The Gift of Attention

Have you read, “Treat your prospects like donors and treat your donors like friends”?

I called a longtime friend of mine and asked him out for coffee, and he said, in a very somber tone, “I’m so busy. I am so busy, I have so much going on.”

This “busyness” is turning into an epidemic. Even children are now contracting this illness and developing anxiety in school. As early as third grade! What happened to kids getting muddy, dirty, and being crazy?

And in the middle of it all, asking for attention? 

These days, everyone is asking for attention. Not just kids.

Think about it: Almost everyone enjoys some form of attention. As a society, we seek it; it’s why social media is taking over the world.

And because we’re all so busy, attention is hard to come by. This is why being able to give attention is a prized talent one can possess.

So why not use human nature to your advantage?

Use human nature to your advantage.

Start by giving attention at work. A simple compliment can go a long way — especially if you are someone’s boss.

And give attention to your donors, too. Lots of it. And if you stop treating them like bank accounts and begin treating them like friends, donations will go up, naturally.

Today, begin with a hand-addressed, hand-written (or at least hand-signed) thank-you note. Sent via US Mail. With a physical, decorative stamp. Trust me, they’ll appreciate the detail.

And the attention.