When it all feels urgent

I've been managing CRM systems in and for nonprofits for over 20 years.

Which means I've seen this pattern more times than I can count:

At some point, the pressure spikes.

The board wants numbers.
A funder wants a report.
Membership renewals are lagging.
Someone just discovered that "the system" isn't doing what they assumed it was doing.

And suddenly it all feels urgent.

Here's the uncomfortable truth:

When everything feels urgent, you don't have a performance problem.
You have a capacity problem.

Demands have exceeded the container.

And once that happens, no amount of personal heroics will fix it.

So what do you do?

First, admit reality: not all of this is getting done right now.

That's not failure. That's math.

Second, choose one thing.

Not the loudest thing.
Not the thing that flatters your competence.
The thing that actually reduces risk or restores stability.

Then focus on it fully.

The fastest way to stay stuck is to half-do six things at once.

Finally, decide what doesn't require you.

Some tasks need your judgment.
Some need outside help.
Some just need to be "good enough" so the organization can breathe again.

Perfection is a luxury good. Stability is not.

Here's the thing:

Chaos spreads when no one chooses.
It shrinks the moment someone does.

All the best,
A.