January 15, 2016

“Happy anniversary to me, happy anniversary to me, happy anniversary, dear Simone…happy anniversary to me.” This can be sung in a lilting voice, as a rap song, or go for the rock version.

On January 15, 1988, I began my consulting practice. I partnered with a colleague who suggested that I might want to try consulting. Without her suggestion, I might never have had the courage. So thanks, Jane.

Of course, I wasn’t sure that I would like consulting. I’d always been committed to a particular mission. I wasn’t sure that “general consulting” would work for me.

That was 29 years ago! Today, Friday, January 15, 2016, I’m beginning my 29th year as a full-time consultant. I like it. I like it lots!

I like to work with organizations committed to change. I’m lucky that I get to pick my clients. I make sure that I show prospects my true colors: Candid. Change agent. Truth teller. Provocative. Helpful and caring and tough, too. I’m interviewing prospective clients just like they’re interviewing me. I have my test questions and my stories and and and …

How fortunate I am.

This is my life’s work. This is why I’m here.

Wow. I can’t believe that I’m starting my 29th year in business today.

Thank you to all the nonprofits who gave me the privilege of working with them. Thank you to all the conference audiences and my book readers. Thank you to the donors and volunteers and staff who labor in the nonprofit sector – who kick butt and make change and save lives and create joy. And and and….

 

Filed under: Just for fun

About Simone Joyaux

A consultant specializing in fund development, strategic planning, and board development, Simone P. Joyaux works with all types and sizes of nonprofits, speaks at conferences worldwide, and teaches in the graduate program for philanthropy at Saint Mary’s University, MN. Her books, Keep Your Donors and Strategic Fund Development, are standards in the field.

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