So what forward movement can come from all of these reflections on value?
Once we’re aware of the value we can create (including our unique value add)…
And we’re committed to adopting an empathic posture as we anticipate the value others seek…
We can make more focused and intentional choices about the way we deploy our time, energy and resources.
We can establish boundaries around both the value we can and/or are willing to add….
And the value we either can’t or choose not to add.
We consciously lean into the former and purposefully withdraw from the latter.
This leads to meaningful and effective partnerships, and also significantly reduces the friction that comes from a set misaligned values.
The list of implications flowing out of all of this for us at Forever Projects is long, and includes:
1. Being clear on the value we add as a charity. From a fundraising point of view, when someone donates $50, what was valuable from their perspective? What story or emotion? What about $500, or even $50,000?
2. Ensuring our written/spoken/published values actually match (1)
3. An ongoing process of tuning and retuning our radar to the kind value we believe our donors, partners, potential staff and volunteers are seeking.
4. Sticking to our boundaries, trusting that over time, we’ll make increasingly accurate choices around where, when and for whom we attempt to add value, such that our overall impact is maximised. Because every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.
What are you saying no to so, that you can say a yes to adding your unique value into the world?
Potentially Kinetic 