Blending in is no longer “safe”

Over millions of years, most species have evolved an amazing ability to blend in.

If you're a grasshopper or a zebra, standing out will most likely get you killed.

People too. For most of human history, blending in has been the safest option. Standing out could work for a few, but not for most.

But for organizations in the modern world — where attention spans are fleeting and alternatives are plentiful — blending in is no longer the safest choice. If you don't stand out, you're very likely to be forgotten.

In this world, you compete constantly for the attention and support of your members, donors, and volunteers.

What are you doing to stand out?

Do you know what your people want?

Do you know how to demonstrate that you can give it to them?

If you don't know those answers, figuring it out — even just beginning to learn the answers — is a goal worthy of your time.

Or, you can just hope that you guess right. But hoping is not a plan, now is it?

All the best,
A.