“A crisis is a terrible thing to waste”

I was reading today’s Sunday New York Times and there in front of me was a killer quote – attributed to Standford economist Paul Romer when he said at a venture capitalist meeting in CA way back in 2004 – “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”

Now how might we apply this in the nonprofit sector?  When a crisis is occurring, people find that their tried and true ways of doing things are clearly not working any more.  What people had counted on in the past is not pulling through for them today.

If you are a creative person offering new ideas, strategies, approaches – then NOW is the time that you’ll find people more open to you. In the past, it was easy for those in power to hold on to the status quo and withstand change.

But now, things are different. When there is a general “breakdown” of the established order, then guess what happens?

You have a “breakthrough” to a new level of being, of operating, of organizing your board, of raising money, or  applying social media concepts, of enlisting new supporters.

Now’s the time to act.  If you have been waiting in the wings, looking for that opportunity to try out your new ideas, apply new strategies – do it now.  You’ll find the status quo dissolving. You’ll find those in power loosening their grip on your organization.    You’ll find a new openness to your ideas.

Go for it!