“Where are you going and how can I help?” This is one of the first things Robert Egger asked me when we met up to chat today at our neighborhood Starbucks in DC. We had a nice talk about the upcoming Nonprofit Congress, the momentum of the Primary Project, and the importance of involving young nonprofit leaders in this world we’re trying to change. Robert was so kind to let me know he enjoyed my blog and dug my ideas about the nonprofit sector. But when he asked me that question, I kind of blanked for a moment. I know where I want to be, but the path is not exactly linear, or even visible to me right now. And honestly, right then I felt like the guy in the Eddie Murphy movie, Coming to America who works at McDonald’s who’s on lettuce, talking about how he one day hopes to be the boss: “See, right now I’m on lettuce, then I’ll be flipping burgers, and in a couple years, I’ll be general manager. And that’s where the big bucks come in.”
I ain’t as patient as the McDonald’s guy. I want to be general manager right now.
That’s essentially what I told Robert, but he didn’t laugh hysterically, bless his heart. Instead he offered some advice to a would-be, wannabe thought leader in this crazy nonprofit sector. How can I get from lettuce to leadership? Robert says:
Tiffany over at Little Red Suit wrote a great post last week on
inventing (not re-inventing) yourself. What she says is so relevant for young nonprofit leaders that can’t see a linear ladder to career progression and leadership positions within the sector. The result is that young workers often get discouraged about the options we currently see. We work long hours for low pay, and endure frustratingly outdated systems of doing the work, with a cheerful spirit of idealism and a can-do attitude. But then to top it off, we aren’t given the opportunities to serve in leadership capacities within our organizations. My comment to Tiffany was that the idea of inventing ourselves can be so empowering for young people, that is: ditch the models and create the mold yourself.
Look, I very much aspire to be an Executive Director or President of a nonprofit or foundation. But that direction in which I want to go is unlikely to happen as quickly as I want it to. So I know that I’ve got to do some things to expedite the journey. I’ve found some direction in blogging, mentoring, networking, and looking outside of my role models to map my own path. Somebody said I don’t know what the path is exactly yet, or where it leads, but when I get there I’ll know.
You may ask, how can I be so focused on something I can’t even see? How do I know I’ll even want this leadership gig when I get it? This changing the world business ain’t easy. But nothing worth doing ever is. And I know that being a part of the solution, whatever it may be, is the only thing that makes meaning for my life. Today is one of those days where I have to challenge myself to continue to find the strength and the courage to push toward creating an invisible future, one that is infinitely better than the present, and wondrously abundant with opportunity and positive change for our communities. Working in nonprofits is hard, but it’s the most important work any of us will ever do.
Related Posts
Cozality on 
bsaunders on 
