes time and you might as well start now! Continue Reading »

Posted in Personal Branding, Social Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Social Media is a Highway and I Want to Ride it All Night Long

December 15, 2009 by Meggan Cowan

My apologies, to my audience and to Tom Cochrane, for being unable to resist turning a hit song into somewhat of a cliché.  As it turns out, it does make for a catchy headline, even if it is a bit cliché.  It also serves as a great analogy for a discussion on social media.  As I embark down the path of utilizing social media to promote fighting cancer with the American Cancer Society, I am searching for the best way to go about garnering lasting community recognition, support and donation dollars for this worthwhile cause.  I want a two-way traffic stream on the Relay For Life’s social media highway.  I want an exchange of information and ideas.  I want to engage my audience and I want to inspire action.  I don’t want to utilize social media as a way pushing out information.  I don’t want to constantly be entering and exiting the highway.  Instead, I want to ride the social media highway…..all night long.

I believe social media will continue to evolve and become even more of a way of life, a way of  conducting business and a way of communicating and connecting.  Will you get on the highway?  Will your organization get on the highway? More importantly, if you or your organization is traveling on the social media highway, are you simply entering and exiting or do you have a strategy that interacts with the flow of traffic on the road? In other words, are you having one-way conversations or are you truly engaging your audience in meaningful ways? Continue Reading »

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Ten Things I Have Learned as a Nonprofit Volunteer

December 8, 2009 by Meggan Cowan

  1. The number one reason why people don’t get involved is because they weren’t asked.
  2. Even though a cause, such as fighting cancer, seems as if it would be important to everyone, be prepared to sell them on why they should participate, donate, and provide support. 
  3. Even though it is volunteer work, you still have to treat it a little bit like work.  Set goals, develop a plan to achieve your goals, create a timeline for implementation, develop a way to measure your progress and enlist a committee of dedicated volunteers to help get the job done. 
  4. You cannot say thank you enough.  Thank your sponsors, thank your donors, thank your volunteers and thank the community.  A little bit of recognition and gratitude goes a long way.
  5. You need a strong marketing and PR plan.  It should include traditional media elements, grassroots marketing efforts, and a social media strategy.  After all, what good is a cause, a fundraiser or an event if there is no community support?
  6. You will likely be asked to take on more and more volunteer responsibilities.  Be prepared to say yes if you can do them effectively.  If you can’t do them justice, then you must also be prepared to say no.  As a dedicated volunteer, that is often a tough word to say. 
  7. Think of everyone you know as a potential supporter, donor, or fellow volunteer.  Your doctor, dentist, accountant, your child’s teacher, your mechanic, your hair stylist - these folks are all people you interact with regularly.  Why not let them know about your volunteer efforts?  You never know where that conversation might lead you or the organization you volunteer for.  
  8. Effective committee meetings are a must.  Even though your fellow volunteers are there for the same reasons you are, no one, even your most dedicated volunteer, will continue to attend ineffective committee meetings.
  9. Create a volunteer succession plan.  Have someone waiting in the wings – someone who is ready to take over important roles such as the committee chairperson role.  A succession plan gives them a chance to shadow the current person in that role and then the following year they are fully prepared to step into that role.
  10. Switch up your committee roles.  Encourage volunteers to take on a new role within the committee.  Volunteers that take on the same tasks, year after year, can get burned out.  More importantly, they are likely not bringing fresh ideas to their particular area of involvement. 

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