It's Like Milking a Fish

What's it like to be an entrepreneur? And a social one at that? It's a tough question to answer, but I can tell you this - it all starts with trying.

So far this week, I've met with four entrepreneurs here in Nashville – all doing different things, but all incredibly passionate about what they're doing. Next week, I'll make my first trip to the very cool city of Madison, Wisconsin to talk to a group of current and aspiring young entrepreneurs about how they can turn their passions into a profession by paving their own path.

Those who know me know that I never planned on being an entrepreneur, but that I enjoy every single minute of it. There's risk, there's reward, there's freedom, there's excitement, there's disappointment, there's opportunity – and that's just Monday before lunch. And so when people ask me what it's like to start my own company and be a social entrepreneur, I tell them:

It's like trying to milk a fish.

I'm no scientist, but I'm pretty sure fish don't produce milk. Which is exactly my point.

When you're driven to live out your passions in a way that pays the bills, you have big dreams, big desires and big plans. You want to sell milk to anyone and everyone who wants and needs it.

But, reality sets in and you are restrained by budgets, staffing issues, development deadlines, social connections, and time. All you have is a lake full of fish.

And so I'm in a spot where I've got to try to figure out how to milk my fish.

On the one hand, I could sell my fish and buy some cows. Then, I could sell the milk I so badly dream of having. Or, I could decide to sell seafood instead. I'm not as passionate about it, but it's what I've got at the moment.

And so the entrepreneur finds himself or herself in one of two places: follow the passion or follow the opportunity.

If you're lucky, the two of these will intersect perfectly, and you'll be happy and rich. But if they don't, you may spend a lifetime trying to get dairy from aquatic life and it will never happen.

But at least you tried. Better to spend part of your life trying something new that you believe in than all of it wondering what could have been. You have to at least try. Because as it turns out you can milk fish - but for eggs, not milk. But you'd never know it if you didn't take the time to try and figure it out.

Why Websites Suck: The Bucket List

The second article in the series "How to Make my Website Suck Less."

“Finally, have you run anymore articles for 'website basics' series? Again, after a quick search I couldn't find anything more than the first piece you guys put out. I was looking forward to the series and hope you can point me in the direction of the other pieces for the series, if there are any others out yet.”

An actual quote from an actual CoolPerson. I’m equal parts chagrinned and elated.

Chagrinned because after promising we’d do a weekly series on making your Web site suck less, we failed to deliver on said promise.

But elated because 1) someone read the post (Web site talk can be soooooo boring) and 2) they were hungry (yes, hungry) for more.

I’ve never had fans before, but have always wanted to say “give the fans what they want!”

There, I said it.

Now, onto the next step. When we last left the blogosphere, we were talking about the need to take a phased approach to reviewing your Web site. Breaking it down into a handful of doable steps in order to understand exactly what direction to take next with your site. Whether you’re putting up a site for the first time or considering a redux on a 9-year-old hypertext monster, the steps are critical to future success.

So, we identified who was both coming to our site and who we wanted to come to our site and looked at those two groups. If those groups match up, fantastic -- check step 1 off the list.

If those groups are disparate in any way, make a decision as to which group you’re going to focus on. I’d suggest looking at the audience you want and/or need so as to make sure you’re talking directly to them.

Say you’re a nonprofit. Say you have donors who come to your site and say you also have clients who come to your site. Maybe it’s old, white men with fat (phat) wallets and young, immigrant teens seeking assistance. In the same way you can’t expect for those two user groups to immediately hit it off if sat across from each other at the holiday luncheon, you can’t expect to be able to tell them both what they need to know using the same words, the same images, the same videos, etc.

So, what to do? Do we suggest making more than one Web site for more than one constituency?

Well, maybe.

If your Web site is or can be a major tool in raising funds for your organization, then it’d be heresy to not focus its message and use on that of the dead-president-toting donor (see how clunky it is trying to mesh different users’ languages?!?). And if that’s the case, it needs to look a certain way, talk a certain way, and direct the generous fingertips of your potential givers to a concrete and easy way to share the wealth.

This means however, that the young client your organization serves will visit the site and be either a) confused b) angered c) distressed or d) all of the above. This user, who is just as valuable to the success of your organization as the aforementioned donor, needs to feel welcomed online in the same way, and here’s where the second Web site possibility comes in.

Once you’ve determined your primary and secondary audience, you need to attach to each user type the most important information for that user type. So, for donors and potential donors, the most important information would be how to donate.

For a young client you serve, the most important information may be contact information, a feeling of community, photos from their latest retreat, etc. And so, once you’ve determined the audience, the next step is to determine the top three bits of information each audience needs.

It's time to make a bucket list -- a tad different than Hollywood's version -- this is a list of what content and/or information is needed for your audience(s).

Under the headings of “Primary” and “Secondary” describe all the content, information, etc. each audience needs, and then prioritize the top three. Those top three items for each audience become the integral anchors to your site/online presence. More than three is too hard to digest, let alone act upon. So, feel confident in offering three “buckets” for your users to draw from.

This concludes step two. Next time we’ll explore what to do with the content and whether or not this means multiple online sites or just a easily segmented one. Spend some time fleshing out this list of important content, and be sure that the work you do now will reap rewards in the very near future.

Until then...

Mean What you Say, Say What You Mean

One of the best advertising campaigns of late has been what Dove has produced related to the beauty industry and the negative impression it makes upon young women. To combat the unrealistic standard of perfection held up by so many makers of beauty products, Dove produced a great YouTube spot called "Evolution." I was amazed the first time I saw it. Take a look below:

Soon, Dove followed that up with a second spot called "Onslaught" that displayed an array of images that young girls are subjected to each and every day that inevitably become embedded in a young person's mind as they begin to form their own definition of beauty:

The spots are fantastic and communicate a very valuable point about advertising and media today and its effects on all of us.

While attending Carol Cone's session at Net Impact a few weeks ago, she called attention to these spots as a great example of corporate social responsibility. She cited Dove as a company who is seeking to make a difference first and one that then uses this as a marketing advantage second. And we all agreed.

Until someone brought up the point that Unilever, the parent company of Dove, also owns the brand Axe, which makes body spray and is best known for its commercials featuring scantily clad women.

This was the first I heard of this.

And yesterday, Ad Age detailed the disconnect of such a message from Unilever. Their article called attention to this parody in which the images in "Onslaught" are replaced with images from Axe commercials:

Unilever can spin what it wants in whatever direction it chooses. But the smart consumer out there can clearly see that a company that claims to be solving a problem cannot contribute to the same exact problem. It's like the drug company that creates a disease and then the medication for that same disease.

In a world of citizen journalists, this firestorm is quickly gaining more and more attention and has even crept into the mainstream media. It's too soon to tell if Unilever will pull their Axe ads or unload the product altogether. My guess is that it will try its hardest to put out the fire and champion its Dove campaign all the more to hopefully show consumers that the greater good is their Campaign for Real Beauty, and not their Campaign for Female Stereotypes.

The lesson to be learned in all of this is that you must mean what you say and say what you mean. It's important to do this, not because you'll be found out and you won't sell your product. It's important to do this because honesty and transparency are two new core values consumers are looking for. Because of new media and the proliferation of information, your company's legal battles, advertising ethics and production values can be known as easily as your low prices, great service or convenient location.

In other words, what your business is about is just as important as what your business is. You might make a great shirt, a terrific hamburger, or a delightful candle – but if you don't stand for something, you might see your sales fall for anything.

The how of your business now matters just as much – if not more – as the what.

And what's so tough about this example is that Dove tried to do exactly that. They tried to be about more than beauty products - thy tried to redefine what we all thought was beautiful.

But, by not letting the left hand know what the right hand was doing, Unilever ends up coming across as inconsistent at best and hypocritical at worst.

The moral of the story? If you're taking a walk down the lane of social responsibility, you've got to be absolutely consistent and committed. This ain't no marketing gimmick.

Columbus Coffee Club

I walked over to the gathering spot and shook hands with the regulars and introduced myself to the likes of Boyd, John, Walter, Bill and the rest. Apparently, they knew my grandfather had been eying a new car for a while, so they were curious to know if he'd finally bought it. I let them in on the secret that he had, and they all couldn't wait until he drove up. As we waited for my grandfather's arrival, I learned a few things that you won't find on any Columbus tourism Web site.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my wife and I went with my parents to visit my grandfather. He is nearly 91 years old and lives in the small town of Columbus, Mississippi, which seems much different from the comparative metropolis of Nashville that I call home.

These trips are always a good chance to see my father's side of the family and to check in on my grandfather. As old as he is, he is still able to take care of himself quite well. In fact, the whole reason for this trip was to help him buy a new car. That's right – after nine decades of living, my grandfather was ready for a new car.

While the trip offered plenty of chances to visit with family and catch up on life, the highlight for me was the visit I paid to one of the most revered Columbus traditions: the group of old men that gather at the McDonald's on Highway 182 every morning at 6:30 for coffee....

Read the rest at YPCommons.org.

Rewind: Week of 11/19-11/23

Monday, November 19: Give Better

You have choices when you give to others.

Tuesday, November 20: The Magic of Layers

Save energy by piling it on.

Wednesday, November 21: The Real Deal Meal

See how everyone else in the world eats.

Thursday, November 22: Be the Thanks

We need more than a day of thanks – we need a lifestyle.

Friday, November 23: Charity Friday

You'll be tempted to shop – will you be tempted to give?

Where Can I Buy Your Book?

Our book has been out for a month now, and I'm asked quite a bit where someone can get it. And, of course, I'm more than happy to answer.

Writing a book is a unique experience. Selling it is another one entirely. Luckily, we've got a great publisher that is committed to seeing the book succeed and doing all it can to get the book in more places.

So, here's the complex answer to the simple question, “Where Can I Buy Your Book?”

If you're online, you can quickly and easily visit Amazon or Barnes and Noble and grab a copy. You can also get it on the book's Web site, NewDayRevolution.com or from the CoolPeopleCare store. And, BookSense will tell you which local bookseller near you is carrying it.

If you want to get it at a store, stop by a Borders near you. Or, visit our Friends page on NewDayRevolution.com to see other local bookstores that might have it. That list is not comprehensive, but we're trying to list all the people willing to stock their shelves with our first title.

If you do stop in somewhere to pick it up, you'll need to look in the Ecology section. It's categorized near all the books that have 'green' themes. It may be near the Nature or Gardening sections in some stores.

Or, you can always get it from me if you see me out and about. I usually have a few copies in my trunk.

A Phone Without a 5

We can't overlook the essentials parts of the products we're selling, the services we're offering or the stories we're telling. If we do, we'll be ignored and fit for nothing but the junk drawer.

Driving back from Birmingham yesterday, Stephen and I were surfing the satellite radio and happened upon a comedian. We enjoy the comedy stylings that can be found during a 3-hour car ride, and we've heard at least one joke from probably every comedian that's played on satellite over the past six months.

What stood out about this occurrence wasn't the funny joke or the anecdote, but rather the profound implications that arose out of his social commentary. He was making some remark about how he couldn't afford a nice cell phone, so he settled for one that was missing the number 5.

Like I said: not so funny, but oh so profound.

You see, no one would ever buy a phone if the number 5 key didn't work. It might take pictures, send email, receive calls, have GPS – heck, it might even make you toast in the morning – but it wouldn't matter if you couldn’t use 10% of the buttons you need the most.

Scroll through your phone book right now and see how many people have the number 5 in their number.

See what I mean?

I bet that if your 5 key stopped working now, you'd still go out and get a new phone, even though you can just dial numbers with 5's in them straight from your phone book. You'd get a new phone because you wouldn't be able to enter new numbers that have a 5 in them. Sure, you get them to call you and then you could save their number....

Unless they have a J, K, or L in their name.

I don't think you could even give away a phone with the 5 button not working. Just like you couldn't give away milk missing an expiration date, a map without street names, or an iPod that won't skip forward.

In a world of convenience and information, something can work a lot and still be worthless. Like an eraser-less pencil, something that gets most of the job done can still leave a lot of the essentials missing, which only means that phones without functioning 5 keys, pencils without erasers and remote controls without working volume buttons all end up in the same place: the junk drawer in the kitchen.

What essentials are you missing? What is being left out of your message? What are people not getting because you’ve forgotten the essentials in the quest for a simple majority?

The majority of your Web site may work, but if people can't find out where to donate, your site is fit for the junk drawer. The majority of your church may be operating just fine, but if those outside aren't welcome, it's like that broken phone. The majority of your coffees may taste great, but if the atmosphere of the coffee shop sucks, people won't stay around for long and you'll be as ignored as a broken iPod. And the majority of flights can be on time, but forcing customers to sit on the runway for hours is like flying someone to New York who was trying to get to Boston and then telling them that at least they're closer to Boston than when they started.

It's not just about attention to detail. It's about attention to the essential details so that you create loyalty, trust and relationships – all of which are essential everywhere.

How to Say Thank You

Saying thank you is important. In fact, it's so important that we can't overlook it. But we also have to do so appropriately. Otherwise, it could negate the point of our gratitude in the first place.

Last night, a friend was sharing with us about a gift she received this past week. After 15 years of teaching public school, she was given a token of appreciation: a ceramic coffee mug emblazoned with the name of the school district.

In disbelief, we all laughed at her (mis)fortune. I mean, if 15 years of service are equal to a $4 mug, what can she look forward to in another 15? A picture frame? Maybe a CD case? Or – if she's lucky – a travel alarm clock?

It's the Monday before Thanksgiving, and for those of us in the US, Thursday will be a time where we'll (hopefully) spend at least a handful of minutes being thankful for something. And, if we're so bold, we'll tell special people in our lives thank you for the role they've played in our existence, success or journey.

So then why is it so hard to say appropriately thank you sometimes? Is it because most of our thank you's are said merely in passing to cashiers, waiters and baristas, so it may not mean the same when we say it to a coworker for a job well done, a boss for a decision well made, or a friend for a favor well given? Is it because we often take for granted those who have always been there for us, so we simply forget to do such a basic task? Or, is it because we're not quite sure when the right situation requires the right amount of thanks?

It's pretty obvious that 15 years of teaching children demands more than a coffee mug. Likewise, in her book, "Live First, Work Second," Rebecca Ryan tells the story of her father’' commemorative aluminum saucepan that he received upon retirement after 33 years of service to the same company. And, Ryan Healy detailed last week how Millennials are after constructive – and not empty – praise.

Sure, YPs and young workers may get a bad rap because they seem to be reaching for some sort of super-sized helping of praise, like I'll be reaching for mashed potatoes on Thursday. However, perhaps young people today understand gratitude better than anyone else.

Take a glance at Facebook walls or MySpace comments. Scroll through someone's text messages. You'll see things like "Thanks!", "thank you :)", "thx" and "thnk u" show up more than those relatives craving pumpkin pie. The next generation fires off emails and text messages to thank someone for thanking us for something.

So, how do you appropriately thank a Gen Yer? For starters, just say thanks. And make sure you mean it. Make sure the gratitude matches the reason you're opening your mouth in the first place. A skillet for 30 years of service is not an equal equation. Neither is a coffee mug that I can get at any store. If I've done something remarkable, thank me for that remarkableness. If you're going to give me mediocre thanks then you can start to expect mediocre work from here on out.

The same goes for our cities, our volunteer organizations and our families. We need to thank people always, but we need to thank them in a special way when they've done a special thing. So when a YPO brings about change in a remarkable way, when they organize and gather and bring new ideas to the table, when they organize and initiate a campaign to better the local community, they need to be recognized and thanked accordingly.

And to the Millennials – make sure you return the favor to co-workers and fellow volunteers and associates, and not just those who are close to you in age. Maybe you thank people so much because they're just a text message or a wall post away. Maybe you thank people because it's easy. But, this isn't the point of gratitude. You don't say thanks because it's easy – you say thanks because someone deserves it. Just because the only way to thank someone might be to pick up the phone or send a letter doesn't give you an excuse to pass of the gratitude giving like they were canned cranberry sauce.

When we all begin to thank each other for a job well done, we'll be able to sit together at the same table and really begin to get stuff done.

Right after we all have seconds, that is.

New Look, Still Saving the World

We've just launched a new look and tagline at CoolPeopleCare.

The homepage has been streamlined and cleaned up a little bit, making it easier for you to find something to do in order to save the world.

Speaking of, we've revamped our tagline to better define what it is we're doing with CoolPeopleCare. Yes, we think it's cool when people care, and yes, we show you ways to care in small amounts of time. But it's not a novelty act. We're really trying to save the world.

So, stop by the site, sign up to becomes a CoolPerson, and get started saving the world, people.

Rewind: Week of 11/12-11/16

Monday, November 12: Veterans Day

Take some time today to remember.

Tuesday, November 13: See Jane Read

Spend this week helping children read.

Wednesday, November 14: The Heat Is On

To preheat or not to preheat?

Thursday, November 15: Recycle It! Stat!

Do the can-can.

Friday, November 16: Trimmin's and Fixin's

Loosen your belt.

We Sell T Shirts

You may not be aware, but we like to plaster our name on some fabric every now and then. In fact, we've done it more than a few times on some different colors of short-sleeved shirts.

But, now that the weather has turned cold, we understand that a sweater or track jacket might be your first choice from the closet each morning. So, if you're looking for something cool to sport over a long-sleeved shirt, or you want to give a heck of a holiday gift, or you want to stock up for spring, now is the time to get a great deal on a CoolPeopleCare shirt!

For just $8.88 a piece, you receive a trendy shirt that tells the world just how cool you are. What could be better?

Click here to begin buying.

No One Cares About Your YPO

Here an excerpt from my column today at YPCommons.org:

I was visiting my college roommate in his hometown. I was in town for a CoolPeopleCare event, and my friend was gracious enough to allow me to stay with him for a night. Besides, I hadn't seen him in over a year, and it's always good to catch up.

We went to this local bar because he knew the bartender, which meant a deep discount on our drink order. As we sat sipping and reminiscing, I took a look around the joint. Like a lot of nightspots, the clientèle of this watering hole was young-faced. Glancing around, I guessed that most patrons were in their 20's or early 30's. The bartender herself was 27. Here, in this smoky bar with basketball games on TV was a bumper crop of YPs.

And none of them cared about the local YPO...

Rewind: Week of 11/5-11/9

Monday, November 5: Grocery Math

Add it up and save.

Tuesday, November 6: Be The Community

Make some friends, help some kids.

Wednesday, November 7: Ankle Deep In It

Step in – the water's lukewarm.

Thursday, November 8: Curtain Time

Change your curtain habits with the seasons.

Friday, November 9: A Culture of Excess

Prioritize your needs over your wants.

Making a Net Impact

Regardless of how one feels about capitalism, big business or the free market, there's no doubt that the for-profit sector at least has the potential to right many wrongs in the world, even if it is responsible for many of them.

Last weekend, the Net Impact annual conference came to Nashville. I, therefore, had the extreme privilege of speaking on one of the panels as thousands of business students and business leaders from around the world gathered to discuss ways that people can do business and do good at the same time.

In short, being at the conference was inspiring. During the opening keynote, as Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, spoke, and as audience members asked the right questions, I got an overwhelming feeling that yes, the world really can be saved.

After listening to Chouinard, I sat in on a discussion on how social entrepreneurs bring about change. Later that day, I listened to Carol Cone discuss how corporate social responsibility is fast becoming a standard in building a brand. Then, I met other students and leaders who are seeking to have a career and an impact.

The following day, I was joined by three others as we discussed how to spread the word about social movements to stir up interest and keep people committed to the cause. The room was packed with people both curious and committed to making the world a better place.

Regardless of how one feels about capitalism, big business or the free market, there's no doubt that the for-profit sector at least has the potential to right many wrongs in the world, even if it is responsible for many of them. The trick, of course, is to move from potential to action.

If anyone can do this, it's the group of people who amassed in Nashville last weekend. They're asking the right questions, discussing the right topics, and taking the right steps.

Here are some highlights from Chouinard's and Cone's talks:

• Patagonia has 900 applicants for each job opening. This is a testament to the way they do business.
• Chouinard thinks you can either be the best at what you do or you can be the biggest. But it's hard to be both. If you don't believe this, look at any of the top 50 restaurants in the world.
• Quote: "I don’t see any reason for optimism. Our whole economy is based on consumption and discarding." – Chouinard
• Quote: "Forget about changing the world. Change yourself." – Chouinard
• Quote: "Nonstrategic marketing is just wallpaper." – Cone
• According to Cone, Millinnials are the most demanding generation regarding CSR.

I Knew Friedman Was Wrong

Today's difference makers are blazing a new trail instead of waiting to follow in the footsteps of others. Watch out for a revolution of epic proportions that trends ever younger.

A few weeks ago, Thomas Friedman, columnist for the New York Times, wrote a piece entitled "Generation Q." In it, he chided the young folks of today for not taking more of a stand against major issues.

I usually agree with Friedman on many issues, but this is not one of them. Likewise, the column has been discussed among the younger generations online. But, earlier this week, two articles that ran in his same paper gave voice to the fact that 20-somethings the world over are jumping in and making an impact.

Marci Alboher highlights a series of young leaders as she showcases the differences in the workplace between yesterday and today. Terms like 'career' and 'work/life balance' have taken on new meaning in today's workplace, and thankfully so. More and more young people are choosing to blaze a trail where there isn't one in an effort to prioritize what's important in their lives.

This is the very reason why I'll be traveling to Madison, Wisconsin a month from now. Rebecca Thorman, who was profiled in one of Monday's articles, leads a young professional organization. Her group has found that more and more young people are seeking to make something of themselves and their communities. And they're not waiting for an invitation, a promotion, or permission to do so.

Similarly, this past weekend at the Net Impact conference, I spoke to a room full of people interested in the idea of social entrepreneurship. For an emerging cohort of business students and professionals, good and profit are no longer in conflict. You can make a difference and a living at the same time.

In Madison, I'll be speaking to a group of current and aspiring entrepreneurs who are trying to turn their passion into a job. They're asking the big questions about meaning and impact light years before their parents might have. They're not waiting until they've had a career to have an impact. Today's generation wants to build both their career and their legacy simultaneously.

More and more, I come into contact with young people seeking community, belonging, meaning, and involvement. Today's young people are more connected than ever. No longer does a broadband connection mean you're connected just to information – it means you're connected to someone else, and a lot of them at that.

As such, today's college graduates are entering a real world where they know a lot about the real world. We can see suffering in countries we can't pronounce and can loan people money we've never met. We can see what great big things a little effort can do. And we know that online activism is just the beginning.

And because we know the difference small actions can make, we're ready to jump in and take the next deeper step. If we don't see such an opportunity where we currently are, we'll forego the baton we're not being handed and run our own race.

Even though we're not trying to 'win,' I have a feeling that this generation will get to the finish line just fine.

Is the Chamber Model Broken?

If you want someone to move to your city and stay there for a while, you have to do more than paint a pretty picture. You have to help them find a brush and paint with you.

Here's an excerpt from my column today at YPCommons.org. Head over there to read the rest:

"While at the YP Summit in September, a, entrepreneurial young professional told me, "I'd never join my chamber of commerce. It's too expensive. Besides, why would I want to go to some breakfast and listen to a random guy tell me about his mortgage business?"

And someone else said, "I don’t care about my chamber of commerce. They're not talking to the people I want to talk to. I'm sure they'll be obsolete in ten years."

Talk about a need for a rebranding effort.

Chambers of commerce serve a purpose. Many help attract businesses looking to relocate. Chambers are the public relations experts for their city in other markets. But for a lot of young professionals, they seem relegated to the ranks of carnival barker, telling us about the wonders that await inside, without the intent of engagement.

If you want someone to move to your city and stay there for a while, you have to do more than paint a pretty picture. You have to help them find a brush and paint with you. A chamber can host all the breakfasts and networking mixers it wants. It can lure businesses and sports teams time and again. But until it understands that young professionals want more than one good job and some great diversions after work, they won't really be pushing engagement."

Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants - November 5, 2007

Why does it matter that nonprofits seek out this demographic?

It's more than a pleasure to host this week's Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants. For those not in the know, this is a weekly roundup of some of the best things said on the Web related to nonprofits and the valuable work they do.

This week, we're chasing after the following idea:

Since CoolPeopleCare is seeking to engage younger generations in the work of nonprofits, the theme of this week's carnival will revolve around best practices about communicating with and attracting young people. What has worked? What doesn't? Why does it matter that nonprofits seek out this demographic?

• Roger Carr at Everyday Giving writes about what younger volunteers are looking for in a volunteer experience. This is important to remember when prospecting this demographic.
• Nancy E. Schwartz at the Getting Attention blog details the difference in media habits between the 12-24 set and those older than 25. She has some very compelling research to make you think about how you message to someone, given their age.
• Jeff Brooks, of the Donor Power Blog, highlights some research done on how online appeals work with older donors. Thus, adopting an exclusively online approach doesn't satisfy everyone.
• Rosetta Thurman, a young nonprofit employee herself, shows the importance of joining a board, particularly for the under-30 crowd. Her story is important to read if you'd like younger faces on your board of directors.
• And, for the shameless plug for the week, check out my piece on how to message yourself to Generation Y. And, if you want to take a look at a recent presentation we did for nonprofit leaders about engaging the next generation, you can find it here.

Rewind: Week of 10/29-11/2

Monday, October 29: Make Halloween Fair

Give the right kind of candy.

Tuesday, October 30: Make Halloween Green

The scariest day of the year can be the greenest.

Wednesday, October 31: Make Halloween Happy

Knocking on doors ain't that hard, people.

Thursday, November 1: Paper Towel Revolution