Get thee to AFP Congress! My story

You changed my life when we first met.
You have helped so many, you give so much.
I respect you, I want to be with you
and now, we can be together.
AFP Congress, you had me at hello.

In 2000 I got a job in fundraising
but it was my first Congress in 2001 when I knew this would be my career.

Like so many fundraisers,
at work, I was a leper,
an ambulance chaser
the person sent after little old ladies for bequests
A necessary evil

And I show up to this huge conference,
full of peers it wasn't just about the learning,
but there was much to learn
it was about the vendors, information sharing, networking

Here, people knew my worth and value
I am a bit of a romantic and I love the changing of the seasons.
That first day when I left Congress I walked up University Ave.
The sky opened up, and the first snow fell
And I was transformed, in a phone booth

I wrote my personal mission statement
scribbled it in that booth, it serves me to this day.
Since then I went back a few more times learned so much,
made so many connections but then, something changed.
You see, like event, telephone and direct mail fundraisers
I am a specialist, a gift planner

We are served skillfully by the Canadian Association of Gift Planners
who embraces charity staff and financial/legal advisors alike
So for a number of years I could only be a member of CAGP
I got to a few AFP sessions but not many
I missed that big picture, the community spirit,
the professional diversity and networking big picture
I needed to get back

So in 2004 I snuck into Congress as a woman!
Sorry, no cross-dressing involved
- the huge org I worked for let 15+ of us share a registration,
we had to hand off the nametag to each other on breaks
A wonderful peer named Alexandra, (code name Alex)
handed me a nametag in the washroom area and I was back in!!

The glory and pageantry of the awards luncheon!
The engaging and dynamic exhibitors!
Jaded vets and doe-eyed newbies all networking, solving problems
It was like a spa-day for your professional soul
Screw chicken soup- Congress is what the doctor really ordered.

Since then, the investment of many mentors and my passion for planned giving has allowed me to attend as a speaker a few times. A supporter and at times fan. At times groupie, I've crashed the party for the past couple years

To bring new members into the fold
to promote Canada's largest fundraising conference
and the wonderful book booth too few people visit

This year, AFP has asked me to participate in a number of ways
speaking at sessions and helping with networking programs.
My current employer agrees as I do
- Canadian philanthropy is better because of AFP
we need to cultivate and grow membership and the network
so I am again, for the first time in almost seven years
A proud member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals!

Although, I'm no longer a "fundraiser" on paper
I am still a charitable gift planner
I will always be a fan,
a groupie, permission or not, because of my debt to repay

So I won't be at the whole conference but I'll be there Monday night to network run a book booth tour and to contribute to the evening dinner dine-around

Wednesday night, I'll be running my "unofficial" after-party for the wonderful students of Humber and ANY others who wish to join us

But if you are a stranger
Maybe you are on the fence
let me share - it's worth it.
Every penny, every moment invested

Let's be honest,
the public
doesn't like fundraisers
no one
likes fundraising
who stands up for what we do
who believes
in the excellence of how we do it?
A F P - that's who

Fraser Green, one of those veteran fundraisers talks about saving your soul in his latest book

You will save it here
Passion starts here
GET THEE ----- TO CONGRESS

Come with me
Crash with me
AFP rules

Paul

Ps. This is not meant to be smart or witty
I'm not a fundraising superstar, a leader or big name
I'm just some dork who loves what we do, believes it's awesome
THIS is how Congress makes me feel,
about us, about our profession and what we do

A moment to remember

About five days ago
...my 91 year old grandmother passed away

The usual wakes, family flying into town and funeral ensued.
No one can walk away without a bit of reflection.

I was lucky to have my grandmother for a long time.
She met my little guy, her great grandson. Lucky him.

Wouldn't say she had a 'good' death
( like saying you had a 'good' colonoscapy, it is what it is. )
But she had a good life, one I only saw a snapshot of as a grandchild.
Things I'm looking forward to learning about:
- her middle was Quintera?!
- she was a savvy small business owner, when widowed young with 4 kids
- she had a lead foot and drove like Nascar?

This is us.
She used to insist I looked like local / national weather guy Anwar Knight. Anwar was nice enough to record a Christmas message with me a few years back.


Now, I work in estate and gift planning. I'm also a religious guy.
I'm very comfortable around legacies and death and never sugar coat it.

I'm not sharing to depress you but it gives me joy and strength that every day to know that through our shared profession we celebrate life through legacy philanthropy, save families from pain through our estate planning peers and empower our network through education.

Now:

1. Call your damn Grandparents, tell them you love them.

2. Baby boomers!! Get a digital recorder, video or voice and get that life story together, the lessons learned, the fun stuff, the hard stuff, stuff your parents told you - it's your legacy stupid

3. For pete's sake - if you have kids, make a Will, if you've got aging parents encourage them to pre-plan their funeral/burial instructions. It's not morbid, it will save you emotional distress and ensure their wishes are carried out

- -- I always thought it weird that my Uncle is an international authority on Elvis

Guess not, as per my Grandmother's wishes, this is what we sung at her funeral


See you soon Grannie.

It's not Social - it's Business

These days, I get patted on the head a lot
Oh, so cute!
Paul likes to use social media like the kids do!
Do you post what you had for lunch on twitter paulie?

I don't mind, I've always loved flying under the radar.
And there are some damn smart people on twitter,
I'd rather have them all to myself.

But I was reading this article in the Globe and Mail today - "Time to adapt to social media - or face the consequences"

Now, I don't like threats but let me share a secret with you.
SOCIAL media is for weekend warriors and tweens.
I'm into BUSINESS media.
It's about relationships, connecting, dialogue.

I participate to create prosperity and abundance
for me, for my network, for you if you're ready.

LinkedIn is the Facebook of Business

Twitter is communicating at the speed of thought

Blogs allow you to explain yourself in detail

Here's the thing. One day soon, everyone is going to have to get on board. You know that day is coming, so why wait and be the last to learn?

All I'm saying is, start lifting light weight!
Create a profile, don't use it. Seriously!
In six months, start to try it out.
If you start today,
you'll have LOTS of time to play with it.
Before it becomes your job.

Lastly, we're in new territory what if you could get the one twitter handle that describes your entire sector! It's like cyber-squatting in the early 2000's!

Get out there, I'm right there with you - treading water and learning.

Soon, you'll be conducting your own social media symphony!
If you want to read ONE book in 2011 about HOW to engage? Read this one.

As always, I'm here to help, Paul

Ps. Here's something to get you thinking....click for link

Full disclosure - the fan is IN the building! Humber Fundraising

This is post is no secret or surprise.

I've been a fan of the Humber College Fundraising program for a while now...

But from today onward I'll have to use a big fat " * "

You see, I've gone from raving fan,
to new member of the "Advisory Committee"
so when I speak of it I have to "disclose" this connection

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE - I was a fan first.

Remember when you felt like this
about life and your career?

Since I started in fundraising ( as a "planned giving" guy ) over a decade ago I loved my job but there was one challenge I had yet to tackle...

The dreaded conference speaking session.
So I tried. And bombed.

Then I was asked to join a team speaking to Humber College students about my beloved CAGP and passion for planned giving - I found my voice.

I also found a program that was more intense, supported and networked than any other I had ever seen. One where the students and faculty shared my passion for this work.

Since then I have been lucky enough to be invited for five years to speak to the class, my covert goal to steal the best. I find the brightest, hungriest who are going to make a powerful contribution to the profession and I support them as much as I can.

No secret too that I think the coordinator Ken Wyman is a mensch. Here's why...

And the people I've met, the alumni, the students, the network - frankly it has enriched my life as much as my career

I even teach now at the fantastic Georgian College fundraising program which is national, a different offering than the Humber full time program. Something that would never have happened with out my first opportunity to not just "speak" but "teach"

A special thanks to Rob Peacock who gave me the shot in the arm I needed then and now...a mentor to so many.

Humber wasn't a player when I started fundraising. But when I was a young up and coming fundraising professional, with no name/fame - just passion, experience and a clear vision of how a young person could make a difference, Humber invested in me. I'll never forget and will strive to repay that investment, forever.

Can't wait to meet the class of 2012

Take a quick peek at this video, see just one reason this is such a special program

Paul

Lessons from Kevin O'Leary

Unless you've been hiding under a rock
You'll know one of Canada's most popular shows, Dragon's Den

Kevin O'Leary is a polarizing force of capitalism
and has just launched a new book!

The best library system ever, TPL had Kevin in for a sold out event tonight he was in fine form and as usual doled out some great stories and lessons

An early story about how he went into business with Don Cherry and then sold those businesses and shows for a profit was fascinating, explains some of his TV persona and how he knows the secret of TV:

WHY does a billionaire have five TV shows and work non-stop?

Answer: Access!

His shows give him daily access to influencers, government and celebrities
Access he couldn't buy if he wanted to.
As he said "money is not power. Information is power"

Great story about when ABC wanted him to promote his new show on "Dancing with the Stars" he said yes and flew to LA for 10 minutes work to network with business hero Steve Wozniak. That meeting Steve gave him a stock tip that made him a lot of money...Networking!

He counts John Lennon as an influence but lives by his code
"the pursuit of money is the quest for freedom and happiness". Not quite "greed is good" but that Canadians needs to stop being ashamed of ambition.

Another great story, he believes "nepotism is a corporate disease", when his son asked him "Dad when we fly, I sit back here and you go to first class"
Yes. His son flies economy.
His response "but son, you have no money!"
He wants him to earn it, no free rides here
"I may give all my money to a cat, I haven't decided yet".

Speaking of animals...Kevin's view on investing? "There is NO place for emotion in investing. You want a friend? Buy a dog".

When he was a child, his mother gave him powerful advice "never invest in any stock that doesn't pay dividends. Period". It's how he runs his investments. He fires anyone who doesn't get it.

During questions he explained the three elements that 100% of successful pitches to Dragon's Den:

1) 90 seconds or less. Period
2) Tell me why YOU are the person who can make it work
3) Be the owner, the leader, don't shy away from your passion, power or knowledge

Lastly, as a networking tip, I encourage a no ego rule. This Billionaire made time to sign every book - very classy.

A truly enjoyable evening, thanks Toronto Public Library!

Kevin, keep it up.

Readers - enjoy this hilarious primo promo!



Just in case you'd like a play by play the ever-awesome Toronto Public Library just posted the event on YouTube!

Enjoy

Going beyond coffee - networking secret

Howard Schultz, can I call you Howard?

Talks about the "future of Starbucks 

being beyond just coffee"

with the change in logo's this year. 

I talk a lot about Starbucks on LinkedIn and Twitter being the the end all and be all of networking

but it's time I clear up the confusion of one key thing....

It's not actually about the coffee!

Not the taste, the presentation or price. 

I call Starbucks "my second office" because it's the environment to conduct business. 

In Canada, Tim Horton's is not so much coffee as it is a religion ( "double double? Amen" )

I used to drive 100,000km a year for work in the 90's

It's what kept me alive ( Extra large, 2 cream, 7 sugars )

And Second Cup, Timothy's and other brands are good at coffee meets comfort.But Starbucks is to coffee what Lexus is to Toyota, Range Rover to Ford.

Even in the advent of the real "second office" and the laptop gollum's who buy two cups  and stay 48 hours doling out stinkeyes at anyone who dares have a conversation in their little Lord of the Coffee Rings library/home ... but I digress...

Look at this layout, the better locations (and on LinkedIn I use a group to source the best locations for meetings )have a quiet comfortable place to meet.

So, get your coffee from wherever it tastes best to you. Snobbery aside, McCafe and the big M is quickly catching up to my beloved Tim's as the cup of choice on the runbut when it comes to networking.....

Starbucks Rules.


Ps. Want to know the best way to meet in a coffee shop?
 

Want to know the BEST place to sit for networking purposes?


Read one or both of these books - they have done wonders for me!


PPs. My last tip is that I give my Starbucks card to the Barista in charge when I'm meeting someone I don't want to fight over who pays. One nod when I approach the counter - and I win. Every time.

The essence of networking

When I can, I set up small high value events

for small groups in my network, 10 to 15

Like my twitter handle mission states, 

you must invite you

The criteria? 

- Content is of high value to you in work/life

- Made direct contact with me in virtual or reality reality (past six months)

- Used passive networks ( LinkedIn, Twitter, email ) to share goals and needs 

- You seek daily to create prosperity for your network and self

The other day I sent out a highly private invite to 15 people

with only 10 spots at the event

the instructions  were strictly no forwarding 

this was an offer to you only

But one person, sent me a note right back

"Paul, I want to come, and this would help me a lot

but I know someone who is working on this topic right now.

It could help them more, could they come in my place".

That person's name? Frankie Chow.

He's a member of the 2011 Class at Humber College's 

Fundraising and Volunteer Management Postgraduate program 

When the moon hits your eye

Like a big pizza pie. 

THAT'S AMORE.

When cold hard value drops in your lap

and you don't take it and run but instead ask

"who in my contacts can benefit from this more than me?"

THAT'S NETWORKING.

One day Frankie, you're going to get what's coming to you.

I hope to be around for that great day.

Until then, I'm in your corner rooting for you 200%.

I leave you dear network with a wonderful Toronto band

Listen to the thoughtful lyrics about 50 seconds in if you want to think

If you don't, just enjoy

Either way, happy end of summer.
Fall, that networking powerhouse of productivity approaches...
and I can't wait - see you there.

paul