Be Present

As I was leaving a donor meeting last week, we each said "what a year!" and then took a breath. Indeed, what a year it has been. It has been filled with raw emotion. I have been scared, angry, sad, and too many other emotions to name and there have been many, many tears. Whether concerned about Israel, Iran, college campuses, school shootings, or all of the above, this year has been a lot, for all of us. As we move towards the High Holidays, a time of reflection, I urge you to take a breath. 

As Jewish Communal professionals, we often run and we never stop--it's both a sprint and a marathon. There is almost always a situation, and we react. We sprint to fix the problem and the marathon continues--we never slow down. We don't take a breath. And we need to. We need air to survive. 

The High Holidays are always a time to reflect and slow down. However, it should be that in each conversation with members, prospects, and donors you also take a breath, be present and listen. Think about the times you sit with friends with cell phones pinging next to them and those who keep theirs on silent, turned over or in their bags next to them. When do you feel more cared for and listened to? Of course, there will be those times, in emergencies, when we need to have our phones near us, but it is crucial for the people with whom we are in a relationship to feel like they are our priority. 

When you ask a question of a member, listen to their answers. Follow up on their questions. Demonstrate that you really care. If someone has a birthday coming up, call. If you learn that a family member is ill, check-in. "I am thinking about you" goes a long way. To develop genuine relationships and create community, we need to be present. It is not an easy task and certainly one I strive to improve (just ask my kids!) but it is necessary. 

To build a better tomorrow, we need to be present today. 

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.