“Develop yourself, first.”
Recently, I was emailing a gentleman in Uganda. He has recently founded a nonprofit to help children. He wanted my advice about how to develop his organization.
I responded that he needed to develop himself first.
Things like:
- Why does he need to start an organization? What else is happening in his community to help children?
- What does it mean to be a nonprofit / NGO? What are the laws and the expectations?
- How will you fundraise? What does fundraising mean?
- Who will serve on the board? What is a board? What does the board do? Why does it matter?
- And so much more…
His response when I made the statement: Develop yourself, first.
“I will always remember this statement: ‘You need to develop yourself professionally. Not develop an organization. Develop yourself.’ I think that is what’s been missing in my head.”
Thank you, Roman. Your response to me has helped me fine-tune my own thinking.
