The First of a 7-Part Series
My yoga teacher inspires me. Well into his seventies, he can contort himself into a number of pretzel-like positions. He’s a bit of a show-off, and he should be: he started his practice just a decade ago.
While I may not be ready for his advanced poses, I have resolved to master the Crow Pose (you balance your knees on your upper arms so you are completely lifted off the floor).
Sure, it requires some core and arm strength, but my biggest limitation is myself. I’m afraid that I’ll careen forward and land upside down on my head. I have, for a millisecond, achieved this pose and it was exhilarating. But most of the time my fear takes over. I worry about a head injury, but mostly dread the embarrassment of falling out of the pose with a resounding thud.
My yoga teacher is a perfect example of someone with a growth mindset. Coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, a growth mindset is when you believe that you can succeed. All it takes is some dedication and hard work.
According to Dweck, we are oriented by either a fixed or a growth mindset, and it is likely that both mindsets are products of our lifelong experiences, observations, and education. With a fixed mindset, we consider our characteristics to be unchangeable. However, with a growth mindset we believe that our basic qualities are something that can be cultivated through effort.
There is a lesson in this for fundraisers. If we don’t succeed, could it be that we’re blocked by a fixed mindset? We assume that we don’t have the abilities or talent so we just don’t try. We may be crippled by anxiety, resolute in the notion that there is NO WAY we could ask anyone for money. But, with a new mindset – a fundraising mindset — we just might surprise ourselves.
This seven-part series will explore some of the self-imposed barriers that prevent us from reaching our potential as fundraisers. For every ailment, there is an antidote, so let’s take a look at the first limiting mindset:
I could never ask someone for money.
This statement promotes the false narrative that you meet someone and then immediately ask them for money. Unintentionally, the reluctant fundraiser is viewing the prospective donor as a cash dispenser, diminishing their interaction by regarding it as a means-to-an-end.
What is really driving this statement is fear, not a lack of consideration. If you have this mindset, it would seem daunting to ask a person for a gift, especially after just meeting them. But with thoughtful cultivation, you can get to know the other person and broach a conversation about giving when the time is right. And when this happens, you’re asking a prospective donor to invest in something they care about. It’s far more than a transactional give-and-take.
From a Fixed to Fundraising Mindset: I believe in my cause, and I’m looking forward to discussing it with other people. If there is mutual interest, we can then have a conversation about giving.
What are the internal messages that are tripping you up? I’d love to hear from you.